The bookend plays are inspired by Simon's youth in late-1930s Brooklyn (in the first play) and his young adulthood in showbiz in the late '40s (in the second). Scott Schwartz (Golda's Balcony, Bat Boy) directs both plays, which run to Nov. 7.

In addition to Ziemba as Jerome family matriarch Kate (a character inspired by Simon's mother), the productions feature David Bishins as Jack Jerome, Bonnie Black as Blanche Morton, Sloan Grenz as Stanley Jerome, Austyn Myers as Eugene Jerome, Allie Trimm (Broadway's Bye Bye Birdie) as Nora Morton and Julia Vanderwiel as Laurie Morton (in Brighton Beach Memoirs) and Bishins, Black, Howard Green as Ben Epstein, Joseph Parks as Stanley Jerome and Brandon Uranowitz as Eugene Jerome (in Broadway Bound).

Ziemba won her Best Featured Actress Tony Award for Contact. Her Broadway credits also include Never Gonna Dance, Curtains, Chicago, Steel Pier and more.

"Performed in repertory, Simon's semi-autobiographical plays follow the life of Eugene Morris Jerome from the foibles of youth in late-1930s Brooklyn to a career as a comedy writer for radio," according to Old Globe.

The production team includes Ralph Funicello (scenic design), Alejo Vietti (costume design), Matthew McCarthy (lighting design), Paul Peterson (sound design), Michael Holland (original music), Jan Gist (dialect coach) and Diana Moser (stage manager). Schwartz directed last season's hit Old Globe production of Lost in Yonkers. For the record, Brighton Beach Memoirs began previews Sept. 14; Broadway Bound began Sept. 17.

For more information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org or call (619) 23-GLOBE.