The company's season opener will be directed by James Glossman and will play through Oct. 19. Jake Robards, who made his Broadway debut as Howie Newsome in Thornton Wilder's Our Town, will head the cast as astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil with Prentiss Benjamin, seen Off-Broadway in How to Build a Better Tulip, as Margot, Le Gentil's housekeeper and former mistress. Robards is the youngest son of Jason Robards. Benjamin is the daughter of Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss. The latter had been previously announced to co-star with her daughter, but has withdrawn due to recent surgery.

The cast will also feature Anthony Blaha as Demarais, Julie Sihilling as Celeste and Linda Setzer as Mme. Sylvie.

Transit of Venus, according to press notes, is "a love story that charts a celestial course between destiny and desire. Set in a French countryside home in 1760, this New Jersey premiere is based on astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil and the women in his life, whose lives change during his multi-year absences seeking to observe a rare celestial event: Venus passing between the Earth and Sun."

The creative team includes set designer Carrie Mossman, lighting designer Richard Currie, sound designer Jeff Knapp, costume designer Bettina Bierly and stage manager Yumi Matsuura.

Show times are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM.

The Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ. For tickets call (973) 971-3706 or visit www.bickfordtheatre.org.