If you’re planning to catch the New Jewish Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Heidi Chronicles,” here’s a quick primer to help you get the most out of the show. Whether you’re a longtime fan of playwright Wendy Wasserstein or just curious about this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, here’s what you need to know before the lights dim and the curtain rises.
What’s it about?
“The Heidi Chronicles” follows Heidi Holland as she moves through the world from 1965 to 1989—years that bring seismic changes in American culture and in Heidi’s own life.
“It is an episodic play with lots of scenes, each one showing a different significant moment of Heidi’s journey,” said Rebekah Scallet, NJT’s artistic director. “It is also very theatrical, with four of the eight actors playing a variety of roles throughout the piece. Costumes and scenery also have to work hard to make it clear which point in time we are in, reminding the audience throughout the show where we are in Heidi’s journey.”
Know the playwright
The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein.
Though not strictly autobiographical, the play draws inspiration from playwright Wasserstein’s own path. “Though Heidi is definitely not Wendy, they share similar traits and experiences,” said Scallet. “Both attended Seven Sisters schools for college and prestigious graduate programs in artistic fields. And both were women who found success in male dominated fields and used that success to highlight women’s voices and artistic work.”
Know what you’re seeing
Visual art plays a central role in this production, both in theme and in design. Scallet explained: “Heidi becomes a successful art historian who specializes in the work of overlooked female artists. At various moments throughout the show, we see snippets of lectures that Heidi gives, discussing what makes these female artists remarkable. Through our fantastic projections design, we will also be able to view these significant works of art throughout the production.”
Know why “Heidi still resonates
While set across decades past, Heidi’s story remains pointedly relevant in 2025.
“Though the show speaks very specifically to the experience of women who were born in the ‘50s and the play itself first appeared in 1989, for better or worse, it is still just as relevant today,” said Scallet. “Heidi and her friends are all navigating choices of career achievements and climbing the ladder versus personal fulfillment and having a family. Some attempt to do both, with varying degrees of success. But sadly, in 2025, more than 35 years later, we still haven’t figured it out. Women still are faced with the question, ‘Can I have it all? Or must I sacrifice one part of my life in order to have what I want in another?'”
Keep your eye out for…
There’s one moment that still lands hard for Scallet.
“One of my favorite scenes is really a monologue from Heidi. She has been asked to give a speech on the topic of, ‘Women, where are we going?’ And she hasn’t prepared it. What comes out is truly remarkable—a fantastic piece of writing from Wasserstein. I view it as a direct precursor to that incredible speech that America Ferrara gives at the end of the ‘Barbie’ movie, you know the one she gives to wake up the Barbies out of their thrall with the Kens? Wasserstein did it first.”
What to brush up on
The script is full of cultural and academic references that help place Heidi—and her friends—firmly in their time.
“One of Wendy Wasserstein’s traits as a playwright is that her plays are full of cultural and academic references. So, if you read the New Yorker a lot in the 80s, you will probably get them all. The rest of us may have to google some of the names later. Though you certainly don’t need to know every name that is dropped to understand what is going on—it’s really just an example of how well read and aware Heidi and her friends are.”
You are now ready to see the “Heidi Chronicles”
Whether you’re coming to revisit this classic or experience it for the first time, “The Heidi Chronicles” promises not just a window into another era, but a mirror reflecting many of the same questions we’re still asking today.
The show runs from May 29 through June 15 at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre, located at 2 Millstone Campus Drive in St. Louis. Tickets are available at newjewishtheatre.org or by calling 314-442-3283.
Peace, Love & Panel
On Thursday, June 12, NJT is offering a special one-night experience built around the show. The evening kicks off at 5:15 p.m. with a 1960s-themed dinner, followed by a panel conversation featuring local women from multiple generations—including Jewish Light Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman—who will share personal stories about navigating career and motherhood. The panel starts at 5:45 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m.
The event blends the themes of “The Heidi Chronicles” with real-life reflection—offering a unique way to engage with the play’s questions before Heidi even takes the stage. Tickets for the dinner, panel, and show are $60 and can be purchased at newjewishtheatre.org.
