Her last Off-Broadway gig was Gen LeRoy's Not Waving at Primary Stages in March. Now film actress Kyra Sedgwick returns to the New York stage in one of four one-acts by the Youngblood company. She'll play Loretta in Knot Stew, by John Belluso.

Other plays include Sharon Eberhardt's Woodwind Hypotheses, Christopher Shinn's Sockdolager and David Zellnik's A Litany Of Sorrows. All four plays are grouped under the title Thicker Than Water, running Dec. 4-Dec. 21 at Ensemble Studio Theatre on West 52nd St.

Youngblood grew out of E.S.T. back in 1993 as a way of giving playwrights 18-25 an introduction to the professional theatre world. The multicultural group has generated more than 30 works to date and has presented readings and workshops at E.S.T. and Soho Rep.

Knot Stew, about a woman who thinks she's a machine, co-stars Jack Gilpin, Jon-Michael Hernandez and Matt Servino. Chris Smith, who staged Not Waving, directs. Sedgwick's films include Singles and Phenomenon. She appeared on Broadway opposite Jason Robards in Ah, Wilderness! (June 1988) and at Off-Broadway's WPA Theatre in Maids Of Honor (June 1990).

Woodwind Hypotheses, about a complex sibling relationship, stars David Arrow and Andrea Maulella and is directed by Peg Denithorne. Sockdolager, about a couple on the beach, is directed by Jimmy Bohr and features Susan Pilar and Grant James Varjas.

Gus Rogerson directs A Litany Of Sorrows, which features Susan Bruce and Rainn Wilson and takes place near Chernobyl.

For tickets ($12; $25 for the Dec. 7 opening night gala) and information on Thicker Than Water, call (212) 247-4982.

-- By David Lefkowitz and Rebecca Paller