FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTS

Ann Bannon’s CHRONICLES are perennial favorites and have been read by generations of budding lesbians. These five books create a window into lesbian life in pre-Stonewall Greenwich Village. We decided to adapt three of the novels, not as a big wigged, campy romp, but rather to explore the emotionally resonant stories of our four primary characters.

We welcome the humor emerging from our contemporary reading of the fifty-year old texts and have included some of the original language to give you a sense of these books. We plan to adapt other works from the lesbian canon.

- Kate Moira Ryan and Linda S. Chapman

BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES

A Short History of the Play’s Development

August 2001 – Kate Moira Ryan and Linda S. Chapman celebrate year twelve of their theatrical
friendship over martinis at The Hanover Inn during NYTW’s Dartmouth Summer Residency and
embark on a new project together. They decide to adapt Ann Bannon’s evergreen Beebo Brinker
Chronicles for the stage.

September 10, 2003; February 23, 2004; May 18, 2004; January 10, 2005 – Readings of the first
through fourth drafts of BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES in the rehearsal studio at New York
Theatre Workshop, all directed by Leigh Silverman.
Many thanks to the reading participants: Carolyn Baeumler, Addie Johnson, Mark Nelson, Darren
Pettie, Larry Pine, David Pittu, Kelly Simpkins, Samantha Soule, Daniel Talbot, Stephen Barker Turner and Anna Foss Wilson.

Fall 2006 – Kate and Linda decide to commence with a Showcase production of the play. Elyse
Singer and the Hourglass Group join the endeavor and come on board as the producer. Planning and fundraising activities commence.

April 23, 2007 – A BEEBO AFFAIR, fundraising event for the production, takes place at Friedrike
Merck’s loft on West 23rd Street, with guest appearances by Kate Clinton, Carmelita Tropicana,
Roberta Maxwell, Lola Pashalinski, Carolyn Baeumler, Anna Foss Wilson, Johnnie Moore and Saidah
Arrika Ekulona.

September 4, 2007 – Rehearsals begin for BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES at The Fourth Street Theatre, a project of the Jonathan Larson Lab.

October 1, 2007 - Opening Night at The Fourth Street Theatre

October 28, 2007 - Closing Night downtown

February 19, 2008 - BEEBO moves Off-Broadway!