The half-hour chat show, which has been seen in New York City and in Boston for years, will now — thanks to distribution by Executive Program Service — be syndicated in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia), Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

"Theater Talk" — jointly produced by Theater Talk Productions and CUNY-TV — is hosted by New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins. In a statement Haskins said, "New York theatre's enormous popularity, seen in the grosses of numerous Broadway shows earning over $1 million per week, is fueled by out-of-town audiences as well as local ticket-buyers. With our expanding cable and broadcast range, 'Theater Talk' will afford more exposure to a wide range of productions both on Broadway and beyond."

Co-host Riedel added, "We conceived 'Theater Talk' as a sort of 'Meet the Press' of Broadway. We want viewers to feel that they are sitting around with theatre insiders at a Broadway hangout, talking, gossiping and laughing about the theatre."

The first syndicated episode will feature The Homecoming's Ian McShane and Raul Esparza discussing their work in the Pinter revival. Subsequent programs will boast interviews with A Bronx Tale's Chazz Palminteri, Rock 'n' Roll playwright Tom Stoppard, The Seafarer's Conleth Hill and Ciaran Hinds, Tony and Emmy winner Elaine Stritch and drama critics Charles Isherwood and John Simon.

"Theater Talk" is currently seen on WNET, CUNY TV and WGBH; new stations carrying the program will include CPTV (Connecticut Public Television), MPT (Maryland Public Television), NJN (New Jersey Network), Rhode Island PBS and Washington, D.C.'s WETA. For more information, visit www.theatertalk.org.