Grey Gardens (musical)

Grey Gardens is a musical with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie, based on the 1975 documentary movie about the lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (“Big Edie”) and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”) by Albert and David Maysles. The Beales were Jacqueline Kennedy’s aunt and cousin.

While the action of the second act, in 1973, hews closely to that of the film, the first act, set in 1941, is a speculative attempt to explain some of the interpersonal dynamics that led to the Bouviers’ fall from grace. Both acts are set at Grey Gardens, the Bouvier’s mansion in East Hampton, New York on Long Island in New York.

A production at Playwrights Horizons in New York City attracted particularly good reviews for its stars Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson, and earned five Lucille Lortel Award nominations and twelve Drama Desk Award nominations. The show played from 10 February 2006 until 30 April 2006, and it is expected that a Broadway production will be mounted. A cast album was recorded for release later in 2006.

Playwright’s Horizon cast

Prologue (1973)

Edith Bouvier Beale — Mary Louise Wilson

"Little" Edie Beale — Christine Ebersole

Act One (1941)

Edith Bouvier Beale — Christine Ebersole

George Gould Strong — Bob Stillman

Brooks, Sr. — Michael Potts

Jacqueline Bouvier — Sarah Hyland

Lee Bouvier — Audrey Twitchell

"Little" Edie Beale — Sara Gettelfinger

Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr — Matt Cavenaugh

J.V. "Major" Bouvier — John McMartin

Act Two (1973)

Edith Bouvier Beale — Mary Louise Wilson

"Little" Edie Beale — Christine Ebersole

Brooks, Jr — Michael Potts

Jerry — Matt Cavenaugh

Norman Vincent Peal — John McMartin

SONGS

PROLOGUE (1973)

• "Toyland" — Edith
• ACT ONE (1941)
• "The Five-Fifteen" — Edith, Gould, Brooks, Jackie, Lee
• "Body Beautiful Beale" — Gould, Edith, Brooks, Edie, Jackie, Lee, Joe
• "Mother, Darling" — Edie, Edith, Gould
• "Better Fall Out of Love" — Joe & Edie
• "Being Bouvier" — Major Bouvier, Brooks, Jackie, Lee, Edie
• "Hominy Grits" — Edith, Gould, Jackie, Lee
• "Peas in a Pod" — Edie & Edith
• "Drift Away" — Gould & Edith
• "The Five-Fifteen" (reprise) — Edith
• "Tomorrow's Woman" — Edie, Jackie,Lee
• "Daddy's Girl" — Edie
• "The Telegram" — Edie & Edith
• "Being Bouvier" (reprise) — Major Bouvier, Jackie, Lee
• "Will You?" — Edith

• ACT TWO (1973)
• "The Revolutionary Costume for Today" — Edie
• "The Cake I Had" — Edith
• "Entering Grey Gardens" — Company
• "The House We Live In" — Edie & Company
• "Jerry Likes My Corn" — Edith & Edie
• "Around the World" — Edie
• "Will You ?" (reprise) — Edith & Edie
• "Choose to Be Happy" — Norman Vincent Peale & Company
• "Around the World" (reprise) — Edie
• "Another Winter in a Summer Town" — Edie & Edith
• "Peas in a Pod" (reprise) — Edith & Edie