The substance of family. The substance of memory. The substance of hope."

That's the movie tag-line for The Substance Of Fire, an upcoming screen adaptation of Jon Robin Baitz's Off-Broadway hit.

Baitz wrote the screenplay based on his family family drama, which opened at Playwrights Horizons March 1991 and moved to Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse space for an eight month run in 1992. Ron Rifkin and Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the production, and they appear again in the movie, alongside Tony Goldwyn and Timothy Hutton. Other stage actors round out the cast, including Debra Monk, Eric Bogosian, Roger Rees and Elizabeth Franz.

The stage show's director, Daniel Sullivan, who leaves his position as artistic director of Seattle Rep at the end of this season, has directed the film. Even some of the tech people are theatre-based, like costumer Jess Goldstein and designer John Lee Beatty.

Naked Angels Theatre Company, of which Baitz is a founding member, will hold a special screening of the Miramax film Dec. 2, followed by a reception at the F Stop restaurant on 20th St. Tickets are $75 and may be ordered by calling (212) 397-7841. Naked Angels describe themselves as: an ensemble of actors, writers, directors, designers and producers dedicated to each member's individual artistic growth and the creation of new work for the American theatre. In pursuit of these goals, we present original work as well as examinations of classic plays. Founded in 1986, we are currently celebrating our tenth anniversary in our new home, Theatre 3 at 311 West 43rd St." "The Substance Of Fire" film opens in New York Dec. 6.

-- By David Lefkowitz