Wit received its world premiere at South Coast Repertory (SCR), Costa Mesa, California, in 1995.[3] Edson had sent the play to many theatres, with SCR dramaturg Jerry Patch seeing its potential. He gave it to artistic director Martin Benson, who worked with Edson to ready the play for production. It was given a reading at NewSCRipts, and a full production was then scheduled for January 1995.[4]
Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut subsequently staged the play in November 1997, with Kathleen Chalfant in the lead role of Vivian Bearing.[5][6] The play received its first New York City production Off-Broadway in September 1998, at the MCC Theater (MCC), with Chalfant reprising her role as Vivian Bearing and direction by Derek Anson Jones. The play closed on October 4, 1998.[1][7] An excerpt from the play was published in the New York Times in September 1998.[8] Chalfant received strong praise for her performance. She also incorporated her own life experience into her work on the play, including the final illness and death of her brother Alan Palmer from cancer.[9]
The play moved to the Off-Broadway Union Square Theater in December 1998, after its successful initial run at the MCC.[10] The lighting design for this production was by Michael Chybowski, the set design by Myung Hee Cho, the costume design