Scott Ellis (Curtains, The Little Dog Laughed) directed the work, which began previews Jan. 26 for a run at the company's midtown home through April 4.

Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu) penned the barb-filled Mr. & Mrs. Fitch that centers on two gossip columnists. "When the social circuit no longer provides any scandalous news, they find that great celebrity can appear out of thin air," according to a release. The new comedy promises "a scathing look at who is in, who is out and who may not even exist at all."

The Cole Porter song of the same name about two socialites — which is featured in the show — served as the play's inspiration. Beane explained, "Cole and his friends invented a fake couple of social climbers named Mr. and Mrs. S. Beach Fitch. They would all take turns spreading word of their exploits to various society writers. Cholly Knickerbocker exposed the hoax and Cole Porter wrote the song."

Lithgow was last seen on Broadway in the revival of All My Sons. His stage work also includes Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mrs. Farnsworth, The Retreat From Moscow and his Tony Award-winning turns in The Changing Room and Sweet Smell of Success. He recently earned a Golden Globe for his turn on "Dexter." Other credits include "Shrek," "Kinsey," "Terms of Endearment" and "Footloose."

Ehle appeared in The Coast of Utopia, earning her second Tony win for her role in the Tom Stoppard epic. Her first came for her Broadway debut in the 2000 revival of Stoppard's The Real Thing. Other credits include Design for Living, Macbeth and the films "Pride and Prejudice" and "Possession." The design team features Allen Moyer (scenic), Jeff Mahshie (costume) and Kenneth Posner (lighting).

Second Stage next presents the New York premiere of Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (April 27-June 20) and Paul Weitz's Trust (summer 2010).

For tickets to Mr. & Mrs. Fitch at Second Stage Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (off Eighth Avenue), call (212) 246-4422. For more information, visit 2ST.com.