Grace's "Goodbye and Good Luck" Adapted for Theater

York's Free Reading Series to Feature Goodbye and Good Luck
By Andrew Gans 26 Dec 2008
Free readings of several new musicals will be presented at the York Theatre Company in February 2009 as part of the Off-Broadway company's Developmental Reading Series.

The month will kick off Feb. 2, 2009, at 3 PM with Goodbye and Good Luck, which is based on the short story by Grace Paley. Featuring a book by Melba Thomas, music by David Friedman and lyrics by Muriel Robinson, the musical, according to the York, is "set on Manhattan's lower east side during the era of the Yiddish theatre . . . [and] tells the story of Rosie Lieber, whose life is upended and set on a new track when she loses her job in a sweatshop because she wants to sit by a window. Her search for her 'window' leads to a job as a cashier at a famous Second Avenue theatre and a lifelong involvement with its charismatic and considerably older star." An encore presentation will be offered Feb. 5 at 3 PM.

The readings will be presented at the York's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's on 54th Street, east of Lexington Avenue. Although the readings are free, reservations are required by emailing Jeff Landsman at Jlandsman@yorktheatre.org (include name, phone number, the show's title and the number of tickets) or by calling (212) 935-5824, ext. 24.

For more information visit www.yorktheatre.org.

Special Tribute Sessions at the MLA Conference

The Modern Language Association is presenting a special series of programs in tribute to Grace Paley. The Sunday Dec 28 forum is open to the public. The conference sessions are in San Francisco on Monday, Dec 29 at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel. If persons are interested in the conference sessions, they should email to mh2349@columbia.edu for a reservation.

A Forum: Grace Paley Writing the World: Literature and Legacy
Sunday, 28 December 1:45 - –3:30 p.m.,
Hilton San Francisco, Continental 1-2
Presiding: Marianne Hirsch, Columbia Univ.
Speakers: Dorothy Allison, Emory Univ.; Yvette Christianse, Fordham University; Galway Kinnell, New York Univ.

Monday, 29 December
508. The Story Hearer: Grace Paley’s Poetry and Prose
10:15–11:30 a.m., Hilton San Francisco, Golden Gate 3
A workshop arranged in conjunction with the forum Grace Paley Writing the World: Literature and Legacy (289)
Presiding: Sandy Alexandre, Massachusetts Inst. of Tech.
1. “Starting Out in the Fifties: Why Grace Paley Did Not Become Philip Roth and Why We Are Glad That She Didn’t,” Nancy K. Miller, Graduate Center, City Univ. of New York
2. “Grace Paley’s Formal Strategies,” Marianne DeKoven, Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick
3. “Grace Paley’s Prose of the City and Poetry of the Country,” Sidra DeKoven Ezrahi, Hebrew Univ.
4. “Lines and Lineages in Grace Paley’s Poetry,” Melissa Zeiger, Dartmouth Coll.

616. The Responsbility of the Poet: Grace Paley Writing Social Change
3:30–4:45 p.m., Hilton San Francisco, Golden Gate 3
A workshop arranged in conjunction with the forum Grace Paley Writing the World: Literature and Legacy (289)
Presiding: Florence Howe, Graduate Center, City Univ. of New York
1. “For Love of the Imperfect World,” Susan Griffin, California Inst. of Integral Studies
2. “Inhabiting Voices: Grace Paley Writing Difference,” Ivy Schweitzer, Dartmouth Coll.
3. “Angry Arts: Grace Paley, the War Resisters League, and the Rebirth of Activist Art in the City of New York,” John Bell, Massachusetts Inst. of Tech.
4. “The Morality of Orality,” Ruth Perry, Massachusetts Inst. of Tech.

Grace Paley Birthday Reading in NYC

Eva Kollisch Introduces the Evening


Gerry Aberelli Reads Grace Paley


Bell Chevigny Reads Grace Paley


Florence Howe Reads Poems by Grace Paley


Meredith Tax Reads from a Short Story by Grace Paley



Beatrix Gates Reads Grace Paley