1999 Obie Award winner Daniel Gerroll is in the center of David Van Asselt's psychological suspense drama, The Messenger, which began performances March 15 at the Rattlestick Theatre Off-Broadway. The play, billed "funny, cruel and tense," runs through April 16 and officially opens March 19. Stephen DiMenna directs.

A surprise package sets off the world of The Messenger, where a bike delivery person's life becomes mysteriously entwined with a department store mogul's and finally culminates in a life or death struggle. Van Asselt, artistic director for Rattlestick, is the author of Winning, Dog Daze and A Trip to the Beach.

An Off-Broadway staple, Gerroll most recently performed in An Experiment With an Air Pump at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Other New York roles include Irish Rep's successful revival of Dion Boucicault's The Shaughraun, Jeffrey Hatcher's Scotland Road and Broadway's High Society. Film roles include "Chariots of Fire."

Also in the cast are Troy Garity and Amy Hart Redford. Picked as one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People of 1998, Garity appeared as his father Tom Hayden in the film "Steal This Movie." Redford, a current artist in residence with Mabou Mines, has credits with HBO's "The Sopranos" and NBC's "Wonderland," as well as the plays Who Will Carry the World and Hello and Goodbye.

Designing Messenger are David Korins (sets), Anne Marie Wright (costumes), Ed McCarthy (lighting) and Laura Grace Brown (sound). Tickets are $30. The Rattlestick Theatre (formerly Theatre Off Park) is located at 224 Waverly Place. For information and tickets, call (212) 532-8887.

-- By Christine Ehren