Prize-winning actress Jean Stapleton stars as Eleanor Roosevelt in the one-woman show Eleanor: Her Secret Journey opening Sept. 12 at the Canon Theatre for a four-week limited engagement. The director is John Tillinger.

Eleanor has been adapted by Rhoda Lerman from her book of the same name, which upon its publication in 1979 was praised by critics. Lerman's other books include "Call Me Ishtar" and "God's Ear," among others.

Eleanor follows Mrs. Roosevelt through her key years of 1918-1922 and deals with the impact of the brutal battlefields of World War I on the socialite wife and mother of five. The play also reveals her yearning for the love that her husband chose to share instead with Lucy Mercer, and traces her transformation into the activist, feminist and idealist that most people now recognize.

Since leaving the long-running TV show "All in the Family" --during which she won three Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes--Stapleton has been dividing her time between theatre, TV and film. Recent film credits include "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Tillinger was awarded an Outer Critics Circle Award for his handling of Joe Orton's Loot on Broadway.Canon Theatre is located at 205 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. For tickets and information call (310) 859-2830.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent