The star is scheduled to appear in at least 13 episodes of the Dick Wolf-created series.

The trade publication reports that Martin will team with new co-star Jeremy Sisto ("Six Feet Under," Festen) when the show returns. Casting for the show has also been in the news of late, as Sam Waterston (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) was announced to replace the departing politician-actor Fred Thompson.

Martin is known to theatre audiences for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent — a part he reprised for the Christopher Columbus film version of the musical. Martin is also known for his television appearances on "Ally McBeal" and as the Ghost of Christmas Present in NBC's TV musical version of "A Christmas Carol." He can also be heard on the Sh-K-Boom Records release of Paul Scott Goodman's rock opera Bright Lights, Big City. Martin is also slated to play Marvin Gaye in the feature film biopic "Sexual Healing."

New York-based actors all breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was recently announced that the New York-set series "Law & Order" and its spinoffs would return next season. The original "Law & Order" will reach its 18th season starting in January 2008 on Sunday nights. (The shows have provided many stage actors with a paying TV gig over the years.)

For more information, visit NBC.com.