The Exonerated is drawn from the stories of a half-dozen former death row inmates who shared a variety of experiences and feelings with playwrights Blank and Jensen. Most described losing their faith in the justice system, while discovering that it was the resources available to a defense team that made the difference between achieving justice or experiencing a miscarriage of it.

Ventimiglia is known to HBO audiences as chef and restaurant owner Artie Bucco in the drama "The Sopranos." The actor played in the recent National Actors Theatre production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. His film appearances include "Trees Lounge," "Extreme Measures," "Mickey Blue Eyes" and "Jesus' Son."

Playing opposite Ventimiglia currently is Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach through April 27. Richard Masur and Marlo Thomas are scheduled to co-star April 29-May 4.

Past cast members of this run have included Eric Bogosian, Peter Boyle, Avery Brooks, Charles Brown, Gabriel Byrne, Judy Collins, Tim Daly, Kristin Davis, Richard Dreyfuss, Cary Elwes, Mia Farrow, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Gallagher, Sara Gilbert, Tony Goldwyn, Penn Jillette, Sarah Jones, Robert Klein, Christine Lahti, Darrell Larson, Chad Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Morrow, Joe Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Amanda Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, Jay O. Sanders, Kyra Sedgwick, Ally Sheedy, Brooke Shields, Mary Steenburgen, Lee Tergesen, Kathleen Turner, Robert Vaughn and Montel Williams.

Upcoming casts will include Tim Daly (May 6-18), Alan Rosenberg, John Spencer and Ben Vereen (May 20-June 1). Artists and dates are subject to change. The Exonerated plays at Off-Broadway's 45 Bleecker, where it opened Oct. 10. 45 Bleecker is located at 45 Bleecker Street. For reservations, call (212) 307-4100.