Mary Louise Wilson to Depart Grey Gardens on July 29

Mary Louise Wilson, who won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Edith Bouvier Beale in Grey Gardens, will depart the show on July 29. Her successor will be named shortly.

The show will continue in an open-ended run with Christine Ebersole and the remainder of the original Broadway cast, including Erin Davie, Matt Cavenaugh, and John McMartin. Ebersole, who won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical, will head the show’s London cast sometime during the 2007-2008 season.

Grey Gardens, based on the documentary film of the same name, tells the story of Big Edith and Little Edie Beale, a mother and daughter who ended up living as recluses in a run-down Long Island mansion. Directed by Michael Greif, the musical has a book by Doug Wright and a score by Michael Korie and Scott Frankel.

In addition to winning the Tony, Wilson was nominated in 2006 for the Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Lucille Lortel Awards for her performance in the show’s Off-Broadway production at Playwrights Horizons. She also received the 2007 Richard Seff Award, presented by Actors’ Equity to performers over age 50, and a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.