Actor's Express Opens It's 22nd Season With Atlanta Premiere of Hit Broadway Musical Grey Gardens

Based on the 1975 documentary of the same name, Grey Gardens portrays the lives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' eccentric relatives Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter "Little" Edie. Mother and daughter cling to each other as their once-glamorous East Hampton mansion falls into ruins around them.
 
The Beales' story has captured the hearts and minds of fans for over thirty years. The original documentary still enjoys a cult following and the musical was a major Broadway hit that was nominated for nine Tony Awards. A recent HBO film based on the documentary recently received a staggering 17 Emmy nominations.
 
"The chance to produce a show like Grey Gardens is a rare treat. We are thrilled to present the Atlanta premiere of this landmark musical," says Actor's Express Artistic Director Freddie Ashley, who helms the production. "The Beale women were deliciously eccentric and fantastically complicated. Theirs is one of the great mother-daughter love stories of all time."
 
Leading the cast is Atlanta veteran Jill Hames as Little Edie. Hames last appeared at Actor's Express in 1998 in Once Upon a Mattress and has appeared on nearly every stage in Atlanta, including the ALLIANCE THEATRE (Seussical), Atlanta Lyric Theatre (Cabaret), Horizon Theatre (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and the Aurora Theatre (Noises Off). Joining her in the role of Big Edie is Kathleen McManus, who has appeared at AE in productions of Spain and Company.
 
Also included in the cast are Wade Benson, Michael Monroe, Justin McGough, Sarah Turner, David Howard, Abby Goldberg and Katie Hollenshead.
 
Grey Gardens preview performances begin August 27. Opening Night is August 30 and the production runs through October 10.

GREY GARDENS

August 27 - October 10, 2009
 
Book by Doug Wright
Music by Scott Frankel
Lyrics by Michael Korie

Directed by Freddie Ashley
Musical Direction by Clay Causey

Running time
Two hours and fifteen minutes, including one intermission
 
Preview Performances - $15
Thursday, Aug. 27- Saturday, Aug. 29 - 8 p.m.

Gala Opening Performance and Reception - $40
Sunday, Aug. 30 - 5 p.m.

Regular Performances - $25-37
Wednesdays - Saturdays, Sept. 2 - October 10 - 8 p.m.
Sundays, Sept. 6, 20, 27 and October 4 - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 - 2 p.m.

$5 discount for seniors and students

Reservations
Online - www.actors-express.com
Phone - 404-607-SHOW (7469)

About Actor's Express

Since 1988 Actor's Express has offered original voices and new perspectives that reflect Atlanta's diverse and evolving community.  Recognized as one of the most remarkable and daring theatre companies in the Southeast, Actors Express has been cited as "the city's most vital theatrical venue" (Creative Loafing) and continues to fill an important niche in Atlanta's rich arts community as a place for high quality theatre and theatre education.

Under the artistic direction of Freddie Ashley, the theatre strives to nurture the next generation of playwrights through workshops, readings, and full productions of new plays; to enhance Atlanta's artistic community through theatre training; to catalyze dialogue essential to the vitality of our city and to enhance Atlanta's reputation nationally as a thriving center for live performance.

Major funding for Actor's Express is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council.  This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.  GCA is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.  Actor's Express programming is also supported in part by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.

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