Previews for Vern Thiessen's play began Oct. 1, and the limited engagement will run through Nov. 6.

Directed by Ron Russell, the cast features Shawn Elliott as the famed Einstein and Aasif Mandvi as Haber, the award-winning German chemist. The cast also includes James Wallert, Melissa Friedman, Sarah Winkler, Glenn Flesher, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. and Nilaja Sun.

Haber, according to production notes, was a German chemist who "won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1918 for the synthesis of ammonia from its elements, a discovery that was applied to the development of synthetic fertilizers. But Haber also put his genius to use for the German military at the start of World War I and became known as the father of modern chemical warfare. Likewise, Einstein, a pacifist, inadvertently contributed to the development of the atomic bomb by advising Roosevelt on his fears of how an enemy might develop such a weapon."

Shawn Elliott's Broadway credits include Marie Christine and City of Angels, and he played Judge Joe Rivera on TV's "Law & Order." Aasif Mandvi recently appeared in On the Razzle at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and his New York theatre credits include Guantanamo and Homebody/Kabul. Among his film credits are "Spider Man 2," "Analyze This," "The Siege" and "Die Hard 3."

Einstein's Gift plays Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 PM with matinees on Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. For tickets, call (212) 279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com. The Acorn Theatre is located in Manhattan at 410 West 42nd Street.