Center Theatre Group to Host Talkback with Betty Buckley, Rachel York and Michael Wilson Following Film Screening

Center Theatre Group will host a special event featuring a screening of "Grey Gardens," the 1975 classic documentary, followed by a conversation with Betty Buckley, Rachel York and Michael Wilson - the stars and director of the upcoming Ahmanson Theatre production of the Tony Award-nominated "Grey Gardens" The Musical.

The screening of the "Grey Gardens" documentary, created by David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Ellen Hovde, Muffie Meyer and Susan Froemke, begins at 3 p.m. on June 18 at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Set in East Hampton, New York, "Grey Gardens" tells the story of Big Edie and Little Edie, the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and their journey from glamorous aristocrats in the 1940s to notorious recluses in the 1970s, living in a crumbling house filled with memories and cats.

Previews for "Grey Gardens" The Musical begin on July 6, with the opening set for July 13, 2016, at CTG at the Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through August 14. The book for "Grey Gardens" The Musical is by Doug Wright, with music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie.

Rachel York is a dynamic and versatile actress, singer, dancer and comedienne, best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in "City of Angels," "LES MISERABLES," "Victor/Victoria" (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Sly Fox" with Richard Dreyfuss, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and recently the new musical "Disaster!" Previously at the Ahmanson, Ms. York starred as Reno Sweeney in the national tour of "Anything Goes." Also on tour, she created the role of Cruella de Vil in

"The 101 Dalmatians Musical," starred as Guenevere in "Camelot" and portrayed Lilli Vanessi/Kate in "Kiss Me, Kate" (U.S. tour and London's West End). Off-Broadway shestarred in "The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman," Stephen Sondheim's "Putting It Together" (Drama Desk nomination), "Dessa Rose" (Drama Desk nomination) as well as NYC Encores! acclaimed productions of "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" and "Little Me." Among her favorite regional productions are "Ragtime," "The King and I" and "Turn of the Century" opposite Jeff Daniels. Ms. York turned heads with her courageous portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie "Lucy." She has also appeared on several popular TV series including "Power," "Hannah Montana," "Frasier," "Numb3rs," and will be featured in the upcoming film "It Had To Be You."

Betty Buckley, who has been called "The Voice of Broadway," is one of theatre's most respected and legendary leading ladies. She is an actress/singer whose career spans theatre, film, television and concert halls around the world. She was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame for 2012. She won a Tony Award for "Cats," received her second Tony Award nomination for "Triumph of Love" and an Olivier Award nomination in London for her performance in "Sunset Boulevard," which she repeated to more rave reviews on Broadway. Her other Broadway credits include "1776," "Pippin," "Song And Dance," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" and "Carrie." She has starred in many off-Broadway productions including "The Old Friends" for which she received a 2014 Drama Desk nomination. Her film credits include M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening," Brian de Palma's "Carrie," Bruce Beresford's "Tender Mercies," Roman Polanski's "Frantic," Woody Allen's "Another Woman" and Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp." She is currently shooting "Split," a new film directed by Shyamalan in which she is co-starring with James McAvoy. Her numerous TV credits include the series "Oz" for HBO and four seasons starring as Abby on "Eight is Enough." She has received two Emmy nominations, and she has recorded 16 CDs, receiving two Grammy nominations. Her latest CD "Ghostlight" was produced by T Bone Burnett.

Michael Wilson directed the 2013 Broadway revival of "The Trip to Bountiful," which garnered a Best Actress Tony Award for Cicely Tyson. This production was later presented at the Ahmanson Theatre. He received 2015 DGA and Image Award nominations for his direction of the Lifetime/Ostar production of "Bountiful," which was nominated for two Emmys including Outstanding Television Movie. He received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his direction of Horton Foote's "The Orphans' Home Cycle" at Signature Theatre. His other Broadway productions include "Gore Vidal's The Best Man," "Dividing the Estate," "Enchanted April" and "Old Acquaintance." Off-Broadway his productions include "Talley's Folly," and also "The Old Friends" with Betty Buckley. He recently finished work on his first independent motion picture, "Showing Roots," starring Maggie Grace, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth McGovern, Adam Brody and Cicely Tyson.

The documentary screening and conversation event on June 18 is free of charge ($5 reservation fee may apply) and reservations may be made at CenterTheatreGroup.org/ggfilmevent until June 17 at 12 p.m. Tickets may also be available at the door on the day of the event.Tickets for "Grey Gardens" The Musical are available by calling (213) 972-4400 or online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, or by visiting the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre. The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

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