Ava: The Secret Conversations
90 Minutes
Ava: The Secret Conversations - 2025 Off-Broadway History , Info & More
City Center Stage 1
131 West 55th St. (between 6th and 7th Avenues) New York, NY
The Golden Age of Cinema’s Ava Gardner sat for a series of real-life interviews with writer Peter Evans in an attempt to glean the juicy details about her life story, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her turbulent relationship to Howard Hughes. Initially barred from publication, Evans’ stories of a bygone era were published twenty-five years later with permission from Gardener’s estate and is now reimagined on stage.
Ava: The Secret Conversations - 2025 - Off-Broadway Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Ava: The Secret Conversations
‘Ava: The Secret Conversations’ Review: Elizabeth McGovern’s Earthy Screen Star
7 / 10
Her performance captures with precision the voice that emerges in the book: mercurial; still vain but gloomy about her diminished looks; instinctively or merely reflexively seductive and flirtatious. But, more enjoyably, also self-deprecating, realistic about her wayward path through life, and, as noted, flaunting a vocabulary heavily larded with salty humor. It’s an accomplished performance that captures the woman in all her complexities and contradictions.
Ava, The Secret Conversations: An Ill-Conceived Gardner Glance
4 / 10
What Gardner is shorn of in McGovern’s piece are too many of the quotes that might have come up in a straightforward interview. That’s way too unfortunate. Here for the record is only one lively remark: ‘I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.’
by Bruce Glikas - August 8, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern just made its New York premiere at NY City Center, Stage I. Check out photos from inside the opening night gala celebration below!
by A.A. Cristi - August 7, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern is making its New York premiere! Read reviews for the production!
by Josh Sharpe - July 24, 2025
Elizabeth McGovern, writer and star of AVA: The Secret Conversations, recently visited Live with Kelly and Mark to preview the production, which sees her playing the Hollywood icon Ava Gardner. Watch the interview now!
by Joey Mervis - July 3, 2025
Elizabeth McGovern is returning to the New York stage for the first time in almost two decades in AVA: The Secret Conversations- a new play that she also wrote. Watch in this video as the team chats more about the new play!
by Bruce Glikas - July 1, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern is preparing to make its New York premiere! Check out photos of the cast meeting the press here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 2, 2025
AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern will make its New York premiere this summer at NY City Center, Stage I. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Ava: The Secret Conversations History
Other Productions of Ava: The Secret Conversations
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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