Grey Gardens Musical Documentary Gets New York and L.A. Screenings

By Adam Hetrick
February 27, 2008

Big Edie, Little Edie and their musical counterparts will return with New York and Los Angeles screenings of the documentary "Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway."

Albert Maysles – who first revealed the women of Grey Gardens to the world in his acclaimed 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens" – along with East of Doheny films has documented the creation of the award-winning 2006 musical, which was based on that film.

The 50-minute documentary traces the musical's origins from Maysles' original film, which presented the eccentric "Big" Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter "Little" Edie Beale, aunt and cousin to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The two had gone from wealthy socialites to recluses living in squalor in a 28-room mansion in East Hampton.

Maysles' latest documentary culminates in the film's musical adaptation for Playwrights Horizons and the Broadway stage, incorporating behind-the-scenes footage of the show's rehearsals, performances and interviews with the creators and cast. Maysles himself is interviewed within the film, which also provides insight from Beale authorities, devotees, cultural commentators, audiences and fans.

East of Doheny films presents the private screenings of "Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway." The New York event will be hosted by East of Doheny and The Actors Fund on March 3 at The Paley Center for Media. Grey Gardens composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie will be on hand for a post-screening discussion.

The Los Angeles screening of "Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway" will take place in mid-April in Los Angeles.