Matthew Arbour will direct the 1939 tale of a Southern family's avarice. Meisle was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Tartuffe. She also appeared on Broadway in A Touch of the Poet, The Constant Wife and London Assurance.

According to Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, "The Little Foxes is the story of the ambitious, Southern, middle-class Hubbard siblings and their less-than-honorable scheme to become rich even at the expense of destroying their own family. Set in 1900, the Hubbard brothers Oscar and Benjamin and their sister Regina are certain they can finally join the ranks of the social elite if they make good on a business venture to build a cotton mill in the town. Inflamed by greed, the siblings conspire to deceive and manipulate their own family, as well as each other, despite the inevitable consequences."

Opening night is June 6 at the Shakespeare Theatre’s Main Stage, The F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road in Madison, NJ.

Hellman is the author of Watch on the Rhine and The Children's Hour, among other socially pungent plays. The critically acclaimed and vaguely autobiographical The Little Foxes opened on Broadway in 1939 and starred Tallulah Bankhead as Regina Hubbard. Bette Davis starred in the film.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey company includes Philip Goodwin (Broadway's Tartuffe, The Diary of Anne Frank and The School for Scandal) as Benjamin, Regina's conniving brother; Brian Dykstra (an actor-playwright) as Oscar, the second brother to Regina; Bradford Cover (Broadway's A Thousand Clowns) as Horace Giddens, Regina's ailing husband; Deanne Lorette (whose regional credits include The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse, St. Louis Repertory and more) as Birdie, brother Oscar's wife; Lindsey Wochley, making her Shakespeare Theatre debut, as Regina's daughter Alexandra; Shakespeare Theatre veteran Fisher Neal as Leo, Oscar's son; Venida Evans as Addia; Ron Brice as Cal; and Einar Gunn as William Marshall. The creative team of The Little Foxes includes set designer Scott Bradley, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau, costume designer Brian Russman and sound designer Richard M. Dionne. Kathy Snyder is production stage manager.

For tickets or more information, call the box office at (973) 408-5600, email [email protected] or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.