Not to be confused with the one In Black playing Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre, the Metropolitan Playhouse will present William C. de Mille's The Woman at their space in downtown Manhattan June 14-29. The production began performances June 7.

The Woman is a thriller about a switchboard operator who uncovers a secret about an on-the-rise politician. The rarely-staged play was written by the lesser known brother of filmdom's Cecil B. de Mille. The play was originally produced on Broadway in 1911 and spawned three film versions "The Woman"(1915), "The Telephone Girl" (1927) and "The Secret Call" (1931).

The cast of this production includes Kristin Stewart, Russell Hamilton, David Heckel, Leo Bertelsen, Annette Previti, Tod Mason, Tom Staggs, Sam Kitchin, Ken Bolden and Mike Nowak. David Zarko who adapted the version for the current version also directs the show.

Tickets to The Woman at the Metropolitan Playhouse, 220 East Fourth St. (between Avenue A and B), can be purchased by calling (212) 995-5302. For more information, visit www.metroplayhouse.com.

— by Ernio Hernandez