Nighthawks, playwright Lynn Rosen's exploration of Edward Hopper's paintings of isolation in the city, will close March 5 at the Blue Heron Theatre. The four short plays, comedic and dramatic, began performances Feb. 11 with an opening Feb. 14.

Nighthawks takes its inspiration from four Hopper paintings, "Nighthawks," "Summertime," "Sunlight in a Cafeteria" and "Conference at Night," with which each play shares its name. All depict persons alone or separated from others in a city setting, which Rosen has fashioned into New York City. Her Sunlight in a Cafeteria, Ground Zero, Pied a Terre and Tiffany have all been read by the adobe theatre company [sic] in their "Fleet the Time" series. Cafeteria has been a finalist in the HBO/Aspen Comedy Festival and Ensemble Studio Theatre's Marathon of Plays.

Starring in the four pieces are Cynthia Besteman, John Billeci, Ken Forman, Larry Gleason, Christina Kirk, Kathryn Langwell, Angela Nevard and Joel Van Liew.

Miriam Weiner directs. A frequent collaborator with Rosen, she directed Ground Zero at the 1999 Turnip Festival. Other credits include assistant directing on the Roundabout's All My Sons and Classic Stage Company's 1999 Misanthrope.

Tickets are $15. The Blue Heron Theatre is located at 123 East 24th Street. For information, call (212) 886-1889 -- By Christine Ehren