Grace Under Pressure

About Grace Under Pressure

A sparkling 8-part comedic, musical, radio drama series, original and unique, Grace Under Pressure follows “the simple story of a woman alone in New York in the ‘90s, an age of diminished expectations.” Inappropriate affairs, office sexual politics, pyramid scheme fraud, cynical art-world pay-to-play, sweatshop fashion, even the AIDS crisis, dealt with the light touch, suggestive humor and speedy delivery of screwball comedy. Grace under Pressure began as an Off-Off Broadway project in 1992, originally staged as an 8-part radio play complete with manic sound man, theme song and additional musical interludes. The part of Grace was written for the sublime Alice King and, thirty years later, it became clear that it was time for Grace to make a comeback. A cast of first-class New York voice talent is led by Alice King as Grace McMoon, our heroine who loses her job in every episode and slides down the socio-economic ladder to find true love, fulfillment and job satisfaction. Each episode is complemented by the Singer-Songwriter acting as a kind of Greek chorus, with a musical interlude from a trove of original ‘90s piano-bar ballads. Created, written, produced, edited and directed – and inspired – by New York City working women.

Publisher

Emily King

Category

comedy · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Jun 2023

Latest episode

3 Aug 2023

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Aug 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episodes 1-8: Binge Edition

   The complete, sparkling 8-part comedic, musical, radio drama series, original and unique, Grace Under Pressure follows “the simple story of a woman alone in New York in the ‘90s, an age of diminished expectations.” Inappropriate affairs, office sexual politics, pyramid scheme fraud, cynical art-world pay-to-play, sweatshop fashion, even the AIDS crisis, dealt with the light touch, suggestive humor and speedy delivery of screwball comedy. Grace under Pressure began as an Off-Off Broadway project in 1992, originally staged as an 8-part radio play complete with manic sound man, theme song and additional musical interludes. The part of Grace was written for the sublime Alice King and, thirty years later, it became clear that it was time for Grace to make a comeback. A cast of first-class New York voice talent is lead by Alice King as Grace McMoon, our heroine who loses her job in every episode and slides down the socio-economic ladder to find true love, fulfillment and job satisfaction. Each episode is complemented by the Singer-Songwriter acting as a kind of Greek chorus, with a musical interlude from a trove of original ‘90s piano-bar ballads. Created, written, produced, edited and directed – and inspired – by New York City working women.

2. 

   27 Jul 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 8: Slide Into Home

   In Episode 8: Slide Into Home, Grace finds peace and purpose attending to the clientele of an AIDS hospice, run by the flamboyant philosopher-in-drag, Hector. Being there for the formerly debonair Raimondo, she feels useful at last, but fears she might not have what it takes when her patients are dying. The call comes. Will she pass the test? It may mean a whole new life for our Grace. Especially when Louis appears with an offer she has no wish to refuse.

3. 

   20 Jul 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 7: Clean Living

   Isolated, resigned, and strangely tranquil, in Episode 7: Clean Living Grace fronts a laundromat in the Ukrainian Lower East Side. Dealing with grunge band bass players, panhandlers, young Russian moms and crabby old ladies, she’s pretty much given up when her beloved friend Louis walks back into her life. Will she follow his lead to a life worth living? What are payphones for?

4. 

   13 Jul 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 6: Sweat Shop Equity

   Dressmaking at home in junior high never prepared Grace for work in a Soho loft sweatshop. In Episode 6: Sweatshop Equity, her new sewing-machine neighbors Rosita and Carmen try to help her get started, but Grace is at the bottom of a class by herself. Arguing with the foreman and sewing her fingers together don’t make the grade. If she can’t keep up, where can she go but down? The Emergency Room with Carmen, who turns out to be Louis’ auntie.

5. 

   6 Jul 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 5: Pushing the Envelope

   In her new Lower East Side room-share with Norma Bates, goth/punk mid-Western NYU refugee, Grace tries to make big bucks in Episode 5: Pushing the Envelope by working at home stuffing envelopes. When Jack Mahloff shows up to recruit her for bigger things in the organization, Grace catches on to its pyramidal exploitation, and a traumatized Norma goes berserk and throws Mahloff out the door. Where can you go when there’s no place for work at home? Check the Lower East Side lampposts.

6. 

   29 Jun 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 4: "Waiting for. .. , Oh, God!"

   In Episode 4: Waiting For… Oh, God!, Grace and Trudy are now waitresses at Trudy’s boyfriend Ted’s startup restaurant. Dodging the “roamin’ hands and rushin’ fingers” of the customers, Grace finds out she’s losing her sublet through poor credit decisions. Trudy and Ted offer to let her move in as a live-in bookkeeper but with a little too much comforting from Ted – too close to Grace – for Trudy’s comfort. Where can you go when you lose your best friends? The want ads.

7. 

   22 Jun 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 3: The Art of Whining

   Now a newbie at a high-priced SoHo art gallery, run by Trudy’s chic-er cousin Mimi, Grace is introduced to the Art of the Sell in Episode 3: The Art of Whining. Too bad she’s expected to throw sex into the bargain by Leo Fursnyder, the guy who owns the guys who run New York. Will speaking truth to power in a limousine get her anywhere but out on the street? Luckily Louis’ band is in the ascendant, and his music and friendship make up for the loss of her shortest job yet.

8. 

   15 Jun 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 1: Flirting with Disaster

   In Episode 1: Flirting with Disaster, editor Grace McMoon is working for an international corporation, when a high-level executive (and inappropriate Christmas Party affair) drops by to be there when her pink slip arrives. A furious Grace throws him out of her office, to be comforted by Louie, her best friend from the mailroom. She decides to work freelance from home, but gets a call telling her she’s been robbed of her computer. What’s the next job she can do to maintain her Upper East Side lifestyle? At least she still has friends….

9. 

   15 Jun 2023

   Grace Under Pressure Episode 2: A Chilly Reception

   Episode 2: A Chilly Reception finds Grace now the receptionist at the weasely white-shoe law office where her best friend Trudy is a perma-temp proofreader. When remaining (un-indicted) shyster Myron McWeeney asks Grace to “fill in” for his secretary, Trudy and Grace go into sexual harassment red-alert maneuvers. They both get fired.

10. 

    8 Jun 2023

    Grace Under Pressure Trailer

    A sparkling 8-part comedic, musical, radio drama series, original and unique, Grace Under Pressure follows “the simple story of a woman alone in New York in the ‘90s, an age of diminished expectations.” Inappropriate affairs, office sexual politics, pyramid scheme fraud, cynical art-world pay-to-play, sweatshop fashion, even the AIDS crisis, dealt with the light touch, suggestive humor and speedy delivery of screwball comedy. Grace under Pressure began as an Off-Off Broadway project in 1992, originally staged as an 8-part radio play complete with manic sound man, theme song and additional musical interludes. The part of Grace was written for the sublime Alice King and, thirty years later, it became clear that it was time for Grace to make a comeback. A cast of first-class New York voice talent is led by Alice King as Grace McMoon, our heroine who loses her job in every episode and slides down the socio-economic ladder to find true love, fulfillment and job satisfaction. Each episode is complemented by the Singer-Songwriter acting as a kind of Greek chorus, with a musical interlude from a trove of original ‘90s piano-bar ballads. Created, written, produced, edited and directed – and inspired – by New York City working women.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Grace Under Pressure

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.