Tony-winning producer James Nederlander, Jr. has aligned with Maberry Theatricals and Craig Haffner to produce the dark, mysterious play, which is keeping the identity of its playwright hidden.

Devlin Elliott and Tom Kirdahy conceived and developed Afraid of the Dark along with its anonymous author and illusion designer Steinmeyer. Elliott and Kirdahy are the two men behind Maberry Theatricals and also produced Terrence McNally's Deuce and Ragtime on Broadway, as well as the world premiere of his play Unusual Acts of Devotion at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. 

Representatives for the production state that McNally is not attached to the project.

Will Frears, who has directed for MCC Theater, Second Stage and the New Group, will helm the four-actor production, which will begin previews Sept. 8 at the Little Shubert Theatre. The Little Shubert's current resident, Lucky Guy, is scheduled to play a limited run through July 24.

Casting and an opening date for Afraid of the Dark will be announced shortly. Designing Afraid of the Dark are scenic designer Neil Patel, Tony-winning lighting team Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, costume designer Jenny Mannis and sound designer Fitz Patton.

According to producers, "Afraid of the Dark is at once a play and a singular theatrical experience, depicting as it does the ghoulish and fantastical things that happen when four people, all acquaintances, are visited by a mysterious, cryptic stranger. Afraid of the Dark both raises the hair on one's neck and raises the questions, 'Where does a nightmare end and reality begin?' and 'What makes you afraid of the dark?'"

Steinmeyer's work has been seen in the Broadway productions of Merlin (with magician Doug Henning), Beauty and the Beast, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Into the Woods (2002 revival) and Amour. He has also consulted for Siegfried and Roy and David Copperfield, and designed for Orson Welles, Harry Blackstone, the Pendragons and the Barnum and Bailey Circus. 

Visit AfraidoftheDark.