Austin Pendleton will play the crucial role of the Chaplain, one of Mother Courage's few steady male companions in the play. Mother Courage's three unfortunate children will be played by Frederick Weller (as Eilif), Geoffrey Arend (as Swiss Cheese) and Alexandria Wailes (as the mute Kattrin).

Jack Noseworthy, remembered from the Broadway musical Sweet Smell of Success, will portray various roles. Jenifer Lewis will play the long-suffering tart Yvette.

Also in the cast are Raul Aranas, Max Baker, Ato Essandoh, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Glenn Fleshler, Michael Izquierdo, Eugene Jones, George Kmeck, Paco Lozano, Michael Markham, Larry Marshall, Sean Phillips, Silvestre Rasuk, Brittany Underwood, Jade Wu and Waleed Zuaiter.

Walken and Streep appeared together in the Public Theater's 2001 revival of Chekhov's The Seagull, which also played the Delacorte Theater. Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Caroline, or Change) has penned a new adaptation of the war drama. Kushner's Caroline, or Change collaborator Jeanine Tesori has created original music. George C. Wolfe will direct.

Streep caused a sensation in 2001 when she returned to the New York stage after a long absence to appear in a Mike Nichols rendition of Chekhov's The Seagull in Central Park. Kevin Kline, Natalie Portman and Philip Seymour Hoffman also starred in that staging.

During the 1970s, Streep appeared in New York City stagings of The Cherry Orchard, Happy End and Taming of the Shrew. She is the winner of two Oscars.

Anne Bancroft played Mother Courage on Broadway in 1963. Gloria Foster played the part in a Public Theater production of the play in the early 80s.