MTC announced the director and initial casting for the spring 2013 Off-Broadway staging on Oct. 4. Bruni directed the recent Encores! concerts of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream and Harold Rome's Fanny, as well as Off-Broadway's Ordinary Days and Old Jews Telling Jokes.

The Explorers Club will begin previews on May 14, 2013, and open June 4 at City Center Stage I. Single tickets are on sale now for all three Manhattan Theatre Club productions at New York City Center – Stage I (Golden Age, The Madrid and The Explorers Club). Tickets are $85.

Here's how MTC bills the play: "London, 1879. The prestigious Explorers Club faces the worst crisis in their history: their acting president wants to admit a woman, and their bartender is terrible.

"True, the female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City, but the decision to let in a woman could shake the very foundation of the British Empire, and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink?

"Grab your safety goggles for some very mad science involving deadly cobras, irate Irishmen, and the occasional airship." The Explorers Club will be Easton's second appearance as a part of MTC's 2012-13 season, following Golden Age (in which he plays Rossini). In The Explorers Club, Easton will play Professor Sloane and Boyer will play Professor Walling, both members of the Explorers Club.

Easton received a 2001 Tony for Best Actor in a Play for The Invention of Love. Boyer received a 2012 Obie Award for his performance in Hand to God.

Benjamin was one of the writers of the musicals Legally Blonde, Cam Jansen and Sarah, Plain and Tall, among other projects.

Additional casting and creative team for The Explorers Club will be announced shortly.

New York City Center Box Office is at 131 W. 55th Street. For tickets, call CityTix at (212) 581-1212 or visit nycitycenter.org. For more information on MTC, visit ManahattanTheatreClub.com.