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UNSINKABLE WOMEN
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The great ship Titanic sank below the freezing waters of the North Atlantic at 2:20 am on April 15, 1912. There were 1500 people still on board.
UNSINKABLE WOMEN is an extraordinary new play about the women who survived that night. Their stories - of their time on the ship and their lives afterwards - are startling, unique, and deeply moving.
UNSINKABLE WOMEN focuses on nine distinct and striking figures. Among them are Madeline Astor, the clear-eyed bride of John Jacob Astor, heir to one of America's greatest fortunes.
There's Violet Jessop, the steady stewardess who tells of the friendships and loves of the serving staff below decks... and New York housewife Daisy Spedden whose son's teddy bear survived the sinking with them - and whose "adventures" that night inspired a classic children's book which she composed. No Titanic account would be complete without the feisty Margaret Tobin Brown - the "Unsinkable Molly" herself - who took charge of a floundering lifeboat and guided it to safety. It is this blunt and plain-spoken woman who recounts the details of the ships last moments.
As told here, the story of the Titanic is undeniably dramatic. But UNSINKABLE WOMEN also celebrates the theatre itself. Its events are punctuated with rich period songs, ranging from vaudevillian turns to the tender ballad "Toyland". The words of the women - artfully arranged and edited - are direct and compelling. But most important, this is a tour-de-force of brilliant acting. For each figure is brought to vivid life through the performance of the play's creator, the distinguished American actress Deborah Jean Templin.
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The great ship went down ninety years ago - yet it still fascinates a vast and ever-increasing audience. UNSINKABLE WOMEN brings us the world of the Titanic. It is a world, though long gone, which echoes in our own. But most of all, the stories of nine remarkable people show how tragedy can liberate a deeper sense of self - and release incredible personal power. For these women - and for us - that is the legacy of the Titanic.
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Deborah Jean Templin
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Deborah Jean Templin researched and wrote her new play, UNSINKABLE WOMEN, while appearing in the national tour of the Tony Award winning musical TITANIC in a variety of roles. Of UNSINKABLE WOMEN, Jim Morgan, Artistic Director of the York Theatre Company wrote:
"Both the writing and performance are wonderfully theatrical and deeply moving. This is the most affecting version of the Titanic story I have seen."
 Ms. Templin played Grace Farrell opposite Harve Presnell in a 45 city national tour of ANNIE, and appeared with Edie Adams in the musical BABY and with Jose Greco in the tour of the off-Broadway hit THE PASSION OF DRACULA. Her professional honors include Philadelphia’s Barrymore Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Richard Burton Award in Acting from the Los Angeles Arts Council.
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A twenty-five year veteran of theatre, film and television, she has played important roles with many of America’s most prestigious regional companies. Credits include Harriet Cornwall in ISN’T IT ROMANTIC at Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre, the Lady from Lincoln in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS at Trinity Rep in Providence, Rhode Island and Bertie in THE CLUB at Boston’s Charles Street Playhouse. At Arena Stage in Washington D.C. she played Mary Stewart in the musical ANIMAL CRACKERS. She was also featured in the San Francisco engagement of Herb Gardner’s I’M NOT RAPPAPORT opposite Nehemiah Persoff and Ben Vereen.
 Her New York stage credits range from the Cameron Mackintosh production TOMFOOLERY at the Village Gate to a musical adaptation of Abelard and Heloise. At the world-famous Edinburgh Festival, Ms. Templin starred as Auschwitz survivor Fania Fenelon in the United Kingdom premiere of Arthur Miller’s PLAYING FOR TIME. Directed by Michael Leeds, the production won a Fringe First Award.
Ms. Templin trained at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre and holds a Masters of Fine Arts from California State University/Long Beach. She has served as a Resident Professional Theatre Associate and Visiting Professor at Cornell and Susquehanna Universities. She has also served as a member of the on-camera faculty at New York’s School for Film and Television. In addition, she is an experienced television and film actress. On television she was featured on MIDNIGHT CALLER, SUPERIOR COURT, ALL MY CHILDREN and the Mike Hammer television movie, MORE THAN A MURDER starring Stacey Keach. Ms. Templin has been in a number of commercials including national spots for Charmin, Old Spice and ABC Daytime. Her film credits include Penny Marshall’s AWAKENINGS, SCENT OF A WOMAN and YOU’VE GOT MAIL.
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"Both the writing and performance are wonderfully theatrical and deeply moving. This is the most affective version of the Titanic story I have seen."
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Jim Morgan, Artistic Director of the York Theater Company
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"The production is unfussy and intelligent and centers around a performance of luminous understanding from Deborah Jean Templin"
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PLAYING FOR TIME - The Times, London, UK
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"Deborah Jean Templin is outstanding in the role played in the television version by Vanessa Redgrave."
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PLAYING FOR TIME - The Daily Mail, London, UK
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"Templin's world-weary but resolute 'Aggie's Song' brought the first big ovation of the evening."
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Johnny Johnson - The Kurt Weill Newsletter, New York, NY
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"Deborah Jean Templin strikes an exact chord of concern and exasperation... her's is a highly effective performance."
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I'M NOT RAPPAPORT-The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
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"The accolades must go to Deborah Jean Templin who, though playing two roles in the first half, kept the secret well hidden from those who had yet to check their program."
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CLOUD NINE - Long Beach News, Long Beach, CA
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"Splendid... Ms. Templin brings understated humor and cool intelligence to the role."
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ANNIE-National Tour - The Louisville Times, Louisville, KY
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"'SYLVIA PLATH' is performed with a shared conviction and spirit... One of the three Sylvias, Deborah Jean Templin, is wonderful."
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The Royal Shakespeare Company program SYLVIA PLATH - The Boston Globe, Boston, MA
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The JENA Company
1650 Broadway Suite 1107
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212 765-9610 Fax: 212 765-6315
jenaco@sisna.com |
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Copyright © 2004 The JENA Company. All Rights Reserved.
Designated Trademarks and Brands are the property of their respective owners.
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Jackie, Vi, and Lena