Rooth, who was the understudy for Tony Award-winning actress Nina Arianda in the Broadway run of Venus in Fur, slips on Vanda's corset for the Connecticut production that also features Wells (The Coast of Utopia, The Rivals) as playwright Thomas.

Rob Ruggiero directs the two-hander that will officially open Oct. 12 for a run through Nov. 11.

Here's how Venus in Fur is billed: "Thomas, a beleaguered playwright/director, is desperate to find an actress to play Vanda, the female lead in his adaptation of the classic sadomasochistic tale, Venus in Furs. Into his empty audition room walks a vulgar and equally desperate actress - oddly enough, named Vanda. Though utterly wrong for the sophisticated part, Vanda exhibits a strange command of the material, piquing Thomas' interest with her seductive talents and secretive manner. As the two work through the script, they blur the line between play and reality, entering into an increasingly serious game of submission and domination that only one of them can win."

The TheaterWorks production design team includes Donald Eastman (scenic design), Alejo Vietti (costume design), John Lasiter (lighting design) and Vincent Olivieri and Beth Lake (sound design).

Venus in Fur premiered in early 2010 in a production by Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company. It then transferred to a celebrated Broadway run in 2011-2012.

For further information visit theaterworkshartford.org.