Rosaline Ayres directs Ives' play, fully titled New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656, whch will run through July 15 at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Easton (The Invention of Love, Coast of Utopia), who originated the role of Saul Levi Mortera in the 2008 Off-Broadway production at Classic Stage Company, reprises his performance alongside Asner (Sunrise at Campobello, Born Yesterday, Face of a Hero), Matthew Wolf, Andrea Gabriel, Arye Gross, Amy Pietz and James Wagner.

According to LATW, "The play follows young philosopher Baruch de Spinoza as he faces excommunication from the Jewish community for his provocative, subversive new ideas. Often called the 'absolute philosopher' of the 17th century, Spinoza was a passionate advocate of rationalism, the idea that a man's intellect is superior to his senses. A Portuguese Jew living in Amsterdam, Spinoza's allegedly atheist beliefs not only shocked the Jewish community, but jeopardized their comfortable relationship with the surrounding Dutch society. With his special blend of cerebral language and wry humor, critically-acclaimed playwright David Ives gives Spinoza a chance to defend himself in front of a community of critics in a courtroom clash between religion and rationalism."

All LATW performances are recorded and broadcast on LATW's nationally syndicated radio theatre series, "The Play's the Thing."

For tickets to any of "The Play's the Thing" productions at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, call the L.A. Theatre Works box office at (310) 827-0889.

For more information visit latw.org.