Santiago-Hudson will direct the show, which begins Off-Broadway previews May 22 and opens June 8 for a run through June 28 at the downtown Manhattan stage. "Set in Depression-era Alabama," as show notes explain, Things of Dry Hours "tells the story of Tice Hogan (Lindo), an African American out-of-work Sunday school teacher and member of the Communist Party, and his daughter Cali (Ruff) whose lives get turned upside down when they take-in a mysterious white factory worker on the run."

Lindo, a Tony Award nominee for his last Broadway appearance in the original Joe Turner's Come and Gone, makes his return to the New York stage in more than 20 years. Also a Broadway vet of Master Harold and the Boys, he is known for his film turns in "The Cider House Rules," "Heist," "A Life Less Ordinary," the small-screen adaptation of "The Exonerated" and the series "Kidnapped." Recently, he has directed stagings of Joe Turner's Come and Gone and The Blue Door.

Ruff recently appeared in Athol Fugard's Coming Home at the Long Wharf Theatre. She has also appeared in "Rachel Getting Married" and Off-Broadway stagings of The Cherry Orchard, Pudd'nhead Wilson and The Taming of the Shrew.

Both actors have previously worked with director Santiago-Hudson — Lindo on the HBO adaptation of Lackawanna Blues and Ruff on the Signature Theatre Company staging of Seven Guitars. The director (who also performs, writes and produces) has also staged The First Breeze of Summer and Gem of the Ocean. As an actor — seen in the recent Encores! run of Finian's Rainbow — he currently appears on "Castle" and has been seen on "Law & Order" and in the film "American Gangster."

For ticket to Things of Dry Hours at NYTW, 79 East Fourth Street, call (212) 239-6200. For more information visit the website at www.nytw.org.