Coconut Grove Playhouse's revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? will begin previews Dec. 31 and open Jan. 3, with Elizabeth Ashley and Frank Converse starring as sparring spouses, George and Martha.

Ashley just finished a stint in Tennessee Williams' The Red Devil Battery Sign at New York's WPA Theatre, and she starred in Williams' Suddenly Last Summer (as part of an evening titled Garden District) at Broadway's Circle In The Square, Oct. 1995. Ashley won the Best Actress Tony for her work in Take Her, She's Mine and starred on the Great White Way in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Tony nomination), The Skin Of Our Teeth, Barefoot In The Park, Caesar And Cleopatra (opposite Rex Harrison), and Agnes Of God.

Converse originated the role of Billy Einhorn in John Guare's The House Of Blue Leaves on Broadway, and he appeared in the Broadway revivals of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Philadelphia Story. He also has numerous regional credits at Long Wharf, McCarter and the Old Globe.

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? won the Tony and New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play in 1962. It concerns an all-night party hosted by college faculty couple, George and Martha. Joining them are Nick and Honey (William Westenberg and Angelica Torn), younger teachers at the school. Westenberg has appeared at Seattle Rep and Utah Shakespeare; Torn performed with Ashley in Red Devil Battery Sign.

Michael Wilson directs the play, which has sets by Jeff Cowie, lighting by Michael Lincoln and costumes by Ellis Tillman. Edward Albee's other works include The Sandbox, Three Tall Women and A Delicate Balance. For tickets ($30-35) and information on Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami through Jan. 26, call (305) 442-4000.

-- By David Lefkowitz