Tony-nominated stage veteran Austin Pendleton directs Golden Age, which runs through Feb. 14 in Philadelphia, prior to arriving at the Kennedy Center in March.

The Kennedy Center bow of Golden Age is presented as part of Nights at the Opera, a five-week celebration of McNally's plays that also includes The Lisbon Traviata and Master Class.

In addition to Kudisch (9 to 5, The Apple Tree) as Tamburini, Carlson (The Goat, Taboo) as Bellini and Lee (Pacific Overtures, Urinetown) as Lablache, the ensemble cast features Rebecca Brooksher (Dying City) as Grisi, Roe Hartrampf (The Pillowman) as Florimo, Christopher Michael McFarland as Rubini, Dante Mignucci as Page and Amanda Warren as Malibran.

According to press notes, "Golden Age takes place backstage at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris on the evening of Jan. 24, 1835. The occasion is the premiere of Vincenzo Bellini's opera, I Puritani. Assembled are the composer and his faithful friend, Francesco Florimo, and the four singers for whom the opera was expressly composed known the world over as The Puritani Quartet. Bellini's rivalry with his fellow Italian composer, Gaetano Donizetti, for French favor was at its height. This opera was to cement his supremacy. It was to be his last."

The Golden Age will officially open Jan. 27 in Philadelphia. For tickets phone (215) 985-0420 or visit PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.