The Heidi Chronicles
Characters
By Wendy Wasserstein
Overview
Original Production
Heidi Holland
Protagonist
Workshop: First produced April 6, 1988, by The Seattle Repertory Theatre
Casting Challenges
- Described as prissy and difficult, by Scoop.
Off-Broadway: Opened on December 12, 1988, Presented by Playwrights Horizons
Reasons for Casting
Broadway: Opened March 9, 1989, at the Plymouth Theatre
- Comedic and Dramatic Roles
Alison Brie
- Convincingly played two characters with a large age difference at the same time
- Characters are smart, strong, and independent
1989 Pullitzer Prize for Drama
1989 Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor in A Play. Nominated for four others.
Susan Johnston
Scoop Rosenbaum
Peter Patrone
Revival
Foil
Antagonist
Deuteragonist
- Implied that he is Heidi's first
Casting Challenges
- Always there for her through the years
- Embarrased when Heidi innocently refers to her as her girlfriend, and kisses her on the cheek.
- Heidi's voice of reason and support system
Broadway: Opened February, 23, 2015, in previews, at The Music Box Theatre.
Casting Challenges
- Implied that she may be bisexual. Heidi denies it.
Casting Challenges
- The first boy Heidi bonds with
- Describes himself as arrogant and difficult, but very smart.
- Heidi loves Peter, and has a hard time accepting that he is gay.
Wendy Wasserstein
- Tells Heidi he loves her on his wedding day
Reason for Casting
Reasons for Casting
Brie Larson
Michael Urie
Max Greenfield
Opened March 23, 2015, but closed May 3, 2015, due to low ticket sales, although praised by critics.
- Can play older or younger than actual age
Reason for Casting
- Characters are sassy and sarcastic, also but loyal and realistic.
- Born on October 8, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York
"You're going to get really messed up unless you learn to take men seriously."
- Good at playing the "Lovable Douche"
"One of the things about what . . . I do - writing plays - is that a poll is not taken before you say, Well, I'm going to write this because I think that you're going to like this and therefore you'll buy a ticket for this."
- Granddaughter of Simon Schliefer, a prominent Polish-Jewish Playwright.
"The struggle to be considered a grown-up begins, I believe, shortly after birth."
2015 Tony Nominee for Best Actress in a Play.
- Graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1971
By Olivia Solomon
"I don't much like to think that being a bachelor girl limits how you see the world. On the other hand, I know it certainly limits how the world sees you."
Becky/Clara/Denise
Jill/Molly/Betsy/April
Fran/Debbie/Lisa
Chris Boxer/Mark/Waiter/TV Attendant/ Ray
- Received an MFA from Yale School of Drama in 1976
Fran
Jill
Betsy
Denise
Becky
Lisa
A 40 year old mother of four. She is a member of Susan's Women's Conciousness-Raising Group.
Lisa's younger sister. Works at a T.V. station. Doesn't have a Southern accent like her sister.
A friend of Lisa (Scoop's wife), 35.
Managing Editor of Scoop's magazine.
A 30 year old feminist. "A gifted physicist and lesbian." A member of Susan's Conciousness-Raising Group.
Mark
A 17 year old girl, who comes to Susan's Conciousness- Raising group as an escape from her dysfunctional family.
Chris Boxer
- Gave birth to daughter, Lucy Jane, at age 48, in 1999
Scoop's wife. "Deliberately classy, speaks with a very slight Southern accent." An illustrator for childrens' books.
A waiter that Peter is seeing. The first man he introduces to Heidi.
The first boy to ask Heidi to dance. She turns him down.
Other Plays
- Uncommon Women and Others (1977)
- Died January 30, 2006 from Lymphoma, at age 55
Clara
Elizabeth Banks
Zosia Mamet
- Isn't It Romantic? (1983)
Molly
A protestor at the "Women in Art" Rally
April
Abby Elliott
Debbie
Ben Feldman
Ray
Reason for Casting
- The Sisters Rosensweig (1992)
A woman Susan brings to Scoop's wedding.
A passionate, feminist, protestor.
An anesthesiologist, whom Peter ends up with.
Reason For Casting
She is able to play the younger characters. Her innocence as Shosh on Girls works well for Becky.
- An American Daughter (1997)
These characters, especially Fran and Debbie, are a bit... eccentric. She has proven many times that she can play a wide variety of crazy characters
Slightly older than the rest of the cast, so she is able to play the older characters, but is still be to pass for the same age for some characters.
Fun Fact: Sarah Jessica Parker oiginated this role, but was replaced by her future co star,Cynthia Nixon, when the play moved to Broadway.
"One could argue that, like Heidi, Wendy Wasserstein was a 'concerned, intelligent good' woman who spent her career making sure her fellow females never felt completely stranded—as least not by their self-appointed playwright chronicler."
-Robert Simonson, Playbill
- Welcome To My Rash (2004)
Genre: Realistic Drama
Chicago, 1965
New York, 1982
New York, 1977
New York, 1986
New York, 1989
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1970
A T.V. Studio
A High School Dance
Anteroom to Pierre Hotel Ballroom
The Plaza Hotel
An Empty Room with a Fireplace
A Church Basement
- Heidi, Scoop, and Peter are all going to be on a talk show together, called "Hello, New York."
- Heidi, Peter, Susan, and Molly, attend Scoop and Lisa's wedding.
- Heidi, 22, is a graduate student at Yale.
- Heidi and Scoop end up alone together. Scoop blames Heidi for the fact that this isn't their wedding.
- She is in town visiting Susan for the week.
- Heidi, 40, has moved back to New York.
