Finn Wittrock (who played Happy in the recent Tony Award-winning revival of Death of a Salesman) has been mentioned for the role of hustler Chance Wayne in the play. The Goodman has not officially revealed casting.

Acclaimed director David Cromer (Off-Broadway's Our Town, Tribes) will stage the Williams classic about a broken movie star on the arm of a gigolo returning to his Mississippi hometown.

Performances are scheduled for Sept. 15-Oct. 21 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. The Tribune also reported that a new production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, directed by artistic director Robert Falls, will fill the 2012-13 TBA slot.

Here's how Goodman characterizes the play, which had a Broadway bow in 1959 starring Geraldine Page and Paul Newman: "Into the tiny resort hamlet of St. Cloud, Mississippi, drifts an improbable couple: the Princess Kosmonopolis (née Alexandra Del Lago), a Hollywood legend fleeing the disastrous premiere of her latest epic, and Chance Wayne, a young actor-turned-gigolo who has brought his new benefactress to his hometown in the hopes of reclaiming his former glory — and an ex-girlfriend whose powerful father forced him to leave town years earlier. But when a youthful mistake surfaces that threatens Chance's plans, he and Alexandra must confront their crumbling dreams. Laced with humor and Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth is a sensual, haunting theatrical journey that will captivate and seduce you."

Cromer was previously announced to helm a Broadway production of the play starring James Franco, for the 2011-12 season, but Franco reportedly withdrew, scotching that plan. See Cromer talk about Sweet Bird — which has long been on his wish list — on a video on Goodman Theatre's website. This will mark Chicago director Cromer's Goodman debut.  Princess Kosmonopolis made Playbill's list of Tennessee Williams' Five Most Memorable Divas in a spring 2012 feature; read what actress Margaret Colin had to say about the character. 

Diane Lane has three Broadway credits: The Cherry Orchard, Agamemnon and Runaways, but is more widely known for the films "The Perfect Storm," "Unfaithful," "Under the Tuscan Sun," "Rumble Fish," "The Outsiders" and "A Little Romance," plus a TV version of Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (she played Stella) and the TV mini-series "Lonesome Dove." According to imdb.com, she plays Martha Kent in the new Superman movie "Man of Steel."

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Goodman Theatre is currently presenting Regina Taylor's Crowns in the Albert, to Aug. 12. Visit goodmantheatre.org.