New Jersey's George Street Playhouse will end its production of Claudia Lazlo, by Arthur Laurents, on May 20. Cigdem Onat, who was featured in the Lincoln Center revival of Laurents' The Time of the Cuckoo last season, stars in his brand new play, to be directed by artistic director David Saint.

In Claudia Lazlo, which started previews April 21, Onat plays a "domineering, passionate actress" whose tumultuous behavior nearly sabotages her most important role — as an opera diva with a Nazi past. Also in the production are Jonathan Hadary, a Broadway veteran of Gypsy, As Is and Gemini and frequent host of BC/EFA's "Gypsy of the Year" events, and Reed Birney (The Butterfly Collection Off-Broadway). Rounding out the cast are Dana Brooke, who appeared in Venecia at George Street earlier in the season, and Jonathan Walker (Roundabout's Man and Superman).

After years of what appeared to be semi-retirement, author Laurents has been ferociously active the last two seasons, including Off-Broadway mountings of Big Potato, Home of the Brave and The Time of the Cuckoo. He remains best known for penning the books to West Side Story, Gypsy, Do I Hear a Waltz and Hallelujah Baby, as well as the screenplays for "The Turning Point" and "The Way We Were."

Designing Claudia Lazlo are Ricardo Hernandez (set), Theoni V. Aldredge (costumes) and David Lander (lighting).

For tickets and information on Claudia Lazlo at George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, call (732) 246-7717. — By David Lefkowitz