Kim Rubinstein (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guys and Dolls) directs the new staging to begin previews Jan. 11 and open Jan. 18 at the Connecticut company’s C. Newton Schenck Mainstage for a run through Feb. 5.

Private Lives follows two former lovers, Elyot and Amanda (now both involved with other romances), who find themselves in adjoining honeymoon suites. Before long, old passions flame anew and the former couple flee on a jaunt to Paris.

Hewitt stars with Shannon Cochran (Bug) as the former lovers, Christian Corp (Those Left Behind) and Will Kempe (Measure for Measure) portray their new spouses and Beatrice Basso (Sonnets for an Old Century) appears as the maid.

Hewitt returns to Long Wharf where he appeared last season in Travesties. He is known for his Broadway turns in Dracula The Musical, The Boys from Syracuse, The Rocky Horror Show, The Lion King, Art, School for Scandal and The Sisters Rosenzweig. He has also been seen in the national tour of Urinetown as well as regionally in Compleat Female Stage Beauty (Old Globe Theatre), Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby (Casa Manana), Uncle Vanya (Arena Stage), Racing Demon and Blithe Spirit (Guthrie Theatre).

The design team includes Kris Stone (set), Candice Donnelly (costumes), Robert Wierzel (lighting) and Daniel Baker (sound). Long Wharf will continue its season with the Steppenwolf Theatre's after the quake by Frank Galati (Feb. 22-March 19, 2006), Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's The Front Page (April 5-30, 2006) and Glen Berger's Underneath The Lintel (May 10-June 11, 2006).

  Tickets for Private Lives at Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, are available for purchase by calling (203) 787-4282 or toll-free at (800) 782-8497 and online at www.LongWharf.org.