News And Blogs

Set against the backdrop of a crumbling home in East Hampton, New York, Grey Gardens focuses upon the mother-daughter relationship between the reclusive Edith Ewing “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Little Edie. Big Edie is the opposite of a stage mom—at least according to Little Edie, she dashed her daughter’s showbiz dreams—but...

5 Musicals Showcasing ‘Stage Moms’

In 1975, a reclusive mother and daughter—the aunt and cousin, respectively, of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—living in a dilapidated Long Island mansion became American icons. The Maysles brothers’ documentary Grey Gardens is now considered a cult classic that has spawned numerous pop culture tributes, including Grey Gardens—The Musical, onsta...

Welcome to ‘Grey Gardens’

In the midst of Act II of Grey Gardens—The Musical, Big Edie celebrates her adolescent friend, Jerry, and his fervor for her cooking—specifically the canned corn she cooks for him, which he chows down with delight: “I boil it on the hot plate / Till all the juice is gone / Bless his soul / He knows which side my corn is buttered on.” But �...

10 Musical Tributes to Food: A List Inspired by ‘Jerry Likes My Corn’

In 1972, Gail Sheehy wrote an article for New York magazine profiling a mother and daughter of unconventional tastes who long ago turned their backs on public opinion. This was America’s first introduction to the Beales and their dilapidated mansion known as Grey Gardens....

‘Grey Gardens’ Before and After the Beales

Introducing theatre to a young audience member can be a magical experience, but it can also be a daunting one. For example: How can you be sure to pick a show with appropriate subject matter? How do you explain different theatrical terms and concepts to someone who has never seen a play before? What is the best way to talk to a young person ab...

A Gentleman's Guide—to Love of Theatre

While serial murder is not often considered fertile ground for comedy, when one actor plays all eight of a play’s ill-fated characters, as in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (which plays the Ahmanson Theatre through May 1, 2016), the potential for comedic virtuosity becomes endless. But what are the logistics of playing ei...

A Backstage Ballet...An Actor and his Dressers