The sprawling three-hour work, which flashes from New York City in 2000 to 1930's Vienna and 1940 London, began performances April 10 under the direction of Mark Wing-Davey and will continue through May 17 on the Public's Martinson stage.

The cast of includes Academy Award winner Dukakis ("Moonstruck"), Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, A Prayer for My Enemy), Randy Harrison (Edward the Second, "Queer as Folk"), Louis Cancelmi (Blasted), Mark Blum (Twelve Angry Men), Rob Campbell (Small Tragedy), Pierre Epstein (Plenty), Deborah Offner (Rebel Women) and Susan Pourfar (The Poor Itch).

The Singing Forest, according to press notes, "investigates how history collides with the human heart in [Lucas'] funniest and most poignant work to date. The Riemans are your typical American family: they haven't spoken to each other in decades. Severed by deeply buried secrets from the Holocaust, these endearing individuals are desperate to stay out of contact with each other. Their story takes you on a passage from today's world of Starbucks, celebrity and therapy to Freud's inner circle in Vienna and to Paris at the end of WWII. This is a classic inter-generational story that both moves and transports, sweeping through one family’s journey to reconcile their past."

Designing the Public Theater production are John McDermott (scenic design), Gabriel Berry (costume design), Japhy Weideman (lighting design) and John Gromada (sound and original music).

Playwright Craig Lucas received Tony nominations for his play Prelude to a Kiss and the book to the Tony-winning musical The Light in the Piazza. His plays also include A Prayer for My Enemy, The Dying Gaul, Reckless, Small Tragedy, Missing Persons, Blue Window and Stranger. For tickets, priced $60-$70, phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater.

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.