The new work, commissioned by the theatre company, will feature actress Franz playing two sisters with contrasting lives reminiscing about their artist mother who has just died. such small hands takes its title from a line in the e.e. cummings poem “somewhere I have never traveled”, honoring the poet's unusual punctuation. Syracuse Stage artistic director Robert Moss will direct the play. His creative team includes Donald Eastman (set), Michael Krass (costume), Chris Dallos (lighting) and Jonathan Herter (sound).

Franz won a Tony Award for her performance as the matriarch in the 1999 Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman. She also appeared in Mornings at Seven, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound as well as Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All.

Playwright Howe has penned the Tony Award-nominated Coastal Disturbances as well as The Nest, Birth and After Birth, Museum, The Art of Dining, Painting Churches, Approaching Zanzibar, One Shoe Off, Pride’s Crossing and Rembrandt’s Gift. Her new translations of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano and The Lesson will be presented at the Atlantic Theatre Company this fall.

Tickets to such small hands at the Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee Street, in Syracuse, NY are available by calling (315) 443-3275 or online at www.syracusestage.org.