- Heidi gives a speech at a Luncheon for her Alma Mater
- Denise, who works at the station, is very pregnant, and Scoop discusses his second child. Susan is a studio executive.
- Scoop comes to visit her. They catch up.
- Scoop tells her that he loves Lisa, but she isn't an A+ like Heidi, but he wouldn't want to come home to an A+
- Susan brings her to her "Women's Conciousness-Raising Group", and introduces her to Jill and Fran. Becky is new to the group.
- Scoop tells Heidi he loves her, and will always love her.
- Heidi has a baby named Judy.
- The women discuss feminism, family, and relationships. Heidi talks about her on and off relationship with Scoop.
- April Lambert, the host, interviews them about the changes in their lives from the 60's to the 80's, their careers, and their families. She awkwardly talks to Heidi about her biological clock.
- Scoop leaves for his first dance, but instead comes back to Heidi. They kiss, and dance together
Style
Pop Culture
- The play ends with Heidi sitting on a rocking chair, singing You Send Me to Judy.
Historical Events
Style
Pop Culture
Historical Events
Featured Song: Respect
Style
Pop Culture
Historical Events
- First Earth Day Celebrated
Aretha Franklin
Featured Song: Satisfaction
- Apollo 13 Mission Abandoned
Featured Song: You Send Me
The Rolling Stones
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leads civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.
- The New York City Blackout
- Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin die of drug overdoses.
- 4 Protesters are killed at Kent State University.
Sam Cooke
Music
Movies
- The US returns the Panama Canal to Panama
Music
Movies
Movies
Music
- Mary Poppins
- My Fair Lady
- The Sound of Music
- Jimmy Carter is elected President
- President Lyndon B. Johnson increases the number of troops in South Vietnam from 75,000-125,000
- The Rolling Stones
- The Beatles
- Dusty Springfield
- The Kinks
- The Animals
- Tom Jones
- The Jackson Five's ABC and I Want You Back are released.
- Rod Stewart
- Stevie Wonder
- The Eagles
- The Beegees
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Rocky
- A Star Is Born
- Saturday Night Fever
- King Kong
- Annie Hall
- The Voting Rights Act, which gave African Americans the right to vote, was passed.
- Simon and Garfunkel release their final album together, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Chicago, 1974
New York, 1984
New York, 1980
New York, 1987
Outside the Chicago Art Institute
Manchester, New Hampshire
1968
A Trendy Restaurant
- Heidi, 26, working on her PhD in Art History.
A Childrens' Hospital Ward
Scoop and Lisa's Apartment
- She is at a feminist protest of an "Age of Napoleon" exhibit with Debbie, Clara, and an unnamed woman.
A "McCarthy Mixer" Dance
- Susan and Heidi, 35 meet to catch up. Susan is still a successful executive, and Heidi is writing. They are both still single.
- Heidi,19, is an Art History major at Vassar.
- Susan is now very close with Lisa, Denise, and Betsy
- Peter suprises her at the rally. He has something important to tell her but she changes the subject.
- She is campaigning for Eugene McCarthy
- Heidi, 31, who has been living in London, arrives.
- Heidi goes to tell Peter that she is moving to Minnesota in the morning, and to say goodbye.
- Scoop approaches her, and asks if she is "Guarding the Chips"
- The women catch up. Lisa apologizes that Scoop is out of town.
- She tells him that she is no longer romantically involved with Scoop, but they are still sleeping together, and that Susan lives in a Womens' Health and Legal Collective in Montana.
- Susan tells Heidi that Denise, who is now her assistant, is on her way. Denise arrives, and Susan offers Heidi a job, but she declines.
- They have a heated debate about everything from politics, to music, to chip quality
- When Lisa leaves the room, Heidi tells the other women that she saw Scoop at the John Lennon memorial with another woman.
- They have lost touch, and Peter is angry that she didn't tell him sooner.
- Peter comes out to Heidi. She doesn't want to hear it, but tries to be supportive.
- Susan and Denise leave Heidi at the table, rush after Diane Keaton.
Style
Pop Culture
Historical Events
Featured Song: Take A Piece of My Heart
- Peter introduces Heidi to Mark, a waiter that he is seeing. She turns away when they hug.
- Martin Luther King Junior is shot
Janis Joplin and Big Brother and The Holding Company
Style
Pop Culture
Historical Events
Music
Movies
- North Vietnam and Viet Cong troops launch the Tet offensive
Featured Song: Imagine
- The Graduate
- The Odd Couple
- Rosemary's Baby
- President Lyndon B. Johnson orders end to bombing in North Vietnam.
John Lennon
- The Rolling Stones
- The Beatles
- The Supremes
- The Monkees
- The Beach Boys
- Pink Floyd
Style
Pop Culture
Historical Events
Movies
Music
- Senator Robert Kennedy is shot.
- Ronald Reagan is elected President.
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Superman II
- Nine to Five
- Richard Nixon resigns after the Watergate Scandal.
- ABBA
- AC/DC
- Black Sabbath
- Blondie
- David Bowie
- Gasoline shortage causes prices to rise.
- The earliest form of word processor, which resembles a typewriter, is introduced in offices.
Music
Movies
- Lucy, the Humanoid Skeleton, is discovered.
Can We Do it at UT?
Keystone/Theme
Morality and Time Passing
"Three Sisters Playing Chess," 1555
Sofonisba Anguissola
Undated Self Portrait
Clara Peeters
- Simple Technical Requirements
- Good Roles For Both Females and Males
- Themes Are Still Relevant Today
"We Both Must Fade", 1869
Lily Martin Spencer
Themes
"Lady With A Bowl of Violets"
Lilla Cabot Perry
"Lady in Evening Dress," 1911 Lilla Cabot Perry