Lisa Rinna, Phaedra Parks, Candiace Dillard Bassett, more to star in ‘Rumors’ revival off Broadway

A rotating cast of stars from the Real Housewives TV franchise will appear in Neil Simon’s classic play for a limited run starting in January.

Summary

• A revival of Neil Simon's Rumors featuring multiple Real Housewives reality stars will open off Broadway in spring 2027
• Performances run from January 9 to April 21 at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space
• From January 9 to February 28, the cast includes Lisa Rinna, Phaedra Parks, Stacey Rusch, and Dolores Catania
• From March 2 to April 21, Cynthia Bailey, Eileen Davidson, Carole Radziwill, and Candiace Dillard Bassett star

It’s more than a rumor: A new Off-Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s farce Rumors will play a 14-week limited run at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space this winter and spring, from January 9 to April 21 only. Opening night is January 25.

Rumors is a dark comedy set at a dinner party in NYC, where four wealthy couples are ready for a dazzling celebration. Instead, the host is in an alarming state, his wife is missing, the police are about to arrive, and the rumors begin to fly.

The rotating cast will feature numerous stars of the Real Housewives TV franchise. From January 9 to February 28, the cast will include Lisa Rinna as Chris, Phaedra Parks as Claire, Stacey Rusch as Cookie, and Dolores Catania as Cassie. From March 2 to April 21, the show stars Cynthia Bailey as Chris, Eileen Davidson as Claire, Carole Radziwill as Cookie, and Candiace Dillard Bassett as Cassie.

All but Rinna make their New York stage debuts with the show. Additional casting is to be announced.

Tony Award winner Zhailon Levingston (Cats: The Jellicle Ball) directs.

"I first experienced Rumors as a child, and I can still remember the overwhelming sound of laughter filling the theatre. That feeling of collective joy and release has stayed with me ever since," he said in a statement. "To me, Neil Simon’s comedy is a masterclass in the architecture of laughter, and I’ve long been baffled that this extraordinary play hasn’t received a major revival in recent years.

"What excites me about reimagining Rumors through the lens of The Real Housewives is how naturally these two worlds collide. Without changing a single word of Simon’s brilliant text, we can reveal something new in the piece: The delicious chaos that unfolds when private lives become public spectacle. At a time when we are so deeply divided, I can think of few things more necessary than gathering in a theatre to laugh together.”

Rumors will have an American Express presale from October 27-28 and a TodayTix presale on October 29 ahead of the general ticket onsale on October 30.

Check back for information on Rumors tickets on New York Theatre Guide.