The trilogy tells the story of a group of 19th-century Russian intellectuals who over a span of 30 years debate politics and philosophy and struggle to change their political system.

The first part of the trilogy, Voyage, which begins the action in 1833, opened to mostly rapturous reviews on Nov. 27. Part two, Shipwreck, begins outside Moscow 13 years after the first part and follows the characters to Paris, Dresden and Nice. Part three, Salvage, which takes place over 12 years in London and Geneva, begins previews Jan. 30, 2007, and opens Feb. 15.

The trilogy was recently extended to May 13. The three plays will be performed in repertory until then.

There will be nine Saturday marathons, in which all three parts are performed in one day: Feb. 24, March 3, March 10, March 24, March 31, April 7, April 21, April 28 and May 5.

The eight-hour trilogy, directed by Broadway veteran Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), boasts a cast of 44, including Billy Crudup, Richard Easton, Jennifer Ehle, Josh Hamilton, David Harbour, Jason Butler Harner, Ethan Hawke, Amy Irving, Brían F. O'Byrne and Martha Plimpton.

The play has sets by Bob Crowley and Scott Pask, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Brian MacDevitt (Voyage), Kenneth Posner (Shipwreck) and Natasha Katz (Salvage) and original music and sound design by Mark Bennett.

O'Brien previously directed LCT's productions of Stoppard's plays Hapgood and The Invention of Love. LCT also produced Stoppard's Arcadia.

The Coast of Utopia premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2002 in a production directed by Trevor Nunn.

The Vivian Beaumont Theater is located in Manhattan at 150 West 65th Street in Lincoln Center. For tickets or more information visit www.coastofutopia.com.