Soho Rep artistic director Sarah Benson directs the New York premiere of the play in which Caldwell serves tea, sandwiches and lady fingers to an audience of 30 in the site-specific production that takes place in a townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Elective Affinities began previews Nov. 17 and will run through Dec. 18.
Caldwell, a four-time Tony Award winner for her roles in Master Class, Medea, Slapstick Tragedy and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, plays Alice Hauptmann.
Elective Affinities, according to producers, "heads to a very different part of New York City: it will bring audiences into witty octogenarian Alice Hauptmann’s home—an actual Upper East Side townhouse—for a funny and savage portrait of civilized life. Tea and sandwiches will be served."
Producers are not publicly disclosing the location of the townhouse where performances take place. Ticket holders will be notified of the address within 48 hours of the performance.
The production has set design by Louisa Thompson, lighting design by Mark Barton, costume design by Susan Hilferty and sound design by Matt Tierney.
The one-woman play was first presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2005. Elective Affinities is presented by Soho Rep, piece by piece productions and Rising Phoenix Repertory.
Adjmi's plays include Stunning, Strange Attractors, The Evildoers and Caligula, which was staged at Soho Rep. His play Marie Antoinette will receive its world premiere in a co-production between Yale Rep and A.R.T in 2012, and 3C will premiere in June 2012 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre in a co-production between piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre.
Visit HauptmannResidence.com for details and tickets.