Described as an "18th century "Sex and the City", The Wonder! A Woman Keeps A Secret by Susanna Centlivre begins performances on Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Gloria Maddox Theatre, presented by the T. Schreiber Studio. The classic battle of the sexes celebrates female friendships and features plenty of barbed humor, fascination and misunderstanding.

After Shakespeare, Susanna Centlivre (1669-1723) was the most frequently performed playwright of the 18th century. While most of her plays have virtually disappeared from the contemporary theatre scene, Centlivre's plays were fundamental to the theatrical repertoire throughout the 18th century. Most of her 19 plays were originally produced in London at the Drury Theatre. The Wonder... was first performed there in 1714.

Featured in the cast of The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret are: Ami Ankin, Brian Avers, Mel England, Reed Gazzale, Aimee Howard, Terrence Keene, Wry Lachlan, Caroline Luft, Marty McDonough, Joe MacDougall, Elizabeth Alice Murray, Michael Russell, Luisa Tedoff, and Andrew Wise. Elizabeth Swain will serve as director for the production. Swain has taught at Barnard, NYU, Hunter College, and Marymount Manhattan College, and has directed the New York premiere of The Executioner's Daughter, as well as The Lucky Chance, The Rover, The Love of the Nightingale, and an all-female production of Hamlet. T. Schreiber Studio has previously launched several Broadway runs, including Devour the Snow, The Trip Back Down, and K2.

The Wonder! A Woman Keeps A Secret, which officially opens Jan. 26, performs Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM through Feb. 24. All tickets are $15. For reservations, call (212) 741-0265. The Gloria Maddox Theatre is located at 151 West 26th Street, 7th floor.

- by Chris Reichheld
and David Lefkowitz