Tour the gardens of Grey Gardens

Owners of fabulous gardens in East Hampton, including Frances Hayward of Grey Gardens and Martha Stewart, will be opening their gardens for tours on Saturday, 16 June 2007 for the 21st Annual Garden Tour.

There is more information and tickets are available at the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons website.

If you attend this event, please report back, with pictures!

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Stockpile of Grey Gardens videos on YouTube

There's a new account on YouTube that has 7 videos related to the musical and 38 favorite videos related to all things Grey Gardens. Check it out!

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Grey Gardens coloring book for auction on eBay

Cute idea!

From eBay, by 1tikimug

Grey Gardens Coloring Book Volume #1

Brand new 2007 collectible 8.5 X 11 coloring book art. Signed and numbered by the artist. Made with single sided pages for easy separation and framing. There are 10 pages in all. Inspired by the movie Grey Gardens, and it's two stars Mrs Edith Bouvier Beale, and her adult daughter Edith. This is volume number one of three. The titles of the pictures in this volume are as follows:

1. This little book is going to keep me straight.
2. I feel something slipping.
3. They don't weaken, no matter what.
4. Grey Gardens.
5. Whiskers.
6. How'd you find it so quickly?
7. I do terrific dances.
8. In 1952! I was gonna get it!
9. I fed the cats!
10. The Libra husband is not an easy man to please.

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Grey Gardens, with Christine Ebersole, on the London stage

Our British friends will be able to see Christine Ebersole in her dual roles in the musical Grey Gardens!

From Playbill, by Kenneth Wilson, on 16 May 2007

Ebersole's "Edies" Will Play London; Grey Gardens U.S. Tour Also in the Works

The producers of the new Broadway musical Grey Gardens announced May 16, the day after the show was nominated for ten 2007 Tony Awards, that the production will have its London debut next season with its acclaimed leading lady, Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, re-creating her performance.

The Broadway producers — East of Doheny, Staunch Entertainment, Randall L. Wreghitt/Mort Swinky, Michael Alden and Edwin W. Schloss in association with Playwrights Horizons — will team with London producers to present the show in its U.K. bow during the 2007-2008 season. London partners, dates and additional casting will be officially announced in the coming months.

The 2007 Best Musical Tony nominee will also be seen in a North American tour in the future, the producers announced.

A casting search has already begun to find other stars to play the leading dual role of Edith Bouvier Beale/"Little" Edie Beale. Ebersole's year-long contract with the Broadway production will end in October 2007, and her Broadway replacement is now being sought. It hasn't been determined if Ebersole will be playing any U.S. markets.

"Everyone in the Grey Gardens family is excited to bring the Beales to cities across the country and — as Edie herself sings — 'Around the World,'" stated Kelly Gonda, president of East of Doheny, the lead producer of the musical. "The story of these incredible women is universal, as is the primal mother-daughter and parent-child relationship. We've been heartened by the amazing reviews the show has received from critics in London and across the U.S., and we're absolutely thrilled that Christine Ebersole's glorious performance will be seen in new cities with other Edies to follow in her footsteps."

Following a sold-out world premiere in spring 2006 at Playwrights Horizons, Grey Gardens — by librettist Doug Wright, lyricist Michael Korie and composer Scott Frankel — opened on Broadway Nov. 2, 2006, at The Walter Kerr Theatre.

Based on the 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens" (by David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Ellen Hovde, Muffie Meyer & Susan Froemke – a Maysles Brothers Films Inc. Production), the show explores the broken dreams of socialite mother and daughter Edith and daughter Edie Beale, the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier. Michael Greif directs a cast that includes Ebersole in the dual role of Edith (circa 1940 in Act One) and daughter Edie (circa 1973 in Act Two), Tony nominee Mary Louise Wilson (as aging Edith in Act Two), plus John McMartin as both "Major" Bouvier and Norman Vincent Peale; Matt Cavenaugh as both Joe Kennedy, Jr. and Jerry; Erin Davie as Young "Little" Edie Beale; Kelsey Fowler as Lee Bouvier; Sarah Hyland as Jacqueline Bouvier; Michael Potts as Brooks Sr. and Brooks Jr.; and Bob Stillman as Gould.

