UNYYC to Honor Wasserstein with Wendy's Words, 1/24-28

The Unofficial New York Yale Cabaret (UNYYC), a theatre troupe founded by 11 graduates of the prestigious Yale School of Drama, will kick off its second season with "Wendy's Words," a stage adaptation of the essays of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, never before seen on stage.

"Wendy's Words" will run for six performances only, from January 24th through January 28th.

Adapted by Becky London and Mahayana Landowne with permission from the playwright's estate, "Wendy's Words" "aims to give a portrait of the woman behind her plays.  It offers Ms. Wasserstein's distinctive and often comedic observations on the obstacles faced by empowered women in securing love, respect and security in modern day New York City," as press materials describe the show. Landowne will direct. 

"Wendy's Words" will feature the talents of Paul Amodeo (Dirty Blonde on Broadway), Marcy MacGuigan (national tour 42nd Street), Richard Omar (Theresa Rebeck's The First Day), Jenny Weaver (Only a Lad at the Fringe), and Becky London (Marlene on Broadway).

Wasserstein, who died on January 30th, 2006 at the age of 55, won much acclaim over the course of almost three decades for writing plays that, with wit, warmth and insight, confronted a range of feminist issues. Her plays included Uncommon Women and Others, The Sisters Rosensweig, Isn't It Romantic, An American Daughter and The Heidi Chronicles, which won both a Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Third, a critical and commercial hit at Lincoln Center, was the last new Wasserstein work to be presented.

UNYYC models itself after the famed Yale Cabaret formed in 1968 at Yale University in New Haven, where many of America's best theatre artists first cut their teeth (including Wendy Wasserstein and one of the executors of her estate, Christopher Durang). Last season, in addition to being named one of NYTheatre.com's "People of the Year," UNYYC was nominated for an Innovative Theatre Award.

The performance schedule is: Wednesday, January 24th at 7 PM, Thursday, January 25th at 7 PM, Friday, January 26th at 7 PM, Saturday, January 27th at 7 PM, and Sunday, January 28th at 2 PM and 7 PM.

Performances will be at the West Bank Café's Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 W. 42nd St at 9th Ave).  Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase now at www.theatermania.com. There is a $15 minimum on food and drink.

Photo - Wendy Wasserstein