Opening night at the company's mainstage is July 10.

Associate artistic director Joe Discher directs Shaw's 1894 play that looks at heroism, war and love. The story's hero, the war-weary soldier, Bluntschli (played by Mahan), famously carries candy instead of bullets. He finds himself in the bed chamber of Raina (played by Sturgis) one night.

Sturgis last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre as Stella in the acclaimed 2008 production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Mahan was last seen at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in The Time of Your Life. He has also appeared at Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Indiana Repertory and in the HBO mini-series "John Adams."

The cast also includes Anthony Marble as Raina's flirtatious fiancé, Sergius; Bill Christ as Raina's father, the high ranking Major Petkoff; Anne-Marie Cusson as Catherine, Raina's mother; Ames Adamson as Nicola, the family servant; Helen Farmer as Louka, the servant girl; and Jason Edward Bobb as the Russian officer.

The production team includes set designer Charles Calvert, lighting designer Matthew Adelson and costume designer Emily Pepper. Christine Whelan serves as production stage manager. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's main stage is the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus).

For tickets, call the box office at (973) 408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email [email protected].