Ava: The Secret Conversations
90 Minutes
Ava: The Secret Conversations - 2025 Off-Broadway History , Info & More
City Center Stage 1
131 West 55th St. (between 6th and 7th Avenues) New York, NY
The Golden Age of Cinema’s Ava Gardner sat for a series of real-life interviews with writer Peter Evans in an attempt to glean the juicy details about her life story, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her turbulent relationship to Howard Hughes. Initially barred from publication, Evans’ stories of a bygone era were published twenty-five years later with permission from Gardener’s estate and is now reimagined on stage.
Ava: The Secret Conversations - 2025 - Off-Broadway Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Ava: The Secret Conversations
Elizabeth McGovern Channels Ava Gardner in Her New Play, ‘Ava: The Secret Conversations’
8 / 10
Ms. McGovern’s performance is immaculate in its detail, from her alternately slinky and strained movements, evoking Ava at different stages of life, to the way her ultra-polished, almost stilted pronunciation… can slide back into a Southern drawl when conversation turns to her youth, or when she’s piqued.
Ava, The Secret Conversations: An Ill-Conceived Gardner Glance
4 / 10
What Gardner is shorn of in McGovern’s piece are too many of the quotes that might have come up in a straightforward interview. That’s way too unfortunate. Here for the record is only one lively remark: ‘I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.’
Category
by Bruce Glikas - August 8, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern just made its New York premiere at NY City Center, Stage I. Check out photos from inside the opening night gala celebration below!
by A.A. Cristi - August 7, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern is making its New York premiere! Read reviews for the production!
by Josh Sharpe - July 24, 2025
Elizabeth McGovern, writer and star of AVA: The Secret Conversations, recently visited Live with Kelly and Mark to preview the production, which sees her playing the Hollywood icon Ava Gardner. Watch the interview now!
by Joey Mervis - July 3, 2025
Elizabeth McGovern is returning to the New York stage for the first time in almost two decades in AVA: The Secret Conversations- a new play that she also wrote. Watch in this video as the team chats more about the new play!
by Bruce Glikas - July 1, 2025
Following a run at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern is preparing to make its New York premiere! Check out photos of the cast meeting the press here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 2, 2025
AVA: The Secret Conversations, written by and starring Elizabeth McGovern will make its New York premiere this summer at NY City Center, Stage I. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Ava: The Secret Conversations History
Other Productions of Ava: The Secret Conversations
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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