Grey Gardens The Musical

“Often father and daughter look down on mother together. They exchange meaningful glances when she misses a point. They agree that she is not bright as they are, cannot reason as they do. This collusion does not save the daughter from the mother’s fate.” ― Bonnie Burstow, Radical Feminist Therapy: Working in the Context of Violence

Little Edie and Edith Beale lived their lives for the stage- even though they didn't have one. They were forever prepared for an audience that never came (or that consisted of only one another). A dynamic pair of America's wealthiest and most beautiful socialites are remembered as modern history's most eccentric and filthy crones. It's tragedy and comedy, documentary and farce, surrealism and romance. These women were very real, but so much of their world was very not. Edited out of a patriarchal high society's "American Dream", the Beale's of Grey Gardens stripped down and dove headfirst into a Dream of their own, warping and contorting until they were trapped inside a prison of their own minds. Sprinkle in 52 cats, the occasional raccoon, and some of the most iconic fashion moments in history... What a recipe for a musical.

I recognize myself in Little Edie and Edith Beale. Maybe that sounds insane to you, or maybe you recognize yourself too. Grey Gardens was a film that existed only in name to me before I heard about Big Noise's production. On its announcement, all of my friends flooded my inbox with messages of "You have to do this show! It's made for you!" What an intro! I had to find out why. This story has deeply connected with people for decades- a prime example of a "cult following". Whether it's the honor/horror of seeing your mother's face when you look at yourself in the mirror, the rage felt towards an absent and self-important father, the grief of an imagined future ripped away, or the ache of being born into a family who refuses to see you for who you are, so many of us see ourselves in Grey Gardens. Stanch characters recognize staunch characters when we see them. If you see yourself here, know that it was made for you, too.

It's hard to overstate the love that has grown in all of our hearts for this story throughout this terrific process of creating this production. Our team was absolutely stacked with some of the most thoughtful, smart, and detail oriented artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. This world that we present you with today is filled to the brim with love, reverence, bravery, and so much kindness. It has been the greatest pleasure of my time in Chicago to have my name on this program with these people. Thanks, Big Noise, for giving these feral women the stage they deserve. All we needed was an audience!