All Her World's A Stage...For Now

Dana Delany has returned to the New York stage this summer in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Dinner With Friends by Donald Margulies.

Delany plays Karen, a suburban housewife who is forced to re-examine her marriage. As the actress explains, "The only thing we have in common is she lives in Connecticut, and I'm from Connecticut."

But she also is taking the opportunity to allow the character to teach the actress about herself.

"People accuse her of being judgmental, and I'm exploring my judgmental side. It's been kind of liberating," Delany says wryly.

Audiences remember her so well for her Emmy-winning role on China Beach. Why hasn't she taken on another series?

"I've been picky - maybe too picky," explains the actress. "I was a little precious about what I wanted to do. I had such a good time on the show, and I was spoiled."

Why don't we see her on the big screen?

"You should ask someone else," Delany replies, adding, "Maybe age, maybe flavor of the month. All I'm trying to do is work."

To her, one of the draws of the stage is that "there are roles for women over 40. The great roles are for women who are older."

She loves the subways but she says she is not sure about New York winters. So can we take that to mean that she has no plans to say goodbye to TV and film and return to the stage full time?

"No," she replies decidedly. "I'd like to do everything."

Dinner With Friends is playing at the Variety Arts Theatre, 110 Third Ave. at 13th Street, N.Y. For ticket information call (212) 239-6200. Delany performs through Sept. 7.