Making its Broadway transfer, the New York Theatre Workshop Production of Dirty Blonde begins previews at the Helen Hayes Theatre April 14 and opens officially on May 1, just two days ahead of the May 3 opening deadline for Tony eligibility.

The original cast of the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) production of Dirty Blonde will be moving to the Helen Hayes Theatre.Dirty Blonde featured Kevin Chamberlin, playwright Claudia Shear and Bob Stillman, all of whom are expected to transfer to Broadway. The play marked Shear's return to NYTW, where she triumphed in 1993 with her one woman "tour de résumé" Blown Sideways, a 64-job search for employment. That earned her an Obie Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination. The recent NYTW production was helmed by James Lapine.

Dirty Blonde was conceived by playwright Shear together with director James Lapine. The story involves two single New Yorkers who meet at Mae West's grave site. The play then goes on to trace the couple's changing relationship while simultaneously tracking West's career.

The Shubert Organization will be involved with the Broadway production but detailed information about producers and the production team have yet to be announced.

The Helen Hayes Theatre was freed up after theatre owner Martin Markinson invoked the stop clause. As reported earlier, the League of American Theatres and Producers recently reported that Squonk was running at roughly 50 percent capacity. The NYTW production of Claudia Shear's Dirty Blonde had a busy preview period and full houses beginning with its Jan. 10 opening. Originally scheduled to close Feb. 6, the show was extended to Feb. 13, when it closed to make way for the next production at NYTW, the Christopher Ashley directed production of playwright Jean Marie Besset's What You Get and What You Expect.

Tickets range from $55-60. The Helen Hayes Theatre is located at 240 West 44th Street. For tickets call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.