Scott Frankel, Michael Korie and Doug Wright are the writers of Grey Gardens, a musical based on the 1975 documentary of the same name.
The piece explores the relationship between a mother and daughter - Edith Bouvier Beale and Little Edie - as they spiral down the social ladder and become reclusive outcasts.
Grey Gardens premiered off-Broadway in February 2006 before transferring to Broadway nine months later. Both leading ladies - Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson - won Tony Awards for their performances in the show.
Scott Frankel, Michael Korie & Doug Wright
The musical is currently receiving its European premiere at the Southwark Playhouse starring Jenna Russell and Sheila Hancock. Directed by Thom Southerland, the entire run of Grey Gardens is completely sold old and the production has broken box office records.
Last Friday - the day after opening night - I sat down with Scott, Michael and Doug at the Southwark Playhouse to discuss Grey Gardens’ creation, the show’s journey to Broadway and what they think of the London production, plus much more…
Which of you watched the Grey Gardens documentary and thought ‘I want to turn this into a musical’? How did the lightbulb moment happen?
[Michael and Doug both point over Scott’s head]
Scott Frankel (music): I knew the film very well and had seen it millions of times – I had been to parties where people would dress up and recite some of Edie’s phrases – but it never occurred to me it could be adapted for the stage… until one day it did in about the year 2000. I rang up Albert Maysles who is the surviving documentary filmmaker (Albert made the documentary with his brother, David) and said, “I don’t know how I would do it, but I’m keen to turn Grey Gardens into a musical. Is there any chance the rights are available?”
He said, “It’s so strange you’re calling because the film came out twenty-five years ago and nobody has approached us about the rights until recently a French opera composer has been speaking to us about wanting to make Grey Gardens into an opera.”
