The Heidi Chronicles
by Wendy Wasserstein
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
New Jewish Theatre
May 29, 2025
Joel Moses, Emily Baker, Will Bonfiglio, Ashwini Arora
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
I’ve been wanting to see Wendy Wasserstein’s The Heidi Chronicles since it won the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989. Now, New Jewish Theatre has given me that opportunity with their excellent, impeccably cast, thoughtfully directed production now onstage at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre. A look at one woman’s experiences through academia and feminism from the 1960s through the 1980s, the play also serves as a compelling look at the experiences of a generation, as well as an education for those of us from succeeding generations. It’s more than a history lesson, though. It’s an intelligent, thought-provoking look at the changing times and a challenge for today’s world and future generations.
The story follows art history professor and author Heidi Holland (Emily Baker), who we first meet as she’s teaching a class, with the audience as the students. Soon, however, the story flashes back to 1965, where young Heidi and her friend Susan (Kelly Howe) are at high school dance where Susan is eying an appealing unseen guy and trying to get the reluctant Heidi to find a dance partner. Heidi soon meets Peter (Will Bonfiglio), with whom she strikes up an instant rapport and with whom she develops a close bond. A few years later, Heidi is at a fundraiser for presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy when she meets charismatic journalist Scoop (Joel Moses), with whom she develops a rocky romantic relationship that eventually becomes a friendship when Heidi realizes she can’t deal with Scoop’s womanizing ways. These four characters interact through the decades, as Susan and Heidi become involved in various feminist causes, Peter comes out as gay and becomes a highly respected pediatrician, and Scoop starts an influential magazine aimed largely at the “Baby Boomer” generation of which all four characters are members. Over the years, their relationships evolve, the world changes and Heidi develops into the influential professor she eventually becomes, all the while searching for happiness and fulfillment in a world that sends conflicting messages to women about careers, motherhood, and “having it all”. Various other characters come into their lives, played by an excellent ensemble of performers (Courtney Bailey, Paola Angeli, Ashwini Arora, and Josua Mayfield) as Heidi and friends meet new people, interact with the media, and deal with the struggles of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
The cast is marvelous, led by the impressive Baker as Heidi, a thoughtful academic who is looking for her place in a changing world while also trying to make it better for the women around her. Baker’s evolution from young, shy, and somewhat naive to older and reflective professor is highly credible, as are her bonds with her equally excellent costars. Bonfiglio is excellent as usual as the thoughtful, witty Peter, and Moses is a strong contrast as the charismatic, self-centered Scoop. Howe is also a treat as the ever-changing Susan, who eventually becomes about as 1980s “upwardly mobile career woman” as you can get without being a stereotype. These four form a strong core, while Bailey, Angeli, Arora, and Mayfield provide ideal support in various memorable roles.
The whole vibe of this show is well realized by means of director Ellie Schwetye’s thoughtful staging and the overall “documentary” style theme, with an excellent movable set by Patrick Huber and vivid projections by Kareem Deanes. There’s also memorable period music that goes along with the projections, featuring recognizable hits of the times. Huber’s lighting and Schewtye’s sound design also help set and maintain the theme and tone, as do Michele Friedman Siler’s strikingly detailed costumes. If you lived through any of these decades (and I lived through two of them), you should recognize the look and feel of the eras.
The Heidi Chronicles may seem a bit dated as a script to today’s audiences, but this production makes it as timely, immediate, and personal as I can imagine. Even if you’re not a Boomer you should find something informative and relatable here. I’m Gen X and I remember these times from a different perspective, although this show does a great job of presenting the “Boomer’s eye view” of these decades, and of the many ways American culture has evolved over the years–as well as ways it still needs to grow. This is an excellent, well-researched and performed production from New Jewish Theatre.
Courtney Bailey, Paola Angeli, Kelly Howe, Emily Baker, Ashwini Arora
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
The New Jewish Theatre is presenting The Heidi Chronicles at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre until June 15, 2025