Jonathan M. Woodward

New York City has inspired and played host to numerous superhero adventures, and beginning Jan. 17, the Roundtable Ensemble will present the world premiere of the superhero-themed play Save the World at the American Theatre of Actors.

Chris Kipiniak, an original cast member of the Broadway production of Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, has penned the new work that was developed with Michael Barakiva.

Michael Barakiva — who helmed the Barrington Stage Company workshop of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the premieres of Wendy Wasserstein’s Welcome to My Rash and Third in Washington, D.C. — will direct a cast that includes Craig Bridger (Roach), Charissa Chamorro (Umbra), Christine Corpuz (Quake), Noshir Dalal (Legend), Kelly Hutchinson (Prodigy/Reporter), Danielle Skraastad (Future-Knight) and Jonathan Woodward (Stagger).

Save the World "is a globe-spanning adventure, exploring the moral limitations of incredible power," according to production notes. "The superheroes of the Protectorate (Legend, Umbra, Stagger, Prodigy, Quake, Roach, and Future-Knight) fight bravely to protect the earth from a series of seemingly unrelated disasters. But when the unthinkable occurs the team begins to splinter. In their desperate search for the cause of the threat, compromises are made. So are mistakes. With their incredible powers and their human failings, the heroes risk becoming threats themselves to the good they’ve sworn to uphold."

Creative duties will be handled by Shoko Kambara (set design), Oana Botez-Ban (costume design), Nick Francone (lighting design) and Shane Rettig (music and sound design). The production stage manager is Danielle Teague-Daniels.

The four-week engagement, which officially opens Jan. 19, will continue through Feb. 9. Tickets, priced $18, are available by calling (800) 838-3006 or by visiting www.roundtableensemble.org.

The American Theatre of Actors is located at 314 West 54th Street in Manhattan.