I met Erin Pittleman about seven years ago while she was traveling as a makeup artist for lines such as Benefit and Trish McEvoy. She always had a spark about her–a glittery presence and a carefree, bubbly personality. I used to visit her even when I had no makeup to buy and we’d chat about music and art. I haven’t seen Pittleman in about five years, but when I heard she was starring in Grey Gardens, The Musical in Fort Lauderdale, I wanted to give her a call and she what she has been up to.
Pittleman stars as “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale and also plays her adult daughter “Little Edie.” The story centers on the riches to rags relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The women are banished aristocrats forced to live in a rundown mansion amidst stray animals and squalor.
“Little Edie was such a fashion icon,” Pittleman says. “She wore pants as a cape. As they lost their money, the women had to get very creative with their clothing. They were really into head scarves and this trend just came back again on the runways a few years ago.”
Pittleman admits one of her favorite parts of playing the dual roles is the clothes. “Our costumes are so freakin’ amazing,” Pittleman says. “Dee Derringer Piquete puts our costumes together. Since these women didn’t buy clothes for 30 years, Edie was known to take skirts and wear them upside down to get another look.”
Grey Gardens, The Musical runs through Sunday March 27 at Rising Action Theatre in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $39. Call 954-561-2225 or visit Risingactiontheatre.com.
