The production, directed by Joe Mantello, will begin previews on March 28 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre and will have its official press opening on April 19. The limited 12-week engagement will run through June 18.

In the first act, Rudd will play Roberts' brother, and Cooper will play the siblings' childhood friend. In the second act, the three play the parents of the first-act characters.

Three Days of Rain will have scenic and costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Paul Gallo and sound design by David Van Tieghem.

Tickets will be available through Telecharge, (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com, at a date to be announced. The opening date for the Jacobs box office is to be announced as well.

Marc Platt and David Stone and the Shubert Organization will produce.

Broadway has seen many film stars pay visits in recent years, including Denzel Washington, Jessica Lange, Kathleen Turner and Liam Neeson, but Julia Roberts, the top-rated actress in Hollywood, is arguably in a class by herself. Her presence in a play is likely to cause a ticket-buying and publicity frenzy akin to that provoked by Sean Combs when he signed on for A Raisin in the Sun.

According to the Times, the production came together over the last six weeks after a reading held in late June in Los Angeles.

Three Days of Rain was first produced Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club in 1997, with Patricia Clarkson in the Roberts role.