Overview
Synopsis
The Heidi Chronicles follows an intelligent young woman, Heidi Holland, and her friends as they grow from insecure high school students into fully established adults. The group navigate careers, friendships, and lovers as they make their way through the second-wave feminist movement of the 1960s through the 1980s, questioning its implications for identity, relationship, and daily life as women at the end of the 20th century. While their lives do not exactly end up as they imagined, Heidi and her friends discover the importance of friendship and community along the way, tackling the challenges they face and sharing their hope that there will be a better life for women to come.
Show Information
- Book
- Wendy Wasserstein
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1988
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1965-1989, various locations throughout New York, Chicago, New Hampshire, Michigan
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
The Heidi Chronicles was originally produced at Seattle Repertory Theatre in conjunction with Playwrights Horizons on April 6, 1988. Later it was produced by Playwrights Horizons itself on December 12, 1988. Direction was done by Daniel Sullivan, the set was designed by Thomas Lynch, lighting was created by Pat Collins, costumes by Jennifer von Mayrhauser, sound made by Scott Lehrer, and slides done by Wendell Harrington. Carl Mulert was the production manager and Roy Harris was the
to read the context for The Heidi Chronicles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The year is 1989, and Heidi Holland, a renowned art historian specializing in women’s art, is teaching a class at Columbia University. Suddenly, we flashback to 1965, where we see Heidi 24 years earlier at a high school dance with her best friend, Susan. Heidi is shy and demure, while Susan is loud and enthusiastic, pushing her friend to talk to the boys at the party. Eventually, a guy by the name of Chris Boxer approaches Heidi, but she decides she is not interested and deflects his
to read the plot for The Heidi Chronicles and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Ensemble |
Female |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
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Ensemble |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Female |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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