The play will be directed by George C. Wolfe, the Public's artistic director. The plot concerns a racially-motivated shooting and the events that follow.

The Story is the fourth production to be linked to the coming season, which has yet to be officially announced by the nonprofit. As first reported by Playbill On-Line earlier this year, the roster will also include The Visit, the John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally musical; and Caroline or Change, the new sung-through musical by playwright-librettist Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori.

A recently-announced March production of As You Like It pushed Two Noble Kinsmen out of its spring slot, making the obscure classical drama another candidate for next season.

The Visit premiered in Chicago in 2001. It will have its New York debut at the Public in January 2004, the composers told Playbill On-Line.

The show will feature the Chicago stars Chita Rivera and John McMartin, as well as the work of original director Frank Galati and choreographer Ann Reinking, confirmed Kander and Ebb Feb. 5. Caroline or Change will be produced at the Public Theater in the fall, director George C. Wolfe confirmed. "We did a big workshop of Act One and Two in October [2002]," he said. "We're going to do another workshop in maybe June and probably go into rehearsal sometime in September."

The cast will feature Tonya Pinkins, Chuck Cooper and Veanne Cox, said Wolfe. Denis O'Hare was in the workshop, but may not be able to do the show, most likely due to his involvement in the Broadway production of Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out, which began at the Public.

The Public has not yet revealed the two plays set to fill up the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park this summer.