Here's how the producers tout Grey Gardens: "Not since Mama Rose and Gypsy has there been a mother/daughter act as hilarious, as heartbreaking and as utterly unforgettable as Edith and Edie Beale — Jackie Kennedy's most outrageous relatives — in Broadway's acclaimed musical smash Grey Gardens. From the grandeur of an East Hampton high society party in 1941 to the sensational tabloid headlines that rocked the Kennedy clan in 1973, Grey Gardens is scandalously entertaining. This witty and passionate ride features Christine Ebersole's already-legendary performance and breaks new ground as the first musical ever based on a documentary. Step into the world of Grey Gardens and see the other side of Camelot."

The production has been nominated for 2007 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Christine Ebersole), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Mary Louise Wilson), Best Book of a Musical (author Doug Wright), Best Original Score (composer Scott Frankel & lyricist Michael Korie), Best Director of a Musical (Michael Greif), Best Scenic Design (Allen Moyer), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Lighting Design (Peter Kaczorowski) and Best Orchestrations (Bruce Coughlin).

In addition to the awards bestowed on Christine Ebersole last season, the musical's many honors over the past year include: the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical; both a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and the Actors Equity Foundation's Richard Seff Award to Mary Louise Wilson for her performance; a 2006 Richard Rodgers Production Award, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters; being named one of ten best in "Best Plays" for the 2005-2006 season (the only musical cited); the ASCAP Foundation's Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award for composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie; The Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition for Frankel; and an Obie Award for set designer Allen Moyer.

The Broadway cast recording, produced by multiple Grammy Award winner Steven Epstein (The Light in the Piazza), was recently released on PS Classics.

Tickets are available by going online to www.telecharge.com, calling (212) 239-6200 or visiting The Walter Kerr Theatre box office (219 West 48th Street). Balcony seats are only available in person at the box office.

Visit www.greygardensthemusical.com.

From Broadway World, on 16 May 2007

Ebersole to Star in London Grey Gardens; US Tour Planned

The producers of the hit Broadway musical Grey Gardens announced today that the production will have its London debut next season with its acclaimed leading lady, Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, recreating her performance.

The announcement comes on the heels of the production earning 10 2007 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The Broadway producers – East of Doheny, Staunch Entertainment, Randall L. Wreghitt/Mort Swinky, Michael Alden and Edwin W. Schloss in association with Playwrights Horizons – will be teaming with London producers to present the show in its UK bow during the 2007-2008 season. London partners, dates and additional casting will be officially announced in the coming months.

To make sure audiences across the U.S. also get to see the acclaimed musical production, the Grey Gardens producers also confirmed that they are in the planning stages for a U.S. National Tour.

"With three productions of Grey Gardens on the horizon, a casting search has already begun to find other stars to play the leading dual role of Edith Bouvier Beale/“Little” Edie Beale. As Ebersole’s year-long contract with the Broadway production will end in October, her Broadway replacement is now being sought. This A-list search, spearheaded by the musical’s casting company Telsey + Company, will also determine who will head the U.S. National Tour. It hasn’t been determined if Ms. Ebersole will be playing any U.S. markets," according to press notes.

"Everyone in the Grey Gardens family is excited to bring the Beales to cities across the country and – as Edie herself sings – Around the World," said Kelly Gonda, president of East of Doheny, the lead producer of the musical.

Additional touring and casting news will be announced in the coming months.

In addition to stars Christine Ebersole (42nd Street, Dinner at Eight) and Mary Louise Wilson (Cabaret, Full Gallop), Grey Gardens stars John McMartin, Bob Stillman, Matt Cavenaugh, Michael Potts, and Sarah Hyland (all from the Playwrights Horizons production), as well as Broadway newcomer Erin Davie as Young ‘Little’ Edie Beale, and Kelsey Fowler. The show opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on November 2nd.

The musical features a book by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, the play and film Quills), music by Scott Frankel (musical director for Broadway's Falsettos, Putting It Together) and lyrics by Michael Korie (Harvey Milk, Zhivago). Directed by Tony Award nominee and Obie winner Michael Greif (Rent), the production has musical staging by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Big River, Grease!). It will be produced by Producers East of Doheny, Randall L. Wreghitt/Mort Swinsky, Michael Alden and Edwin W. Schloss, in association with Playwrights Horizons.

"Not since Mama Rose and Gypsy has there been a mother/daughter act as hilarious, as heartbreaking and as utterly unforgettable as Edith and Edie Beale - Jackie Kennedy's most outrageous relatives - in Broadway's acclaimed musical smash Grey Gardens. From the grandeur of an East Hampton high society party in 1941 to the sensational tabloid headlines that rocked the Kennedy clan in 1973, Grey Gardens is scandalously entertaining. This witty and passionate ride features Christine Ebersole's already-legendary performance and breaks new ground as the first musical ever based on a documentary. Step into the world of Grey Gardens and see the other side of Camelot," state press notes.

