Directed by Michael Engler, Talking Heads stars Kathleen Chalfant, Daniel Davis, Christine Ebersole, Valerie Mahaffey, Lynn Redgrave, Frances Sternhagen and Brenda Wehle in what were called "solo plays." Previews began March 22 toward an opening of April 7. By close, it will have logged 17 previews and 177 regular performances.
The two-sitting and six-play experience (with the two sittings sold separately) welcomed a seventh play into the rotation shortly after opening. Sternhagen starred.
The collection received the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Foreign Play, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Ensemble Achievement, the Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (for Redgrave), and six Obie Awards (acting awards for the original cast members).
Producers are Plymouth Projects (Tom Hulce and Julia Rask), Ron Kastner, Daryl Roth, Cheryl Wiesenfeld, Margaret Cotter, Amy Nederlander and Scott Nederlander.
Julia Rask, who with her producing partner Tom Hulce and Ron Kastner presented the festival in Los Angeles — where it had a brief, sold-out run at the Tiffany Theatre in the spring 2002 — before bringing it to New York, said in a statement: "Talking Heads was originally going to be a limited engagement. But we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to keep this amazingly gifted line up of actors with us for almost 200 performances. Due to commitments on other projects, our actors are moving on. We are very pleased to have brought Alan Bennett's exquisite writing to the New York stage." The producers are currently in discussions to bring the production to London at a later date.
Talking Heads will play 8 PM Monday-Saturday, and 3 PM Wednesday and Saturday through Aug. 30.
For the final week (Sept. 2-7) the schedule will be 8 PM Tuesday-Saturday, and 3 PM Saturday and 3 & 7 PM Sunday.
Tickets range $35 -$65 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100, or in person at the Minetta Lane Theatre box office.
For more information, visit www.talkingheadsoffbroadway.com.
