FOR THE BENEFIT OF MISS JENNIE GOURLAY

Directed by Perry Dell’Aquila
Written and Performed by Billy Hipkins

Walkerspace
46 Walker Street, NY NY 10013
Monday, Feb 23rd at 7:00pm
Monday, March 2nd at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 8th at 2:00pm
Monday, March 9th at 7:00pm

Who is Jennie Gourlay, and why should I care about her benefit, you may well ask. Jennie was a 19th Century actress who happened to be on stage at Ford’s Theatre the night Abraham Lincoln was shot. She was not the star that night. That night it was Laura Keene. However, Jennie’s big starring night was scheduled for the following night, which never happened due to the President’s assassination.

During a historical tour of Ford’s Theatre, performer Billy Hipkins happened upon the playbill for this evening that never took place and began to wonder about the actress whose life was so irrevocably altered. An obsession was born.

Hipkins is a charming and humorous performer who draws the audience in as he tells the story of Jennie Gourlay and some of his own story as well. The show flies by in a very short 70 minutes. For the March 2nd performance, there was a talk back that every single audience member stayed for. Everyone wanted more of this delightful show. Give yourself a treat and check it out!

- Jean Tait -