
Mary Astor's Purple Diary
The Musical

New Jersey Repertory Company
By Special Arrangement with
HIGH HARD HEAT / Dominick Balletta
Presents a Salon Reading of
MARY ASTOR’S PURPLE DIARY: THE MUSICAL
Music and Lyrics by Michael Garin
Book by Mardie Millit
Directed by Carl Andress
Based on the illustrated celebrity tale by Ed Sorel
October 26, 2026 7pm
The real "Purple Diary" was the biggest sex scandal of 1936 — a post-divorce custody battle between a sexually liberated female Hollywood star, Mary Astor, and her controlling ex-husband. Our hero, Ed, an illustrator, becomes obsessed with the star and her seemingly glamorous life. Things heat up when Mary herself magically appears to set things straight. It takes a whole gaggle of Old Hollywood names, Broadway playwrights, and half of the Algonquin Round Table to answer the question: "Why did she write it all down?"
Michael Garin is the Drama Desk and Outer Critics circle Award winning composer of SONG OF SINGAPORE and the resident pianist at The Roxy Hotel in Tribeca.
Mardie Millit is the 2024 MAC Award Winner for Outstanding Female Vocalist.
Carl Andress is the Artistic Director of Connecticut’s Sharon Playhouse and the leading director of plays by Charles Busch (16 shows and counting!)
Read more about the creative team below.
Limited Tickets available here:

ED SOREL
The Art That Inspired The Story












