Marilu Henner had such a good time last summer at Bucks County Playhouse, she requested a return engagement.

"They said, 'If you're serious, we'll find a great play for you,'" says Henner.

Henner plays Masha in "Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike," the 2013 Tony Award winner as best play, through Aug. 10 at the storied New Hope theater that recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.

"Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike" playwright Christopher Durang, a Bucks County resident, plays Vanya in the Chekhov-inspired comedy set in Bucks County..

Henner, star of TV's "Taxi" (1978 - '83) reprised her Broadway role in "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" at Bucks.

"At the end of my run, I said, 'I love it so much here. I want to come back,'" Henner says in a recent phone interview.

In the Durang comedy, Masha, (Henner) is a narcissistic B-movie star who visits her siblings' home in Bucks.

"The play is about siblings and, believe me, I can relate to that," says Chicago native Henner, the third of six children. "It's so poignant and beautifully written and so special."

Acting opposite Durang has been "fantastic," Henner says.

"I've been a fan for years. He's such a wonderful actor. You can't catch him acting. He's so real.

"I keep saying the part of Masha is so much like me without all the years of therapy," Henner quips.

Los Angeles resident Henner became familiar with Bucks County during the 2000 - 01 National Tour of "Annie Get Your Gun." After its stop in Philadelphia, Henner and her family celebrated Christmas at the Aaron Burr House bed and breakfast, New Hope.

She bought Christmas gifts at Two Buttons, a Frenchtown, N.J., Asian import store owned and operated by "Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert.

Henner, who appeared on TV's "Evening Shade" (1990 -' 94) recently was on TV's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (2013 - ), starring Andy Samberg. She hosts the weekday morning "The Marilu Henner Show" radio show on GCN (Genesis Communications Network).

Her movie credits include starring roles in "Between The Lines" (1977), "Bloodbrothers" (1978), "Hammett" (1982), "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983), "Johnny Dangerously" (1984), "Perfect" (1985), "L.A. Story" (1991), "Noises Off" (1992) and "Man On The Moon" (1999).

Henner, 62, a vegetarian, became passionate about her health following the death of her father at 52 and her mother at 58.

"It totally informed my life. If we'd been dealt that genetic hand, I wanted to figure it out the best way to live for my brothers and sisters and me," says the former Prevention magazine cover girl.

Henner has written nine books on diet, health and memory, most notably, "Total Health Makeover," which advocates a non-dairy diet and exercise.

Her website, marilu.com, includes lifestyle tips, recipes, monthly online classes, and success stories. She's big on mnemonic catch-phrases: THM (Total Health Makeover), BEST (Balance, Energy, Stamina, Toxin-Free) and Progress Not perfection.

It's not that Henner needs memory devices. She's one of 12 documented persons who are part of a studiy of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (H-SAM). She can recall almost every day of her life. Give Henner a calendar date and she'll tell you the day of the week.

Henner was profiled by her friend Lesley Stahl on "60 Minutes." Henner is a consultant for "Unforgettable" (2011 - ) the CBS-TV show that stars Poppy Montgomery as a New York City detective with H-SAM.

Her ninth book, "Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future" (2012), a New York Times best-seller, instructs readers on accessing autobiographical memories.

Henner says she first knew of her prodigious recall ability at age six. "They called me Miss Memory or The Memory Kid.

"I had to dumb down to play Masha," Henner jokes.