Portraits - A Festival of one Woman Shows

Presents
Portraits - A Festival of One Woman Shows
Feb. 15 to 26, 2006
at New York City's Urban Stages
259 W 30th St New York, NY 10001-2809
Tel. (212) 421-1380

Featuring
Denise Pelley in 'Jazzabel'; Molly Peacock in 'The Shimmering Verge'; Victoria Roberts in 'Nona'

Jazzabel
Preview: Wednesday, February 15, 8pm Curtain - $20

Thursday, February 16 - Gala Opening 8pm Curtain -$45
Includes Post-Performance Reception, sponsored by the Canadian Consulate

Friday, Saturday, Sunday 8pm Curtain (February 17 - 19) - $20
Saturday, Sunday 2pm Matinee (February 18, 19) - $20

The Shimmering Verge & Nona
Preview: Tuesday February 21, 8pm Curtain - $20

Wednesday February 22, - Gala Opening 8pm Curtain - $45
Includes a Post-Performance Reception, sponsored by Advance Australia

Thursday, Friday*, Saturday, Sunday 8pm Curtain (February 23 - 26) - $20
Saturday, Sunday 2pm Matinee (February 25, 26) - $20

Femme Fatale is defined as “a sensuous, alluring woman who often leads men into danger or trouble." So what to expect from a London Ontario theatre company called Femme Fatale - making their NY debut presentation of Portraits -- A Festival of One-Woman Shows at New York City's Urban Stages, from Feb. 15th to February 26th 2006? A multi-artists celebration of the passions, talents and energies of three dangerously seductive women - one poet, a cartoon artist and a jazz singer performer -- Portraits is an exhilarating tribute to women in the arts. Femme Fatale's production of Portraits includes three shows - Jazzabel, The Shimmering Verge and Nona. For tickets, contact TICKETS: SMART TIX 212-868-4444 (service charge applied to ticket price)

Femme Fatale Production Company embraces an obligation to support the work of contemporary artists by fostering partnerships, establishing networks, and cementing relationships with organizations that share a passion for the work of all artists in our society. Cultivation, partnership and mentoring remain our primary focuses.

Producer/director Louise Fagan joined with producer/writer Jacquie Gauthier in forming Femme Fatale, the innovative production company committed to bringing the works of formidable female artists to the stage. In association with poet/performer Molly Peacock (former President of the Poetry Society of America), cartoonist/performer Victoria Roberts (New Yorker Magazine), singer/performer Denise Pelley, the talents of these women combined with drive, progressiveness and an unqualified enthusiasm for promoting the work of contemporary female artists ensure unique events that will enlighten, challenge and entertain.

Portraits - A Festival of One Woman Shows: This collective of talented professional artists offers a diverse, intimate perspective on being a female artist in the 20th /21st Century. Whether through the study of a past era or an introspective look at a present life the discoveries made in each of these personal journeys is brought to a new audience through the stage. How brave it is, for an artist who has a comfortable success in her work to leap into a new arena, with her art.

Jazzabel features singer/actor Denise Pelley as both Grace and Jane. Set in Harlem, 1939, Grace's and Jane's individual paths are chronicled through story and song using hits as well as less known gems of the jazz era. Jazzabel is a story of chasing dreams, giving in but never giving up, and defining for one self, what 'success' really is. At the heart of Jazzabel is the friendship of two young women, whose love of music remains the core of the show. Written by Jacquie Gauthier, directed by Louise Fagan, music direction by Jeff Christmas, set design Eric Bunnell, costume design Bonnie Deakin. Denise Pelley has performed with orchestras as far afield as Portugal and Germany. But it was her debut Jazz cd “Trust the Moment", recorded in 1998 that brought her to the attention of jazz lovers across Canada after it's launch at an evening hosted by Shelagh Rogers at Toronto's Top 'O The Senator, an appearance on CTV's Canada AM and airplay on CBC's After Hours.

In 2002 Denise was honored with being the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category. Denise won best jazz artists in London, Ontario's Music Awards in 2002 and 2003. Denise has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson, Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook, and long time collaborator pianist John Noubarian. Recently she opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise enjoys performing with symphony orchestras and is a regular with the London Jeans 'n Classics series. On the festival circuit she has performed at the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.

Denise also enjoys acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain't Misbehavin' ,Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire. Denise's new one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2005 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre), London, Ontario to sold out audiences! Jazzabel will be showcased in Washington DC in October, 2005 and New York City in February, 2006.

The Shimmering Verge is a humorous, moving, and sexy stand-up monologue using Molly Peacock's best-known poems about her family, her spirituality, her marriage, and urban life. The one-woman show focuses on what she calls “the shimmering verge" the cusp of understanding that enriches ordinary existence and defines poetry itself.

Nona is aptly described as a performance art piece, featuring cartoonist Victoria Roberts. Inspired by one of her illustrated characters. Nona is a woman with a mind of her own, living in part fantasy part reality. This work features Roberts' illustrations cleverly woven into a performance piece. Nona promises witty insight in to the mind of one of the New Yorker Magazine's most loved cartoonists.

Producer Louise Fagan has spent her life immersed in the arts. The daughter of choral conductor Gerald Fagan, she obtained a degree in English and dramatic literature from the University of Western Ontario and then became an independent theatre director, piling up experience in production, musical story-telling, television and film. Fagan has worked on a number of high-profile projects, including producing and directing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2001 Canada Games. In the summer of 2002, she was hired as show co-ordinator for The Way of the Cross, which celebrated the pope's visit to Toronto. Fagan's directing credits include the Vagina Monologues, Hearts Made Great and The World Awaits. Louise was also the producer/director for the film version of Father's Touch (D'Haene). This film was named Top Fifty in the online film festival Triggerstreet, run by Kevin Spacey. She owns her own film production company, Phat Puppy Productions, as well as being co-founder of Femme Fatale, the London-based theatre company. Other favourite production credits include the Assistant Staging Director for The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Stratford Festival (2002), and the Producer/Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2001 Jeux du Canada Games.

“With Femme Fatale . . . we're interested in supporting the work of contemporary artists," Fagan explains. “We want to offer the opportunity and support to help these performers find a place for their work."

For more information, e-mail Louise Fagan at [email protected] or log onto

Urban Stages is located at 259 W 30th St New York City. For tickets and information, contact TICKETS: SMART TIX 212-868-4444 (service charge applied to ticket price)