A co-production with the Alley Theatre, Hartford Stage and Huntington Theatre Company, Ether Dome will officially open July 18 and continue through Aug. 10 in the Mandell Weiss Forum.

Directed by Michael Wilson, the cast features Michael Bakkensen (Festen, Noises Off) as Horace Wells, Greg Balla as Bigelow, Sam Breen as Paul/Medical Student, Ken Cheeseman as Dr. Gould, Benjamin Cole as Medical Student, Kevin Hafso-Koppman as Medical Student, Walker Hare (Cornerstone) as Medical Student, Richmond Hoxie (Light up the Sky) as Dr. Warren, Bill Kux (The Trip to Bountiful, The Best Man) as Dr. Hayward, Linda Libby as Mrs. Wadsworth, Tom Patterson (Sideways) as William Morton, Amelia Pedlow as Elizabeth Wells, Lee Sellars (A Time to Kill, West Side Story) as Dr. Colton, Hannah Tamminen (Cornerstone) as Girl in White, Liba Vaynberg as Lizzie Morton and William Youmans (Hands on a Hardbody, Finian's Rainbow) as Dr. Jackson.

"When a new treatment promises to eradicate pain, a doctor and his student play out an epic battle between altruism and ambition," press notes state. "Based on the true story of the discovery of ether as an anesthetic in 1846, Ether Dome is a fascinating new play that explores the pain that afflicts humankind, our attempts to find relief and the beginning of healthcare as big business."

The creative team includes Jim Youmans (scenic designer), David C. Woolard (costume designer), David Lander (lighting designer), John Gromada (sound designer/composer), Alex Neumann (sound designer) and Shirley Fishman (dramaturg).

For tickets call (858) 550-1010 or visit LaJollaPlayhouse.org.