| EMPTY VOICES
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By David Lefkowitz
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Published March 31 2007 |
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| SNL alum Rachel Dratch/Photo: Steve Granitz |
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From April 10-15, Saturday night (as well as Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) will be a bit more live at off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theater. That's because SNL alum Rachel Dratch will join the cast of Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell. Dratch, who came up the comedy ranks at Upright Citizens Brigade with sketch partner Tina Fey, is arguably best known for her Debbie Downer character on SNL (and for being replaced in a featured role on Fey's 30 Rock by theater and "Ally McBeal" star, Jane Krakowski. Dratch still appears on 30 Rock frequently). The Spalding Gray show, which honors the late monologuist with a compilation of best-known and never-performed solo pieces, has also just announced an extension past its May 13 closing date to June 10. Lucy Sexton directs the piece, which opened March 6 and currently features Kathleen Chalfant, Hazelle Goodman, Ain Gordon, and Side Man's Frank Wood as well as guest star Josh Lucas( through April 8). Gray, whose solos included Swimming to Cambodia, Monster in a Box and the aptly titled, Life Interrupted, was found dead March 9, 2004, when his body was pulled from New York's East River. His demise at age 62 followed numerous bouts of depression and suicide attempts, despite a successful career of small roles in movies, having his monologues turned into feature films, and becoming a downtown theater icon for his style of one-person performances. Gray's widow, Kathleen Russo, conceived Stories Left to Tell, which is produced by the Naked Angels troupe.
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