Debra Winger and Arliss Howard, a real-life married couple, are starring in a new production of D.L. Coburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "The Gin Game." The play opened on July 20, 2026, and runs through August 9 at the Housing Works Bookstore in Soho. This intimate staging, directed by David Blum, transforms the bookstore into a theatrical setting, allowing the audience to sit just feet away from the actors.
The play focuses on Fonsia Dorsey and Weller Martin, two elderly residents of a nursing home. Their seemingly harmless bonding activity of playing gin rummy quickly escalates as Fonsia consistently wins, leading to increasing frustration and anger from Weller. The interactions reveal details about their pasts and the circumstances that brought them to the nursing home, culminating in a "riveting duel" of pride and self-preservation.
While the original run featured Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and subsequent revivals starred notable actors like James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson, this current production has garnered significant attention due to its intimate setting and the acclaimed performances of Winger and Howard. Despite the $20 ticket price for the limited run, the show quickly sold out, with resale tickets reportedly listed for hundreds of dollars, highlighting the demand to see these "terrific, well-known actors" up close.
Other key members of the production team include Ashley Basile for scenic design, Michael Schaffner for costume design, Sarah Woods for lighting design, and Bart Fasbender for sound design. Josie Cooper serves as the stage manager, with Erin Amstein as assistant stage manager. Casting was handled by Erica A. Hart, and Go Dog Go Productions is the producer.
