For Carolee Carmello, Roma Maffia and Rue McClanahan, it will be Christmas with The Vagina Monologues. The trio join Eve Ensler's Off-Broadway hit just before Santa's ride, on Dec. 19, and depart after New Year's, on Jan. 7, 2001.
Carmello has originated a series of roles in new musicals by young composers, including Parade, by Jason Robert Brown, and Hello, Again, by Michael John LaChiusa. She appeared in A Class Act Off Broadway but, owing to pregnancy, won?t follow the s how to its Broadway spring premiere.l Maffia is primarily a film actress, playing brassy supporting characters in films like "The Paper" and "Disclosure." McClanahan is a television fixture, identified with roles in the long running series "Maude" and "Th e Golden Girls."
The roster of actresses who have appeared in the play so far runs as follows:
Feb. 8-20: Julie Kavner, Swoosie Kurtz and Audra McDonald
Feb. 22-March 5: Mary Alice, Amy Irving and Rosie Perez
March 7-19: Rita Moreno, Cynthia Nixon and Marlo Thomas
March 21-April 2: Shirley Knight, Andrea Martin and Alanis Morissette
April 4-16: Viola Davis, Gina Gershon and Annie Potts
April 18-30: Claire Danes, Jenifer Lewis and Mary McDonnell
May 2-14: Mo Gaffney, Marsha Mason and Lynn Whitfield
May 16-28: Diahann Carroll, Judith Ivey and Marisa Tomei
May 30-June 11: Joy Behar, Hazelle Goodman and Holland Taylor
June 13-15: Linda Ellerbee, Calista Flockhart and Lisa Gay Hamilton
June 27-July 9: Melissa Joan Hart, Carol Kane and Phylicia Rashad
July 11-23: Teri Hatcher, Ricki Lake and Regina Taylor
July 25-Aug. 6: Gloria Reuben, Julia Stiles and Mary Testa
Aug. 8-20: Brett Butler, Kellie Martin and Tonya Pinkins
Aug. 22-Sept. 3: Teri Garr, Julianna Margulies and Sanaa Lathan
Sept. 5-24: Brooke Shields, Mercedes Ruehl and Ana Gasteyer
Sept. 26-Oct. 15: Kathleen Chalfant, Nell Carter and Annabella Sciorra
Oct. 17-Nov. 5: Donna Hanover, Robin Givens, Susie Essman
Nov. 7-Nov. 26: Erica Jong, Angelica Torn, Lauren Velez.
Nov. 28-Dec. 17: Lolita Davidovich, Sarah Jones and Ann Magnuson
* Joe Mantello, who staged Love! Valour! Compassion! on Broadway, is the director of the show.
$10 of each $55 ticket sold to The Vagina Monologues goes to the V Day Initiative.
For information on the Westside engagement, call (212) 239-6200.
— By Robert Simonson