The Broadway production of Grey Gardens reunites the original creative and design team, featuring scenic design by Allen Moyer, costume design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Peter Kaczorowski, sound design by Brian Ronan and projections by Wendall K. Harrington. Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Bruce Coughlin and Music Director is Lawrence Yurman.

Grey Gardens had its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons, opening March 7, 2006 and completely sold out its initial limited engagement as well as three extensions. The musical was named Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical by the Outer Critics Circle Awards and was also the winner of a 2006 Richard Rodgers Production Award, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. It was most recently honored by the theater annual Best Plays as one of the ten best of the 2005-2006 season, and the only musical cited. Leading lady Ebersole also won several awards, including the Obie and the Drama Desk.

Visit www.greygardensthemusical.com for more information.

Source: here and here

Grey Gardens is nominated for a Tony for Best Musical & Christine Ebersole for Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Congratulations also to Mary Louise Wilson on her nomination! The musical was nominated in ten categories. Congratulations to all!

From the Grey Gardens the Musical blog, on 15 May 2007

Nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical & Best Leading Actress in a Musical

The hit Broadway musical GREY GARDENS has been nominated for 10 2007 Tony Awards, include Best Musical. The acclaimed production starring Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and Tony Award nominee Mary Louise Wilson earned nominations in the following 10 categories:

• Best Musical
• Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Christine Ebersole
• Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Mary Louise Wilson
• Best Book of a Musical – author Doug Wright
• Best Original Score – composer Scott Frankel & lyricist Michael Korie
• Best Director of a Musical – Michael Greif
• Best Scenic Design – Allen Moyer
• Best Costume Design – William Ivey Long
• Best Lighting Design – Peter Kaczorowski
• Best Orchestrations – Bruce Coughlin

Nominated for her dual performance as Edith Bouvier Beale (in Act One) and "Little" Edie Beale (in Act Two), this is Ms. Ebersole's third Tony nomination. She previously won the Tony Award as Best Leading Actress in a Musical for 42nd Street (2001), and was also nominated as Best Featured Actress in a Play for Dinner at Eight (2003).

Nominated for her performance as Edith Bouvier Beale, this is Ms. Wilson's second Tony nomination. She was previously nominated as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the revival of Cabaret (1998).

This is Mr. Wright's second Tony nomination. He previously won for Best Play for I Am My Own Wife (2004). Like I Am My Own Wife, GREY GARDENS had its World Premiere at New York's acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons.

This is the first nomination for both Mr. Frankel and Mr. Korie, for whom GREY GARDENS is their Broadway debut.

This is Mr. Greif's second Tony nomination. He was previously nominated as Best Director of a Musical for Rent (1996).

This is Mr. Moyer's first Tony nomination.

This is Mr. Ivey Long's eleventh Tony nomination. He's won the Tony Award for Best Costumes four times: for Nine (1982), Crazy For You (1992), The Producers (2001) and Hairspray (2003). His 6 additional nominations were for Lend Me a Tenor (1989), Chicago (1997), Cabaret (1998), The Music Man (2000), A Streetcar Named Desire (2005) and La Cage aux Folles (2005).

This is Mr. Kaczorowski's third Tony nomination. He previously won the Tony for Best Lighting for The Producers (2001) and was also nominated for Kiss Me, Kate (2000)

This is Mr. Coughlin's third Tony nomination. He previously won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for The Light in the Piazza (2005) and was also nominated for Urinetown (2002).

The Tony nominations cap the production's two-season span of earning Theater award nominations since opening Off-Broadway last spring at Playwrights Horizons. Unlike most productions that are eligible for all Theater awards in one season, GREY GARDENS has been eligible over the course of two. The World Premiere production at Playwrights Horizons during the 2005-2006 Theater Season yielded nominations and wins from the organizations that consider both Broadway and Off-Broadway: Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Obies, New York Drama Critics Circle and The Drama League, among many other specialty awards. As the Tony Awards only recognize excellence on Broadway, the musical was ineligible for Tony Awards until it moved to Broadway last Fall during the 2006-2007 Theater Season.

