Star of the original 1975 GREY GARDENS documentary, Jerry Torre, will be Newington Mainstage's special guest on Saturday evening (October 5), as they present Connecticut Premiere of "GREY GARDENS: The Musical", running this weekend at John Wallace Middle School (please note the change in venue).
As aficionados of the cult Maysles film will recall, one of only a few regular visitors to the Beales' self-contained world was Jerry - the sensitive teen-age handyman, with delicate features, big hair, and a Brooklyn accent. Little Edie nicknamed him "The Marble Faun," after the classic
Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. He is one of only two surviving cast members from the documentary - and following Saturday's 8pm performance, Jerry will be available for a meet & greet in the lobby.
"GREY GARDENS: The Musical" chronicles the life of eccentric socialite "Big Edie"
Bouvier Beale and her daughter, "Little Edie" (the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis). Once the highest of high society, the two became East Hampton's most notorious recluses, living gothic isolation in a decaying, cat-ridden East Hampton mansion. The New York Times calls the show "an experience no passionate theatergoer should miss!"
Connecticut favorite
Kelly Boucher does double duty as Edith
Bouvier Beale (in Act One) and "Little Edie" Beale (in Act Two). Joining her on stage (as Edith in Act Two), Newington Mainstage is thrilled to be welcoming back Broadway's
Carolyn Kirsch. Ms. Kirsch is a veteran of more than 15 Broadway shows over a 21 year period of working in theatre in New York City and beyond. Her many credits include the original companies of "A Chorus Line" (Theatre World Award), "Chicago" (with
Bob Fosse), "CoCo" (starring
Katharine Hepburn), among countless others.
The cast also includes Anne Collin, Ian Lynch-Passarelli, Dan Ringuette, Jeff Savage, Foster Evans Reese, Lily Bello and Lauren Lesser. GREY GARDENS is directed by
Ian Galligan, with Rebecca Urruita serving as Music Director. The show is based on the 1975 documentary by Albert &
David Maysles, and features a book by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner
Doug Wright, music by
Scott Frankel and lyrics by
Michael Korie.
Newington Mainstage's production of GREY GARDENS runs October 4-6 (Friday & Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm) at the
John Wallace MIDDLE SCHOOL (71 HALLERAN DRIVE, NEWINGTON). This is a change from all previous submissions & releases.
Tickets are $25.00 for general admission and $20.00 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting
www.NewingtonMainstage.com, by phone by calling toll-free
1-800-838-3006, or in person at The Jewelry WearHouse (2434 Berlin Turnpike, Newington). A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Connecticut-based Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Team Towanda.
