MONROE - The most famous ocean liner ever launched, the great ship Titanic sank below the freezing waters on the North Atlantic at 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912. There were 1500 people still on board. The Monroe Arts Center presents a new play about the women who survived that night and the remarkable lives they had afterwards. Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs From The Titanic comes to the Monroe Arts Center stage on Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Based on actual diaries, letters and interviews, Unsinkable Women brings to life nine famous women whose lives were forever changes when they stepped on board the Titanic. The stories of these women are created and performed by the New York actress Deborah Jean Templin. "I always wondered what the third act would have been - what it was like when the survivors finally came home," comments Templin.
During the course of the play Templin portrays all nine of these unique individuals, shifting from one to the other without leaving the stage.
Her roles include Madeline Astor, teenage bride of John Jacob Astor and heiress to one of America's greatest fortunes. There's also New York housewife Daisy Spedden, whose son's teddy bear survived the sinking with them and inspired her classic children's book Polar, the Titanic Bear.
Of course, no Titanic account would be complete with out the celebrated Molly Brown; yes she's here too-the bold, blunt, -Unsinkable character from Colorado who took charge of a floundering lifeboat and guided it to safety. And, of course, there's Margaret Tobin Brown - the "Unsinkable Molly" herself -whose account of the ship's final moments brings the evening to its dramatic climax. Lesser-known characters are also depicted, like stewardess Violet Jessop, who tells of the friendships and loves of the serving crew below decks, and Nora, an English Music hall performer on her way to new York to appear in American Vaudeville. Templin says, "Giving a voice to people who lived through this pivotal moment, many of them unsung heroes, has been truly exciting."
Unsinkable Women offers a variety of contrasting moods and impressions. But it's also punctuated with period songs, ranging from vaudeville numbers to Victor Herbert's "Toyland." The Edwardian era costumes designed by Sara Jablon are housed onstage in an authentic 1912 steamer trunk. Ms. Templin changes garb - and shifts from character to character - in full view of the audience.
Deborah Jean Templin wrote the pieces during a 21-month stint playing major roles on the National tour of the Tony award winning Broadway musical, Titanic. It was during this period she first became fascinated by the real life women who speak out in her play. Her research into the lives inspired the writing of this new account of the legendary liner and its aftermath. Acclaimed nationally as a remarkable tour-de-force, Unsinkable Women has already been called "the most affecting and truthful version of the Titanic story to date."
Templin is a thirty-year veteran of theatre, film, and television, and has played important roles with many of America's most prestigious regional companies. She 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 Resident Professional Theatre Associate and Visiting Professor at Cornell and Susquehanna Universities, and has served as a member of the on-camera faculty at New York's School for Film and Television.
On television, she was featured on the shows Midnight Caller, Superior Court, One Live to Live, and All My Children. She has been in numerous commercials including national spots for Charmin, Old Spice, ABC Daytime, and New York State Lottery.
Her film credits include Penny Marshall's Awakenings, Scent of A Woman, and You've Got Mail, as well as appearing in over 25 films shot in New York City.
Reserved seat tickets for Unsinkable Women are $25 and $20, and may be purchased by calling the Monroe Arts Center at (608)325-5700 or in person at the box office located at 1315 11th Street. Additional information regarding this performance and other MAC events can be found online at
www.monroeartscenter.com.
Based on actual diaries, letters and interviews, Unsinkable Women brings to life nine famous women whose lives were forever changes when they stepped on board the Titanic. The stories of these women are created and performed by the New York actress Deborah Jean Templin. "I always wondered what the third act would have been - what it was like when the survivors finally came home," comments Templin.
During the course of the play Templin portrays all nine of these unique individuals, shifting from one to the other without leaving the stage.
Her roles include Madeline Astor, teenage bride of John Jacob Astor and heiress to one of America's greatest fortunes. There's also New York housewife Daisy Spedden, whose son's teddy bear survived the sinking with them and inspired her classic children's book Polar, the Titanic Bear.
Of course, no Titanic account would be complete with out the celebrated Molly Brown; yes she's here too-the bold, blunt, -Unsinkable character from Colorado who took charge of a floundering lifeboat and guided it to safety. And, of course, there's Margaret Tobin Brown - the "Unsinkable Molly" herself -whose account of the ship's final moments brings the evening to its dramatic climax. Lesser-known characters are also depicted, like stewardess Violet Jessop, who tells of the friendships and loves of the serving crew below decks, and Nora, an English Music hall performer on her way to new York to appear in American Vaudeville. Templin says, "Giving a voice to people who lived through this pivotal moment, many of them unsung heroes, has been truly exciting."
Unsinkable Women offers a variety of contrasting moods and impressions. But it's also punctuated with period songs, ranging from vaudeville numbers to Victor Herbert's "Toyland." The Edwardian era costumes designed by Sara Jablon are housed onstage in an authentic 1912 steamer trunk. Ms. Templin changes garb - and shifts from character to character - in full view of the audience.
Deborah Jean Templin wrote the pieces during a 21-month stint playing major roles on the National tour of the Tony award winning Broadway musical, Titanic. It was during this period she first became fascinated by the real life women who speak out in her play. Her research into the lives inspired the writing of this new account of the legendary liner and its aftermath. Acclaimed nationally as a remarkable tour-de-force, Unsinkable Women has already been called "the most affecting and truthful version of the Titanic story to date."
Templin is a thirty-year veteran of theatre, film, and television, and has played important roles with many of America's most prestigious regional companies. She 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 Resident Professional Theatre Associate and Visiting Professor at Cornell and Susquehanna Universities, and has served as a member of the on-camera faculty at New York's School for Film and Television.
On television, she was featured on the shows Midnight Caller, Superior Court, One Live to Live, and All My Children. She has been in numerous commercials including national spots for Charmin, Old Spice, ABC Daytime, and New York State Lottery.
Her film credits include Penny Marshall's Awakenings, Scent of A Woman, and You've Got Mail, as well as appearing in over 25 films shot in New York City.
Reserved seat tickets for Unsinkable Women are $25 and $20, and may be purchased by calling the Monroe Arts Center at (608)325-5700 or in person at the box office located at 1315 11th Street. Additional information regarding this performance and other MAC events can be found online at
www.monroeartscenter.com.