For her acclaimed dual performance as Edith Beale and "Little" Edie Beale, leading lady Christine Ebersole swept the 2006 Spring Theater awards, winning a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, an Obie, a special citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Drama League's 2006 Distinguished Performance of the Year Award. In addition to the awards bestowed on Ms. Ebersole, the musical's many honors include: the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical; both a Drama-League Award for Distinguished Performance and the Actors Equity Foundation's Richard Seff Award to Mary Louise Wilson for her performance; a 2006 Richard Rodgers Production Award, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters; being named one of Best Plays' "Ten Best" of the 2005-2006 season (the only musical cited); The ASCAP Foundation's Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award for composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie; The Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition for Mr. Frankel and an Obie Award for set designer Allen Moyer. The musical was also proclaimed "Best Musical of the Year" by Entertainment Weekly and USA Today and the "#1 Show of the Year" by Time Magazine.

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Video of Little Edie on conformity in East Hampton

She's fantastic!

From The Beales of Grey Gardens Criterion Collection DVD

Little Edie: on Conformity, East Hampton and Grey Gardens

Little Edie Beale in "The Beales of Grey Gardens" comments on "conformity", East Hampton and the ultimate (and extremely layered) title of the original David and Albert Maysles documentary.

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UK re-release of Grey Gardens DVD now available

Grey Gardens UK DVD

From Eureka Video's Masters of Cinema series

Grey Gardens

Maysles brothers, 1976

From the filmmakers behind Salesman (1969) and The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter (1970), the Maysles brothers present another of their “non-fiction features”, this time an impossibly intimate, absorbing insight into the lives of two eccentric and reclusive women: Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie. As aunt and cousin to Jackie Onassis, “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” live together as high-society dropouts in a squalid mansion in wealthy East Hampton. What was once a grand summer residence has been reduced to a fortress of fleas, feral cats, and filth, the gardens long gone to seed and Big Edie and Little Edie confined to just a few of the twenty-eight rooms.

Together they invent a world with their house as a stage where life’s disappointments and pleasures are recycled into riveting performances, performances which have gone on to earn Little Edie’s reputation as a fashion genius and philosopher queen.

This true cult classic – which has inspired a current Broadway show, a centre page fashion spread in both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and a Hollywood “remake” – prompted the intervention of Jackie O. to save the couple from a hazardous health eviction order and any further “embarrassment” for the family. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Grey Gardens on DVD for the first time in the UK.

Also check out the comparison of this edition with the Criterion edition and this review.

Thanks so much to Nick from Masters of Cinema for passing this information along!

Source: here and here

Videos of performances at the cast recording CD signing

As promised, the cast of Grey Gardens the Musical was at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square last night to promote the cast recording. Here are some videos of their performances.

From YouTube, by nycatdmt, on May 11, 2007

Grey Gardens at Virgin Megastore

Christine Ebersole singing "Will You" at Virgin Megastore in NYC on May 10th, 2007.

From YouTube, by nycatdmt, on May 11, 2007

Grey Gardens at Virgin Megastore Part 2

Grey Gardens cast performed and sang at the Virgin Megastore in Manhattan. The first number is "Goin' Places" with Matt Cavenaugh as Joe and Erin Davie as Little Edie. The second song is "Drift Away" with Bob Stillman as Gould and Christine Ebersole as Edith.

Grey Gardens the Musical on CourtTV this week

The musical Grey Gardens is featured on CourtTV this week, and features interviews with Al Maysles and Christine Ebersole. The episode premieres this Thursday at 11:30 p.m.

From The Grey Gardens the Musical blog, on 8 May 2007

Grey Gardens on Court TV!

Grey Gardens will be featured on this week's episode of Court TV's popular celebrity news magazine Hollywood Heat. The segment, featuring interviews with Christine Ebersole and Albert Maysles, will debut Thursday, May 10 at 11:30 PM. It will then be rebroadcast Friday, May 11 at 6PM and Saturday, May 12 at 11PM. Court TV is broadcast nationwide and airs in New York and the tri-state area on Time Warner Cable Channel 23.

From the Hollywood Heat website, by way of The Grey Gardens the Musical blog

'Grey Gardens' the Musical

Get to know Christine Ebersole, the actress now starring on Broadway as the eccentric cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Plus, meet filmmaker Albert Maysles, who directed the cult classic on which the play is based.

Source: here and here

Grey Gardens-inspired fashion from 2004

Thanks to the anonymous fashion expert who sent in this wonderful image and brief article!

