Joanna Settle — who staged previous runs — returns to direct new star Mozhan Marnò in Raffo's drama which opens Jan. 25 at the California company's Thrust Stage for a run through March 5. In Nine Parts of Desire, Marnò will portray a cross-section of Iraqi women providing "a glimpse into what it means to be a woman in the age-old war zone." The work previously enjoyed runs in London, New York and Los Angeles.

Marnò is a recent graduate from the Yale School of Drama and has performed regionally at the Guthrie Theatre Lab as well as with Yale Repertory Theatre. Her credits include the title role in Antony and Cleopatra, as well as turns in Orpheus Descending, As You Like It and King John. The Los Angeles native will also appear in the upcoming David Mamet-created CBS series "The Unit."

The design team for Nine Parts of Desire includes Antje Ellermann (set), Kasia Walicka Maimone (costume), Peter West (lighting) and Obadiah Eaves (sound). Nicole Dickerson serves as stage manager.

The Berkeley Rep season continues with Culture Clash's Zorro in Hell (March 17–April 16), Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie starring Rita Moreno (April 6–June 4) and Theatre de la Jeune Lune production Molière's The Miser (May 12-June 25).

Tickets to Nine Parts of Desire are available at the Berkeley Rep box office, 2025 Addison Street in Berkeley, CA by calling (510) 647-2949 or toll free at (888) 4 BRT-tix. For more information, visit the website at www.berkeleyrep.org.