Leftover Stories to Tell is a
bicoastal co-production at the center of a series of events
celebrating the life and writing of
Spalding Gray, timed to coincide
with what would have been his 65th birthday.
Created and co-directed by his widow Kathleen Russo and Lucy Sexton,
the program is crafted from excerpts of both his classic work as well
as previously unpublished writing and will be performed by renowned
actors and authors at Performance Space 122 in New York from May
31-June 4.
The core cast is
James Urbaniak, Bob Holman, Ain Gordon, Jonathan Ames,
Hazelle Goodman and with celebrity guest performers
Olympia Dukakis
(Wednesday, May 31), Debra Winger and David Straithairn (Thursday, June
1) and
Joel Grey (Sunday, June 4). Celebrities to be confirmed include
Aidan Quinn, Steve Buscemi and
Cynthia Nixon.
"When Spalding
Gray succumbed to depression and took his life in the winter of 2004,
he left behind a loving family, a legion of devoted fans and an
enormous body of work.
Leftover Stories to Tell
charts a uniquely personal journey through Spalding's inimitable
perspective and voice, featuring excerpts from his hilarious monologues
juxtaposed with journal entries, poems, and other unpublished – and
previously unperformed – writing," state press notes.
"It is only fitting that Performance Space 122 is co-presenting
Leftover Stories to Tell and his eponymous award; Spalding long
considered P.S. 122 a creative home-base, and it is still home to his
signature desk," said
Vallejo Gantner, Artistic Director of P.S.
122. Gray developed and created
Morning, Noon and Night, Gray on Gray, and
Interviewing the Audience at P.S. 122, where he was working on
Life Interrupted at the time of his death.
Adding
to the commemorative events in Gray's honor, Mayor
Michael Bloomberg
has declared June 5th (Gray's birthday) "
Spalding Gray Day"
in New York City.
Leftover Stories to Tell is a co-production by Performance Space 122, Washington Square Arts and UCLA Live.
Leftover Stories to Tell
performs from Wednesday, May 31- Sunday, June 4 at 8:00 p.m.; at
P.S.122 (150 First Avenue at E. 9th Street). Tickets are $50 and
may be purchased by calling Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or online at
www.theatermania.com. For information call P.S.122 at 212-477-5288 or visit
www.ps122.org
.