From Interview Magazine, by Annabel Tolman, on October 2004

The Perfect Costume for the Day

Grey Gardens

The spirit of Edie Bouvier Beale returns in this fall's madcap style

For fall 2004, pieces you never thought would be right together are--and if it "goes," it's a no-go. Reminiscent of Edie Bouvier Beale's eccentric style, captured in the Maysles brothers' documentary Grey Gardens [1976], this is a one-garment-fits-all-occasions-and-purposed approach to fashion. The mix of high with low and day with night has been perfected by Phoebe Philo at Chloé, with the brilliant sleight of hand that we have come to expect of her. The glory of Philo's collection was how it felt like it could almost have been the rummage sale we all dream of: a heterogeneous collection of divine stuff. Wear each article of clothing as you see fit--you can even take the skirts and use them as capes.

Grey Gardens the Musical recording CD signing next Thursday

Grey Gardens the Musical
original Broadway cast recording CD

The cast of Grey Gardens the Musical will be at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square on Thursday, 10 May 2007 at 5:30 p.m. And then, go see the musical on Broadway!

From Playbill, by Kenneth Jones, on 3 May 2007

The cast of Broadway's Grey Gardens will appear at the Times Square Virgin Megastore to perform and sign CDs starting 5:30 PM May 10.

The appearance celebrates the recent release of the Broadway cast album, on the PS Classics label.

All nine troupers, including the musical's acclaimed stars, Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and Tony Award nominee Mary Louise Wilson, will attend.

The appearance will last until 6:45 PM, prior to that evening's performance at the Water Kerr Theatre.

Times Square Virgin Megastore is located at 1540 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets.

At the signing, cast members will autograph Grey Gardens CDs only. Those attending the event may bring copies of the CD they've already purchased, or they can purchase them on site.

The Broadway cast recording of Grey Gardens was released March 27 on PS Classics. Recorded Feb. 13, the album is produced by multiple Grammy winner Steven Epstein (The Light in the Piazza).

The new disc replaces the previously-available world premiere recording, which was also released by the Grammy-nominated label. That recording featured the Off-Broadway cast, based on the musical's original run last year at Playwrights Horizons.

Joining Ebersole and Wilson in the cast are five-time Tony Award nominee John McMartin (Follies, Show Boat, Into the Woods) as both Major Bouvier and Norman Vincent Peale; Matt Cavenaugh (Urban Cowboy, national tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie, "As the World Turns") as both Joe Kennedy, Jr. and Jerry; Erin Davie as Young "Little" Edie Beale (the national tours of Swing! and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber); Kelsey Fowler as Lee Bouvier (in her Broadway debut); Sarah Hyland (title role in Paper Mill's Annie) as Jacqueline Bouvier; Obie Award winner Michael Potts (Lennon) as Brooks Sr. and Brooks Jr.; and two-time Tony Award nominee Bob Stillman (Dirty Blonde, Grand Hotel) as Gould.

For more information, visit www.psclassics.com or www.greygardensthemusical.com.

From Broadway World, on 3 May 2007

In celebration of the recent release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the hit Broadway musical Grey Gardens on PS Classics, Times Square Virgin Megastore will present a special in-store event on Thursday, May 10 starting at 5:30 PM. Featuring the entire Broadway cast – including the musical's acclaimed stars Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and Tony Award nominee Mary Louise Wilson – the event will include musical performances and a CD signing with all nine cast members. The appearance will last until 6:45 PM, prior to that evening's performance.

From Theater Mania, by Brian Scott Lipton, on 3 May 2007

The cast of Grey Gardens will sign copies of the recent Original Broadway Cast Recording at a special event at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 10 at the Times Square Virgin Megastore (1540 Broadway). The event, which will conclude at 6:45pm, will also include a special musical performance. Attendees can bring copies of the CD they have already purchased or they can buy one at the store.

The Broadway recording was released on March 27 by PS Classics, and replaces the previously released Off-Broadway cast recording. That CD will go out of print once all copies have been sold.

Grey Gardens stars Christine Ebersole, Mary Louise Wilson, John McMartin, Matt Cavenaugh, Erin Davie, Kelsey Fowler, Sarah Hyland, Michael Potts, and Bob Stillman. It features a score by Michael Korie and Scott Frankel, and a book by Doug Wright, based on the 1975 documentary of the same name. The show is directed by Michael Greif, with musical staging by Jeff Calhoun.

Source: here, here, and here

Complete book and lyrics of Grey Gardens the Musical now available

Grey Gardens: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical
by Doug Wright

That's right! There's a paperback book of Grey Gardens the Musical's book and lyrics available for purchase now. If you purchase this book, feel free to post a review here in the comments for this post.

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