From East Coast aristocrats to delusional recluses, the shocking descent of two relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was first revealed in the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens. The Albert and David Maysles film—a cult hit—introduced the world to Edith "Big Edie" Bouvier Beale and her daughter, "Little Edie," who were discovered living in a squalid East Hampton manse with 51 cats and little contact with the outside world. After a Broadway musical drawn from the story won three Tonys last year, Northlight Theatre in Skokie snagged the Midwest premiere rights; its production opens on November 12th. "You can look at this just as camp. But on a deeper level it’s a tragic tale of dis-illusionment," says Northlight’s artistic director, B. J. Jones, who has cast the Chicago actress Hollis Resnik in the lead. Over the two acts, Resnik will play not one but both of the castoffs. She is paired, alternately, with a recent Northwestern grad, Tempe Thomas, as Little Edie and the veteran performer Ann Whitney, who’s such a dead ringer for Big Edie, says Jones, that "it’s a little spooky, frankly." Probably a fair way to describe the whole project. Look for us in the front row.

Photography: Brian Kuhlmann Hair and Makeup: Sharon Casey Parker Wardrobe: Jacqueline firkins Stylist: Joslyn Beta Lawrence Assistants Aaron Morgonstien, Perrie Schad