Fantastic print of Grey Gardens by illustrator Becca Stadtlander

It's wonderful! Her technique is perfect for Grey Gardens.

From etsy, by Becca Stadtlander Illustration, on March 3, 2011

Grey Gardens

a digital print of an original gouache painting
printed on enhanced matte archival paper
print comes wrapped in a clear protective sleeve
appx. 5X5 inches on 8X10 paper.

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Grey Gardens the musical in Tempe, AZ

Sounds like it might be a good production! It's already underway, so get your tickets now!

From AZ Central, by Kerry Lengel, on March 23, 2011

To 4/3: Tempe Live! Theater explores 'Grey Gardens'

Facing increased competition in recent years, the Valley's community theaters have been weaning themselves off of such warhorses as "The Music Man" and "Guys and Dolls" in favor of more adventurous fare like "Urinetown" and "Rent."

This Off-to-on-Broadway tuner from 2006 is a different kind of quirky, based on the same-titled documentary about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' crazy-cat-lady aunt and cousin, Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale. Known as Big Edie and Little Edie, the onetime New York socialites caused a sensation in the early '70s when the National Enquirer reported that they were living in squalor at their East Hampton mansion.

Under the able direction of Phillip Fazio, TLT's cast gives an engaging performance of a hit-and-miss musical.

The miss is the first act, which, after a brief prologue, returns to the Beales' glory days in 1941, with wannabe divas Big and Little Edie (Kate Likness and Katrin Murdock, respectively) cooing and squabbling in between faux show tunes in the style of Cole Porter or George Gershwin.

The two leads have good stage chemistry and lovely voices, and the supporting cast adds some verve to the proceedings, particularly Tyler Pounds as boozy piano man George Gould Strong. But the exposition is overlong and puzzlingly straightforward, a bit too dead-on an imitation of a classic musical.

This is mostly a problem with the script, but there are missed opportunities for the actors to foreshadow the more offbeat Act 2; certainly the minstrel-style "Hominy Grits" would benefit from a more acute sense of irony.

Fast-forwarding to 1973 after intermission, "Grey Gardens" realizes its potential. Shari Watts takes over as Big Edie, voice convincingly shaking with age as she reminisces about "The Cake I Had" and bonds with the young handyman ("Jerry Likes My Corn"). Meanwhile, Brandi Bigley is a hoot and a half as the now-addled daughter, despite affecting an accent that sometimes sounds like an episode of "Saturday Night Live's" "Coffee Talk." (To be fair, it's not a bad imitation of the real Edie Beale's New York dialect, but since it sounds nothing like Murdock in the first act, it's a bit jarring if you haven't seen the documentary.)

As in any community-theater production, there are some weak performances, and the blaring overhead sound takes some getting used to, creating the disconcerting illusion that the actors are lip-synching. But it is a pleasure to see this company taking on such challenging material and rising to the occasion.

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Special events for Grey Gardens the musical in Memphis, TN

As earlier announced, Grey Gardens the musical will be playing in Memphis, TN. I recently received some information about additional Grey Gardens-related events.

The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art — in honor of the Circuit Playhouse’s musical production, will be presenting Staunch Characters: Grey Gardens from Screen to Stage to Screen.

On Thursday, March 24, there will be a 6 pm cocktail party, 7 pm screening of the HBO Films dramatization, introduced by Circuit Playhouse director Jimmy LeDuc.

Saturday, March 26, there will be a 2 pm screening of the 1975 documentary, introduced by co-director/editor Muffie Meyer, who will also participate in a Q&A following the screening.

See Grey Gardens the musical in South Florida

Auditions were almost ages ago, but it looks like the production of Grey Gardens the musical in South Florida is finally underway!

From Rising Action Theatre

The South Florida Premier [sic] of Grey Gardens

February 25, 2011 to March 27, 2011

Grey Gardens brings to life both the delightfully eccentric aunt and the cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Once among the brightest names in the pre-Camelot social register, these two women became East Hampton's most notorious recluses, living in a dilapidate [sic] 28-room mansion.

Set in two eras – in 1941 when the estate was in its prime and in 1973 when it was reduced to squalor – the musical tells the alternately hilarious and hearbreaking story of two indomitable women, Edit [sic] Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter "Little" Edie.

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Grey Gardens the musical hits Memphis, TN

The musical is being produced all over!

From Broadway World, on February 16, 2011

Grey Gardens Plays The Circuit Playhouse 3/25-4/17

Grey Gardens, book by Doug Wright, Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie runs March 25–April 17, 2011 at The Circuit Playhouse

Rub elbows with Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter "Little Edie,"–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' most scandalous relatives! Members of Memphis' famed Beale family, they were once the highest of high society, but now have become East Hampton's most notorious recluses, living in a dilapidated mansion with 51 cats for company. Based on the cult classic documentary, Grey Gardens is a hilarious and heartbreaking look at two indomitable women. "Grey Gardens is more than a unique and unmissable musical: It's a Gift!"–Rolling Stone. Winner of three 2007 Tony Awards.

Grey Gardens is directed by Jimmy LeDuc (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and features Bates Brooks returning to the stage, Carla McDonald and Emily Pettet of The Light in the Piazza, Associate Company Member Drew Hampton, David Foster (Jacques Brel), Parker Dinwiddie (Oliver!), Marc Gill (Rent), and newcomers Rachel Adkins and Dani Chaum.

Grey Gardens runs at The Circuit Playhouse March 25th–April 17th, 2011, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Pay-What-You-Can performance is Thursday, March 31st. The Circuit Playhouse is located at 51 S. Cooper in Midtown. For more information or to make reservations, please call 901-726-4656 or go online to www.playhouseonthesquare.org.

Cast & Production Staff

Edith Bouvier Beale: Bates Brooks
Director: Jimmy LeDuc
Edith Bouvier Beale & Little Edie Beale: Carla McDonald
Music Director: Renee Kemper
Joseph Patrick Kennedy & Jerry: Drew Hampton
Stage Manager: Becky Reed
Young Little Edie Beale: Emily Pettet
Costume Designer: Amie Eoff
Lee Bouvier: Rachel Adkins
Lighting Designer: Beau Guedry
Jacqueline Bouvier: Dani Chaum
Scenic Designer: Michael Brewer
George Gould Strong: David Foster
Sound Designer: Noah Glenn
Major Bouvier & Norman Vincent Beale: Parker Dinwiddie
Brooks: Marc Gill

Title: Grey Gardens
Venue: The Circuit Playhouse, 51 S. Cooper
Dates: March 25th–April 17th, 2011
Times of Shows: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $15 Preview (March 24th), $20 Opening Weekend (March. 25th-27th), $33 Thursdays & Sundays, $38 Fridays and Saturdays, $20 Seniors/Students/Military.
Box Office: 901-726-4656
Web: www.playhouseonthesquare.org

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