Though talk was strong late in 1996 that Diana Rigg's Evening Standard Award-winning performance in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? would be brought to Broadway in 1997, the show will not come to New York.

According to a spokesperson at the Robert Fox production office in London, several reasons contributed to the decision to end the project, though no details were given. As late as May 9, plans had still been up in the air. At this point (said the Fox office), the only way Rigg in Woolf could happen is if another producer stepped in to mount essentially a totally new production.

Howard Davies' revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, opened Sept. 25 at Islington's Almeida Theatre, and subsequently transferred to a commercial run at the Aldwych Theatre. All the performers received strong notices, with the consensus that the production is a personal triumph for Diana Rigg, who took the Standard Award Nov. 29, 1996.

Edward Albee's 1962 play, considered one of the masterworks of modern drama, originally starred Uta Hagen and Arthur Hill on Broadway, followed by Mike Nichols' film version with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Diana Rigg last appeared on Broadway as Medea in the early 1990s.

The show, which features a set by John Napier and lighting by Jenny Kagan, ran at the Aldwych through March 22, 1997. Lloyd Owen played Nick; Claire Holman played Honey. -- By David Lefkowitz