Frances Sternhagen will find herself in The Exact Center of the Universe beginning March 30, when Women's Project & Production's mounting of Joan Vail Thorne's play begins previews at the WPP Theatre Four (424 W. 55th St.). John Tillinger will direct the piece, which will officially open April 7 and run through April 25.

Sternhagen, who has won two Tonys over her long career, will play Vada Love Powell, a matriarch from the Deep South whose small world is rocked when her son, Apple, breaks with her expectations for him. Among Sternhagen's most recent credits is the award-winning Lincoln Center Theatre revival of The Heiress starring Cherry Jones.

Joining her on stage will be Reed Birney, who varied career has included such productions, on Broadway and Off- and Off-Off-, as Gemini, The Common Pursuit, The Family of Mann and Seven Blowjobs. Also in the cast are Bethel Leslie, Marge Redmond and Tracy Thorne.

Tillinger's dozens of credits include premieres of plays by Arthur Miller, Terrence McNally and A.R. Gurney. He is currently represented on Broadway by Night Must Fall, starring Matthew Broderick.

For information, call (212) 239-6200. --By Robert Simonson