"Tea for Two:" Jeffrey Johnson is Edie Beale in After the Garden at Joe's Pub

By Adam Hetrick
29 Dec 2009

Jeffrey Johnson as "Little Edie"
Jeffrey Johnson as "Little Edie"

Jeffrey Johnson brings to life the 1978 performance of Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney in After the Garden at Joe's Pub Dec. 29.

Edith ("Little Edie") Beale, who took on a new life in the Tony-nominated musical Grey Gardens, is conjured in the evening that recreates her Manhattan nightclub act that played for seven performances in the late 1970s.

Actor Johnson and Rick Hammerly co-direct the 7:30 PM concert. In addition to Johnson as Beale, the evening features Keith Tittermary and Michael Winstead.

Gerald Duval, who was the manager and producer of Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney, has assembled songs, dialogue and text from the concerts for After the Garden, which have been augmented with highlights from his personal conversations with the late Beale after her nightclub debut.

After the Garden made its world premiere through Washington, DC's Ganymede Arts Project in March 2009.

In addition to the 2006 musical Grey Gardens by Scott Frankel, Michael Korie and Doug Wright, the Beales' unique story was also adapted into an HBO film of the same title. The Maysles brothers 1975 cult documentary served as inspiration for both projects.

For tickets to the concert, priced $20, visit JoesPub. Joe's Pub is located within the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street.