My play, OBSERVANT, had a sold-out, 9-show run in September, 2024, at The Chain Theatre (NYC), headlining Emerging Artists Theatre’s Fall Spark Theatre Festival. The play was directed by Shellen Lubin and starred Yair Ben-Dor, Fady Demian, Arielle Flax, Rebecca Hoodwin, Arielle Beth Klein, and Melissa Wolf.
The production was funded in part by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.
poster: Remy Fink and Zija Lubin-West
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“Despite the deadly serious content and theme of Grayson’s play, the sharp script is also blisteringly funny at times, replete with the dry incisive wit so deeply characteristic of the Jewish American experience. ... This humorous undercurrent speaks to the strong sensibility and nuance which guides Grayson’s script; there is room for all of the complexity and complication and joy and sorrow of life in these words and in these collectively fine performances.” – Thinking Theatre Review
“A thoughtful and engaging play…eye-opening and compelling. I think both Jewish and non-Jewish audience members will enjoy and respond to this well-written and important play.” – Hi! Drama
For more reviews, awards, and other information on the play, please go to the PROJECTS page on this site.
photos: Dallas Phelps, NYC
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My musical, THE SUSTAIN (co-book and lyrics by Alice Jankell, music by Aaron Drescher), had a staged reading at the A.R.T./New York Theatres, produced by Theatre Now, in March, 2023.
graphic: Sydney Patrick
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My full-length play, BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE, had a workshop production at Cincinnati Lab Theatre’s New Works Festival in July, 2022.
Poster: Eric Kilpatrick
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Photo: Shelbey Philips
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My full-length play, OBSERVANT, was a SemiFinalist in the Jewish Play Project’s 12th National Jewish Playwriting Contest. Click here for article.
OBSERVANT also had a developmental reading at Naked Angels.
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One of the songs from my original musical in development, THE SUSTAIN (co-lyrics and book by Alice Jankell, music by Aaron Drescher), was performed at Theatre Now New York’s 10th Anniversary gala in November, 2022.
Pamela Grayson, Aaron Drescher, and Alice Jankell
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Aaron Drescher and Eric Michael Gillett. Photo: Chris Ruetten
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In February, 2021, together with collaborators Alice Jankell and Aaron Drescher, I was asked to be an inaugural member of Theatre Now New York’s National Musical Writers Lab. Musical theatre writing teams throughout the country meet virtually twice a month to present our musical works and receive feedback and support from the artistic team at TNNY and our writing peers. We’re very excited to continue developing shows with this fantastic group!
My full-length play, BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE, had a staged reading at Emerging Artists Theatre’s New Work Series in October, 2021.
My new musical, THE SUSTAIN, was selected as a Semifinalist for the 2021 National Music Theater Conference, December 2020.
I was invited to be a writer-in-residence for the 2020–2021 season at Kervigo Ensemble Theatre, a New York City-based theatre company. I will be focusing my residency on developing my new full-length play, BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE. In this five-character play, a 51-year-old woman struggles with the Early Onset Alzheimer’s of her 54-year-old husband and wrestles with the responsibilities and desires of sacrifice and love.
A 10-minute play of mine, WINE AND SQUEEZE, had both a reading at the Orange County (NY) Ten Minute Play Festival, in August, and a production (in a physical theatre, socially distanced, that was recorded and live-streamed) at the Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, CA, that premiered in October.
In May 2020, a monologue I wrote was featured in the Primary Stages/ESPA virtual event, 50 Shades of Detention. I chose the theme of “Love in the Time of Corona.”
My short play WHOSE PLOT IS THIS? was a finalist in the Avalonia 7 Theater Festival (Jacksonville) for Best Comedic 10 Minute Play.
My one act play, THE CLUB was one of three winners of the 2020 Lake Tahoe Word Wave Playwriting Competition (October). Winners will be staged next year.
My newest play, THE CLUB, had its first staged reading at Emerging Artists Theatre’s New Work Series on October 17, 2019.
A COMFORTABLE LIFE won a “Blue Ribbon Award” as one of the top three plays in an international playwriting contest, and had a staged reading as part of Southwest Theatre Production’s Rising Artists Series, Austin, Texas.
Called “funny, funny, funny” by nohoartsdistrict.com, short play WHOSE PLOT IS THIS? was selected to be part of “Nine Winning One Acts” at the Group Rep/Lonny Chapman theatre in North Hollywood, California.
A COMFORTABLE LIFE had a revised staged reading at Arts on the Lake in Kent, New York June 8, 2019.
I recorded two new stand-alone songs. "Everyone's Kids Are Perfect" and "Let's Do Lunch."
BURNING UP a Finalist in the Theatre Now New York’s SOUND BITES Festival, January, 2016
My short play, HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? wins the July, 2016 10-Minute Play Contest at Manhattan Repertory Theatre!
URBAN MOMFARE Selected to Extend its Run in the 2014 FringNYC Encore Series!
See it September 21–28th.
Time Out New York names URBAN MOMFARE a "Critic's Pick"
Broadway producer Ken Davenport includes URBAN MOMFARE in his list of 10 Shows That Stand Out at the Fringe 2014.
BURNING UP! is a Katra Film Series Selection
May, 2014
Written with composer Rick Bassett, Burning Up! began as a ten-minute musical in the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. It was then directed as a film by Mark Phillip Lichtenstein and produced by Zoe Samuel. Cast: Lori Hammel, James Sasser, Evan Siegel, and Sara Jayne Blackmore
URBAN MOMFARE Wins the 2014 FringeNYC Excellence Award for BEST OVERALL MUSICAL!
What critics are saying:
★★★★ “A cute, clever and sincere exploration of 17 years of mommyhood…These talented ladies ably juggle the score’s cunning rhymes.” – Time Out New York, Critic’s Pick
“Urban Momfare is campy fun that punches with comedic jabs…endearing and filled with heart.” - Theater In The Now
“Urban Momfare is a refreshing balance of humor and heart, anchored just enough in reality to receive nods and laughs of appreciation from the audience…Grayson and Jankell struck gold with their topic.” – My Entertainment World
“I loved the show. Urban Momfare is charming, cheeky, heartfelt and just a down right fun show…The laughs and the songs are amazing but, what really caught me about the show were those clear moments of complete honesty when it comes to motherhood, relationships, and even the fear of not liking your child. There were scenes that made me want to call my own mother to just say thanks." – NY Theater Now
“Entertaining and heartfelt…Most Fringe shows that I've seen don't seem quite ready for a commercial transfer but I can easily picture Urban Momfare as an Off-Broadway hit.” – Nite Life Exchange
“A very enjoyable show.” – Manhattan With A Twist
“The jokes fly a mile a minute...In Urban Momfare, the show just gets better and better, each punchline more poignant than the one before.” – The Mama Maven
“Pamela Weiler Grayson’s music and ferociously clever lyrics blend heart with hilarity and give the characters depth and vibrancy. The score works organically with Grayson and Jankell’s well-crafted libretto, to move the story forward…If there is any justice, Urban Momfare will soon move on to a longer run in a major venue.” - Ethan Kanfer, New York Theater Reviews
Ken Davenport also named us one of the 10 Shows That Stand Out at the Fringe Festival.
Proud to be selected as a part of Tune In Time
July, 2014
November, 2014 (second place winner)
In this game show-like event at Stage 72/The Triad, a group of three lyricists and composers will be paired together to present an original song, based on audience selections, with twenty minutes to write it!
