DC-based playwright Karen Zacarías' new work will play through March 2.

Directed by Round House associate artist Nick Olcott, the play "follows a group of thirty-somethings who invite a new member into their book club only to see this new personality threaten the foundation of their cherished friendships," according to Round House. It's billed as a "delightful new comedy about people who read books, people who say they read books, and people who prefer books to other people."

The cast includes Lise Bruneau, Matthew Detmer, Jason Paul Field, Sarah Marshall, Connan Morrissey, Sasha Olinick and Erika Rose.

Led by Ana, "we follow the book club from February to December, watching their delicate relationships ebb and flow as they discuss great works of literature."

Olcott worked with Zacarías since the play's inception. He stated, "This play looks at the ecology of a group of people and asks the question, 'What is it about the act of literature that is so important to us?'" Zacarías' other world premieres this season are Chasing George Washington: A White House Adventure at the Kennedy Center, and Looking for Roberto Clemente at Imagination Stage (with music by Debbie Wicks La Puma). The writer is the winner of the 2006 Francesca Primus Award for her play, Mariela in the Desert (The Goodman Theatre). Her play, The Sins of Sor Juana, won Outstanding New Play at the 2000 Helen Hayes Awards and has been produced throughout the country.

The creative team includes set designer James Kronzer, costume designer Rosemary Pardee, lighting designer Colin K. Bills, sound designer Matthew M. Nielson and projection designer JJ Kaczynski.

Round House Theatre is at 4545 East West Highway, in Bethesda, MD. For tickets, call (240) 644-1100 or visit www.roundhousetheatre.org.