Clothes Call: Revolutionary Costume for Today

In anticipation of Grey Gardens the Musical arriving on Broadway, here's Christine Ebersole as "Little" Edie Beale singing about her revolutionary costume.

The real Edie's revolutionary sense of fashion has influenced designers for decades, including Todd Oldham and John Bartlett, who are interviewed in the specials features of the Criterion DVD of the film.

As for Ebersole, her performance as Edie is so spot on it's scary. Start the Tony Award campaign for this woman now.




Welcome to the Grey Gardens Blog[Grey Gardens Blog]

Grey Gardens ;Christine Ebersole ;Broadway ;Fashion

*69: Christine Ebersole Flies Her Freak Flag

It's Ebersole Day here at The Operator, where we turn your attention towards and interview with New York magazine. Ms. Ebersole is ever so sincere, ever so kooky, and ever so talented.

You’ve said that you believe the dead communicate with us, and your portrayal of Little Edie is eerie …

Yeah, I’m channeling it. I inhabit her and she inhabits me. I feel a partnership there.


You live in New Jersey. Would you rather be closer to your work?

My secret desire is to move back to New York in the next ten years. But how do I let go of Maplewood? It’s like Shangri-la. It’s so culturally diverse, and all my children are adopted—a transracial family. And we’re not the freaks. Everybody flies their freak flag high in Maplewood!

Once Grey Gardens goes to Broadway, you’re eligible for another Tony. Is that important?

That’s just the cherry on top. I wouldn’t turn it down. It would be nice to have bookends.


Talking to spirits while raising a multicultural brood in the hinterlands of Jersey: How can you not love this woman? If anyone deserves to win a Tony Award this year, it's her.


Channeling the Grey Ghosts [New York magazine]

Christine Ebersole ;Grey Gardens;Musicals

411: Ebersole qua Edie

One of The Operator's favorite Broadway divas dishes with Playbill about our favorite movie-turned-musical: Grey Gardens.

Q: What were your thoughts when you first saw the film?

Ebersole: I was completely obsessed with it. I couldn't stop watching it. Morning, noon and night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Q: Why do you think "Little Edie" wasn't able to escape Grey Gardens in the end?

Ebersole: There's a line that she says in the movie: "Aristocracy is the hallmark of responsibility." So, in other words, she understood her position in life, the station that she came from. She was very devoted to her mother — she was absolutely faithful and loyal. She stayed because of the mother — she had to help her mother preserve Grey Gardens, to fight for Grey Gardens.

Towards the end of the interview, Ebersole puts her finger on why so many people are drawn to the Beales and Grey Gardens:

Ebersole: When [Edie] says, "They can get you in East Hampton for wearing red shoes on a Thursday," and she says, "They can get you for almost anything. It's a mean, nasty Republican town." So, it's the idea, it's the metaphor of the red shoes that is almost like her strength in starting the revolution, of wearing red shoes on a Thursday, of standing up for what you believe in and finding a voice and being a nonconformist. I think she's been an inspiration for me that way.

DIVA TALK: Chatting with Grey Gardens' Christine Ebersole [Playbill]


Christine Ebersole ;Grey Gardens;Musicals

Wiretap: Staunch Women Singing

The album featuring a cracked out, singing socialite is finally here. No, not Paris Hilton (though apparently she released something resembling an album of music today); it's the off-Broadway cast recording of Grey Gardens, featuring the divine Christine Ebersole as Little Edie Beale, the staunch woman looking for a good Libra husband.

The show, which transfers to Broadway this fall, is described by producers thusly:
"Grey Gardens concerns both the deliciously eccentric aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who were once among the brightest names in the pre-Camelot social register, but became East Hampton's most notorious recluses, living in a dilapidated 28-room mansion. Set in two eras — in 1941 when the estate was in its prime and in 1973 when it was reduced to squalor — the musical tells the alternatively hilarious and heartbreaking story of two indomitable individuals, Edith Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter 'Little' Edie."


While the musical is camp and fun at times, a wink to fans of the movie, the music itself can be touching, epecially when sung by the amazingly gifted Ebersole; just listen to "Another Winter in a Summer Town" if you need proof.

If only Paris and Nicky Hilton were this interesting and eccentric, perhaps we would be more inclided to give them due consideration. For now, we're more than content with the Beales of Grey Gardens.


The Beales Bloom: Grey Gardens Recording in Stores Aug. 22 [Playbill]




Grey Gardens ;Musicals ;Christine Ebersole

Callsheet: The Beales of Grey Gardens

Starting Midnight tonight, the IFC Center will be screening The Beales of Grey Gardens. The movie is basically a "DVD extras" of the original Grey Gardens, assembled from excess footage shot by the Maysles Brothers during their tenure with 'Big' Edie and 'Little' Edie at their dilapidated East Hampton mansion.

Being huge fans of GG, we're totally excited to see additional shots of the Beale women in their kooky splendor. We're hoping for some more fashion tips from 'Little' Edie too.

Photocall: Gayest. Float. Ever.

Thanks to Mod Fab for leading us to this picture of the Grey Gardens float at the recent Pride March here in New York. Indeed, that is the perfect costume to wear for that day, Ms. Ebersole.

[image source]

Curtain Call: Casting About

Only a Lad is a new musical based on the songs of Oingo Boingo. Listen, Danny Elfman is a fucking genius, but come on. Think there's any chance they'll use the theme song from Weird Science? [Playbill]

If you've got the perfect costume to wear for the day, you may want to try hit the Grey Gardens EPAs. The show is re-tooling for the Broadway run, and as far as we know, only Christine Ebersole and Mary-Louise Wilson are returning. [Playbill]

The Rapture are totally biting Madonna's style. They're looking for a few good rollerskaters for their upcoming video [craigslist]

No Fatties! A modeling agency in *ahem* Jersey is looking for PETITE MODELS. We love when people use all caps. Really grabs our attention. [craigslist]

Curtain Call: Grey Gardens

The Tony Awards may be scraping the barrel for nominees this year, but there's hope for next season. It was announced that the musical version of Grey Gardens, which sold out its extended run off-Broadway, will transfer in the fall. The critically lauded Christine Ebersole will reprise her dual roles as both Big Edie (in Act 1) and her flawless Little Edie (in Act 2). Mary-Louise Wilson (who plays Big Edie in Act 2) will also return.

We're excited the show will get the chance to play for a wider audience. It's nice to know Edie's days at Grey Gardens aren't limited.



[via Playbill]