Arthur Miller's post-World War II drama "All My Sons" -- an exploration of personal ethics and the paradoxes behind the American dream -- will open the 2006-07 theater season at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 14.

The play is directed by Cornell professor of theater arts David Feldshuh, artistic director of the Schwartz Center, and stars Feldshuh's college mate Peter Michael Goetz, a Broadway, television and film actor who is in residence as the Atkinson Forum's Distinguished Guest Artist.

Miller's first critical success, "All My Sons" was originally directed by Elia Kazan and won the 1947 Tony and New York Drama Critics' Circle awards.

"I do love this play," says Goetz, who has appeared in "All My Sons" three previous times. "I think it's very universal. Although it was written in 1947, it talks to what's going on in our society today, maybe even more than it did then, about people being responsible for taking care of our soldiers. It's a well-crafted, old-fashioned, good character-driven play."

In the play, which Miller based in part on a true World War II story, aircraft parts factory-owner Joe Keller (played by Goetz) has been exonerated in the deaths of 21 pilots, whose planes crashed as the result of damaged engine parts. Keller blames his partner, Steve Deever.

"We try to figure out why a person is not necessarily all good, but realize they are not all bad," Goetz says. "It's a tightrope we have to walk. I didn't do some things right, but we have to hope the audience doesn't think I'm all bad at the end."

Meanwhile, Joe's youngest son, Larry, has been missing in action for three years and is presumed dead, and Joe's other son, Chris, wants to marry Larry's girlfriend -- who is also the daughter of Joe's partner.

The conflict between the Keller and Deever families and between business decisions and moral responsibility fuels Miller's criticism of the American Dream.

"I've tried very hard to keep it fresh in every way I can," Goetz says. "For me, I'm finding so many new things in this play. David is a brilliant director, and he approaches every moment looking for truth, looking for reality."

Goetz was featured in the film "Glory" and both "Father of the Bride" movies and has starred on Broadway with Matthew Broderick, Kelsey Grammer and Sigourney Weaver.

"Peter Goetz is a remarkable actor with 40 years experience on Broadway, in regional theater, film, television, dramas, comedies and musicals," Feldshuh says. "His craft, work ethic, sense of humor and creativity are an inspiration to everyone in the cast, and the result is going to be a very special performance that shouldn't be missed."

Goetz and Feldshuh attended college together in Minneapolis and acted in a production at the Guthrie Theater about 40 years ago. "We've been friends all these years, so he said, 'You've got to come to Cornell,'" Goetz says.

The cast also features Cornell students Ashley Adams, Barrie Kreinik, Phil Mills, Emily Ranii and Reed Van Dyk; Equity actors and Resident Professional Teaching Associates Tom Demenkoff, Carolyn Goelzer and Charles Goforth; and young Ithaca actor Kevin Hilgartner.

Show times are Sept. 14-16 and Sept. 21-23 at 8 p.m., with one matinee, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, $8 for students and seniors. Season subscriptions are available throughout the play's run. For tickets or information, call the box office at (607) 254-ARTS.