Divine Right, a sprawling religious drama by playwright Roy Doliner, will be given a backer's reading at the Manhattan Ensemble Theatre space in Soho at 8 PM Nov. 5. The public is welcome.

Divine Right takes place in 1263 in Barcelona at the court of King James I of Spain. The story is based on a historical episode during the infamous Spanish Inquisition in which the chief rabbi of Spain, Moses Machmanides, was brought before the Inquisition to defend his people, his family, and his faith.

Jeffrey Sanzel, the former artistic director of Theatre Three in Port Jefferson, Long Island, will direct a large cast featuring Neil Levine as Moses Nachmanides; Lester Shane and Stephen Doone as his sons; Edward Duetner as his grandson; Steve Ayle as a converted ex-Jew; Craig Dudley as Ramon, leader of the Dominicans; David Carson as Tomas, leader of the Franciscans; Michael Tomlinson as the King of Spain; Ed Chemaly as the King's Justiciary and Scribe; Richard Ezra Zekaria as a butcher's assistant; and Matt Steinberg as the Narrator.

Doliner's other plays include Redemption and The Puccini Lover.

The MET space is located at 55 Mercer Street, near Broome, in Manhattan. —By Robert Simonson