Tomei set to return to N.Y. stage

NEW YORK -- Marisa Tomei has begun rehearsals for the off-Broadway production of "Oh the Humanity and Other Good Intentions," the Oscar-winning actress said in New York.

Tomei, who will soon be seen in Sidney Lumet's film "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," told UPI: "I'm rehearsing a play. ... It's at the Flea Theater and it's called 'Oh the Humanity.' It's a Will Eno play. He did 'Thom Pain' a couple years back and Jim Simpson is directing. I'm very excited."

The Brooklyn-born actress has previously starred on Broadway in "Salome" and "Wait Until Dark."

"If you're lucky enough to have grown up in New York, or gotten yourself to New York or London, some place where there is a lot of (theater acting) going on, if you get it in your blood early on, it's something that's very hard to shake," she said. "It really revives you on your soul level. I don't think it's something you can easily give up. … I feel lucky even to get to do this play we were just talking about. It's a really good play."

The world premiere production will begin previews Nov. 3 and run through Dec. 22, Playbill.com said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.