Stephen Brackett will direct the work that is set to officially open May 2 for a run through May 14.

Eikenberry (Moonchildren, The Kid) will play Hope, with Schmidt (Come Back Little Sheba) as Melody, in a cast that will also include Chad Hoeppner (Spy Garbo) as Craig and Jonny Orsini (Banished Children of Eve) as Brad.

Here's how Ars Nova bills the premiere: "Melody thought being a young wife was hard, until she became a widow. Luckily her mother-in-law, Hope, is a professional — mourner, that is. Navigating the prickly terrain of pressed black dresses, well-intended advice and inappropriate outbursts, Melody stumbles toward understanding what it means to find someone through losing them in this new sad comedy about handling loss like a grownup."

Be a Good Little Widow will have set design by Daniel Zimmerman, costume design by Jessica Pabst, lighting design by Burke Brown and sound design by Bart Fasbender.

Brunstetter's plays include House of Home, Miss Lilly Gets Boned and OOHRAH! Her play A Long and Happy Life will be produced Off-Broadway by Naked Angels in June under the direction of Pippin Parker. Ars Nova is located in Manhattan at 511 West 54th Street. For tickets phone (212) 352-3101 or visit ArsNova.