As previously reported, the season will launch with the late Horton Foote's The Orphans' Home Cycle under the direction of artistic director Michael Wilson. Running Sept. 3-Oct. 24, the nine-play cycle features Roots in a Parched Ground, Convicts and Lily Dale (Part I); The Widow Claire, Courtship and Valentine's Day (Part II); and 1918, Cousins and The Death of Papa (Part III).

Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's Gee's Bend will follow. Postponed from the 2008-2009 season, press notes for the work read: "Meet the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama who sing hauntingly beautiful gospel melodies as they create magnificent handmade quilts."

Also announced is Laura Eason's stage adaptation of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, which will be directed by Jeremy B. Cohen.

Lisa Peterson (The Poor Itch), who staged A Midsummer Night's Dream for Hartford last season, will return to direct Motherhood. The production features contributions from Jane Anderson, Leslie Ayvazian, Bridget Carpenter, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Lisa Loomer, Michelle Lowe, Theresa Rebeck and Annie Weisman.

Works under consideration for the final slot are The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Kwame Kwei-Armah's Let There Be Love and Craig Wright's Mistakes Were Made. SummerStage offerings include the Umbilical Brothers in Thwak!, as well as Vanessa Rubin starring in An Evening with Billie Holliday. The holidays will welcome the annual return of A Christmas Carol.

Hartford Stage is located at 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford, CT. For more information visit www.hartfordstage.org.