Jeff Calhoun will direct the play, which is being produced by Daryl Roth and Stacy Shane/ManUnderdog Prods., the original producers of Marans' critically acclaimed The Temperamentals.

A Strange and Separate People, according to press notes, concerns "an Upper West Side young Orthodox couple, Jay and Phyllis, [who] have managed to find a precarious equilibrium in their complicated personal and religious lives. However, that delicate balance is severely tested when Stuart, a doctor who is handsome, cocky, strangely charismatic gay man who is newly Orthodox, invades their lives. These are three intelligent, opinionated people who have a deep love of their religion and an enormous love of learning and questioning even authority points of view. At times these separate loves ferociously clash in a contemporary story of betrayal and new beginnings."

The creative team, casting and performance information will soon be announced.

Jon Marans is also the author of The Temperamentals, Old Wicked Songs (Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama) and Jumping For Joy.

Jeff Calhoun recently directed the premiere of Bonnie & Clyde, which is aiming for a Broadway bow next season. He will also direct the stage adaptation of Disney's Newsies at Papermill Playhouse. Most recently, he directed Jane Austen’s Emma: A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe as well as the national tour of 9 to 5. On Broadway he directed and choreographed the award-winning Deaf West Theatre production of Big River (2004 Tony Award Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre). Calhoun was a producer as well as director/choreographer for the Broadway production of Brooklyn the Musical and the director/choreographer of the 1994 revival of Grease! (Tony nomination Choreography). He co-choreographed the revival of Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award, Best Revival) and provided the musical staging for the Tony Award-winning Grey Gardens. His Broadway directing debut was Tommy Tune Tonite!