An upcoming play at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre studies the art of being broke and staying alive.

With the Unicorn Theatre’s mounting of the Tony Award-winning musical “Grey Gardens,” the cast and production team faced a formidable task. The lead actresses are recreating two of the most beloved and iconic figures in the history of documentary filmmaking and it’s their notoriety that has called forth a platoon of hair and make-up artists to ensure that the actors’ transformations ring true.

The image of Mark Twain is so embedded in American culture that it's often forgotten that he was born Samuel Clemens and had an adventurous life prior to writing classic adventures.