Lisa Rinna, Phaedra Parks, Dolores Catania and More ‘Real Housewives’ to Star in Revival of Neil Simon’s ‘Rumors’

Four “Real Housewives” icons, including Lisa Rinna, Phaedra Parks, and Dolores Catania, are joining Stacey Rusch, Cynthia Bailey, Eileen Davidson, Carole Radziwill, and Candiace Dillard-Bassett to star in a new Off-Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s farce “Rumors.”

The ensemble features Rusch as “Cookie,” Bailey as “Chris,” Davidson as “Claire,” Radziwill as “Cookie,” and Dillard-Bassett as “Cassie” for the initial run, followed by a third casting from March 2 through April 21, marking Rinna’s Broadway credits and Davidson’s new stage debut.

Adapted by Tony Award winner Zhailon Levingston, the play—written by the acclaimed Neil Simon, author of “The Odd Couple” and “Sweet Charity”—reimagines the classic story of a swanky NYC soirée that spirals into chaos. The original Broadway production, starring Christine Baranski and Jessica Walter, launched in November 1988.

The revival will open at the Newman Mills Theater, part of the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, on January 9, 2027, with performances continuing through April 21, 2027.

The show employs a two-cast format. The first ensemble cast occupies the stage from January 9 to February 28, while a second grouping takes the spotlight from March 2 to April 21. Directors and husbands will be announced later; Levingston, a recent Tony winner for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” expressed enthusiasm for using “The Real Housewives” perspective to explore the collision of elite social circles and private lives.

“I first experienced ‘Rumors’ as a child…”, Levinston reflected. “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.” He added that the production aims to reconnect audiences with the play’s timeless humor, arguing that gathering in a theater to laugh together is essential at a time of deep societal division. “My hope is to introduce a new generation to the same exhilarating feeling I experienced as a child, while reminding longtime lovers of Neil Simon just how timeless, audacious, and wildly funny his work remains.”

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