Wild Animals You Should Know began previews Nov. 4 and centers on two teenage boys involved in an erotic game of cat and mouse. Trip Cullman directs the production that will officially open Nov. 20 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

The cast features Ripley (Next to Normal, Side Show, Sunset Boulevard), Patrick Breen (The Normal Heart, Next Fall), Gideon Glick (Spring Awakening, Spider-Man), Jay Armstrong Johnson (8, Hair), John Behlmann (The 39 Steps) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (A Streetcar Named Desire at Williamstown).

On Nov. 8 MCC executive director Blake West will join Baitz and Higgins for a discussion about the origins of Wild Animals…

Higgins will return Nov. 22 to speak with James Dale to discuss his removal from his post as assistant scoutmaster of Boy Scouts of America due to his sexuality. Ian Allen will moderate.

The full cast of Wild Animals will join MCC co-artistic director Will Cantler to discuss the play Nov. 29. According to MCC, "Matthew (Johnson) and Jacob (Glick) are an unlikely pair of friends. Matthew is a soccer star, full of brio and teenage swagger. Jacob is, well, not. Beneath the surface, though, the two are locked in an innocently erotic game of cat and mouse. When Matthew's reluctant father, Walter, (Breen) is wrangled by his wife Marsha (Ripley) into chaperoning the boys' trip to a wilderness scout camp, he finds himself drawn into their adolescent game. But Matthew has secretly decided just how far he's willing to go for his final act of scouting and everyone might do well to heed the scouts' motto: Be Prepared."

The production has scenic design by Andromache Chalfant, costume design by Jenny Mannis, lighting design by David Weiner and sound design by Fitz Patton.

Wild Animals You Should Know  was previously developed at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Higgins' works also include This Modern House, The Elephant Party and The Home Maker.

Visit mcctheater.org. The Lucille Lortel Theatre is located at 121 Christopher Street.