Amber Gray, most popularly known for Broadway hits such as Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Hadestown, and Macbeth, took the stage at 54 Below for her solo show titled Amber Gray: Gray Matter. Gray’s energy is seductive. She draws the audience in with her soulful voice, enchanting movements and unique style.
The theme of the show is “How to Live Well.” Gray organized the show in three sections: What Not To Do, Deflect from the Culture and Memento mori (a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die”). Each section includes songs curated by Gray; some speak to social issues and movements, one specifically is about the fast fashion industry, while others are soul-stirring meditations on life but all are songs Gray chose because she loves them. Additionally, the stories she tells about growing up and how she entered and managed her theatre career are exciting and delightful.
Gray begins the show with “Devil Gonna Rise Up” by The Bengsons. The song is a rhythmic chant that encapsulates Gray’s sultry voice. Cody Owen accompanies her on the accordion; their duo is quite moving. She tells of her collaboration with the director Rachel Chavkin and her theatre company, The TEAM. They both had significant roles in the nurturing of her theatre career. She continues to perform another song they worked on together, “Burnin’ Down” from Mission Drift.
Her energy and enthusiasm continue as she sings songs from Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, and Hadestown. The pieces she selects for Hadestown were cut from the show “How Long” and “Chant II. She also includes mainstream songs like “Paper Bag” by Fiona Apple and “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane. She brings her unique style and tone to these songs.
Gray Matter highlights the range of Amber Gray’s talent. The show is reflective in many ways, asking the audience to consider the nature of the world while listening to a powerful voice deliver the message.
"Amber Gray: Gray Matters"
Performed by Amber Gray
Music direction by Cody Owen Stine
June 28- July 1, 2023
54 Below
254 W 54th St. Cellar, NYC 10019
Yani Perez, M.F.A, is a poet, playwright, translator, and educator. Her plays have been presented in various theaters in the United States such as La Mama and Yale University as well as internationally in Bogotá, Colombia. She works at IATI Theater, one of the oldest Latinx theaters in NYC. She is currently working on translations of Latinx artists in hopes of introducing them to English-speaking audiences.