Queen of Hearts, Stephen Stahl and Claudia Perry's musical based on the life and times of Princess Diana, will close as scheduled on April 11.

Last fall, a bitter court battle was waged between the producers and the authors (Stahl and Perry) of the Off-Off Broadway, Princess Diana musical, Queen of Hearts. The production went up at the Grove Street Playhouse but with an official statement by Stahl and Perry disavowing ownership. They felt the Grove Street production, "[did] not represent their vision."

Well, Stahl and Perry are now presenting the show they had originally envisioned when Queen of Hearts, the musical plays at the Harold Clurman Theatre, beginning previews March 26 for a March 29-April 11, run.

Stahl will direct the piece (for the initial production, he was replaced by Christopher Casoria). According to sources, once Casoria entered the picture, a flurry of lawsuits followed, with Stahl succeeding in getting four cast members to mutiny and abandon the production, including the performer playing Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Hearts follows the life story of Diana Spencer, who rose from middle class life to become the Princess of England, but then divorced Prince Charles and died in a terrible car crash with her rich boyfriend, Dodi Fayed. Stahl's play Lady Day premiered in London at Donmar Warehouse and was transferred to Picccadilly Theatre, was nominated for an Oliver Award.

The cast (officially an AEA showcase) features: Sharon Alexander, Derin Altay, Jules Bartkowski, Paula Leggett Chase, Annie Edgerton, Tom Henry, Bill Quinlan, Anthony Santelmo Jr., Tom Schmid, Jenny Lee Stern, Christian Stuck, James A. Walsh, and Julia Yorks.

For tickets ($12) or more information, call (212) 353-6139.

-- By Sean McGrath