David Bar Katz will direct the Off-Broadway engagement that begins Aug. 31 towards a Sept. 8 opening night. Performances are scheduled through Oct. 9.

Viscardi (Madwoman of Chaillot, "The Sopranos") will  portray the former Daily News and New York Post columnist who earned a Pulitzer Prize for his exposé of the New York police torture of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in 1997. McAlary died of cancer at the age of 41 in 1998.

According to playwright Klores, "Mike’s life was made for theatre. He was filled with energy, genius and courage. He was a tough and shrewd New Yorker with a b.s. barometer that clicked in from the get go."

The cast will also include Gregory Bastien as Abner Louima, Michael Carlsen (The Coast of Utopia) as Justin Volpe, Melanie Charles as Micheline Louima/Nurse, LAByrinth Theater co-founder David Deblinger (Our Lady of 121st Street) as Tommy, Kim Director ("Inside Man") as Alice McAlary, Thomas Kopache (Orpheus Descending, Our Town) as Kornberg/Editor/Cop/Garbus and Sidney Williams (Little Flower of East Orange) as Doctor/EMS Worker/Deputy Commissioner.

The design team will include John McDermott (scenic design), Kalere A. Payton (costume design), Joel Moritz (lighting design), Janie Bullard (sound design), Steve Channon (projection design) and Nina Alexander (properties).

Klores' play Little Doc received its world premiere as part of Rattlestick's 2010 season. His films include "The Boys of 2nd Street Park," "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story," "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks," "Crazy Love" and "Black Magic."

Visit rattlestick.org. The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is located at 224 Waverly Place (between West 11th and Perry St.).