Starting September 23rd PCS will be giving you the opportunity to get to know a whole bevy of wild-eyed scientists, rock divas, gangsters, rakes and eccentrics (plus some of the most fascinating public figures of the 20th century).

But for now, the sun is still shining, and the evenings are more likely to find you with in a beach chair than a theater seat, curled up with a good book. To that end, our friends at Powells have proposed some intriguing summer reading to help you get prepped for the season:

Just for fun, we’ll go in reverse season order, starting with the season closer, Grey Gardens, the smash hit musical about Jackie Kennedy’s eccentric East Hampton relatives, the Bouvier Beales:

Grey Gardens: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical

Get a taste of the spectacle to come, and impress your friends by singing along to the grand finale on opening night when you prep with this complete script of the musical.

My Life at Grey Gardens: Thirteen Months and Beyond

You can direct download this memoir from an artist friend of the Bouvier Beales who stayed with them in the East Hamptons until she could no longer stand the fleas.

Maysles Scrapbook: Photographs/Cinemagraphs/Documents

Already a fan of the cult hit documentary Grey Gardens (the starting point for the musical?) This interesting multimedia “scrapbook” includes several photos from the movie Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter & Salesman, all Maysles Brother films.

Moving along to another eccentric mid-twentieth century sort of fellow, here’s a few takes on Tricky Dick to prepare you for Frost/Nixon, which will open in April:

Frost/Nixon by Sir David Frost

Not the play, but rather an engrossing account from journalist David Frost himself of the days leading up to his breakthrough interview with Richard Nixon.

One of Us by Tom Wicker

Tom Wicker, a whose career has spanned biographies and analyses of a broad swath of American public figures, weighs in on the subject of Richard Milhaus Nixon.

But don’t just take his word for it. There’s also…

Richard Milhous Nixon by Roger Morris

Always considered yourself more of a gentleman than a politician? Brush up on your Wildean wit and impress friends at bar (or the clerk on your next trip to the Plaid Pantry) with this book of classic quips from the man who helped a world to truly understand The Importance of Being Ernest:

Oscar Wilde’s Wit and Wisdom A Book of Quotations

And finally, no summer reading list is complete without a good villain. Dive into the biography of the most fascinating former Nazi member of NASA you’ve never heard of, in preparation for January’s World Premiere production of Apollo:

Von Braun: Dreamer of Space Engineer of War

Warner Von Braun is the former Nazi scientist who was central to the German V-2 Rocket project and the Apollo trip to the moon. Some say he sold his soul to Himmler, others say his brilliance was worth the political discomfort. What will you say?

What’s on your nightstand at the moment? Tell us all about it.

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