May 26, 2012

Adrienne Shelly Memorial Garden Opens in Abingdon Square Park

by Eliza Chute | Published July 29, 2009

L to R: Keri Russell, Adrienne Shelly and Cheryl Hines on the set of Waitress (2007).

Writer-director-actress Adrienne Shelly was a moviemaker on the rise when she was tragically murdered in her office in the fall of 2006. Not long after, Waitress, the film Shelly wrote, directed and had a supporting role in, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival amidst a tearful cast and crew who were undoubtedly feeling the loss of their colleague. An independent moviemaker’s dream, after its success at Sundance, Waitress was picked up by Fox Searchlight and had an impressive theatrical film release in May of 2007 and was nominated for a Best Screenplay Spirit Award.

Now this talented moviemaker is being honored once again with the dedication of the Adrienne Shelly Memorial Garden in New York City’s Abingdon Square Park. “This has been a long but very satisfying journey to honor my late wife in the park she loved so much, across from the building in which she lived for many years, worked and died,” says Shelly’s widower, Andy Ostroy, who will deliver the dedication speech. Ostroy has also founded the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting female moviemakers through scholarships and grants.

After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, Chery Hines’ directorial debut, Serious Moonlight—directed from a script by Shelly—will have a theatrical release later this year.