Grey Gardens Moving to Broadway's Walter Kerr in October

The Playwrights Horizons production of Grey Gardens is moving to the Great White Way. The musical will begin performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre, current home of Doubt, in October. Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson, who both earned rave reviews for their performances, are the only actors confirmed to make the move with the show.

Based on the cult 1975 documentary of the same name, Grey Gardens features a book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie. The tuner tells the story of the deliciously eccentric aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who were once among the brightest names in the pre-Camelot social register, and are now East Hampton's most notorious recluses, living in a dilapidated 28-room mansion. Facing an uncertain future, Edith Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter, Little Edie, are forced to revisit their storied past and come to terms with it—for better, and for worse. In the first act, Ebersole portrays Edith; in the second act, Little Edie is played by Ebersole and Edith is portrayed by Mary Louise Wilson.

Grey Gardens, directed by Michael Greif, had a sold-out, extended engagement at Playwrights Horizons from February 10 through April 30. The mounting received mixed notices from critics. In his Broadway.com Review of the production, William Stevenson wrote: "Considering the rich source material and the talented creative team, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, much of it is far less captivating than the film. The second act is better than the first, however, and Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson turn in divine performances as the eccentric Beales." In addition to those mentioned above, the off-Broadway company included Sara Gettelfinger, Matt Cavenaugh, Sarah Hyland, John McMartin, Michael Potts, Bob Stillman and Audrey Twitchell.

The off-Broadway production of Grey Gardens has been fairing well during award season. It received five Lucille Lortel Award nominations more than any other musical this season, though it took home no Lortels. Grey Gardens was honored with seven Outer Critics Circle nominations more than any new musical this season, winning Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical for Ebersole. It has received 12 Drama Desk nominations more than any other off-Broadway production. Ebersole also won the Drama League Distinguished Performance Award and a special citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle. PS Classics has already recorded the musical's cast album, featuring the off-Broadway company.

The show is expected to be revised before it hits the Great White Way. "The creative team is working on implementing changes to tighten the musical before its Broadway premiere," a production spokesperson told Broadway.com.

Doubt is scheduled to end its run at the Walter Kerr on July 2.