That Woman - The Monologue Show

Reviews

Video Trailer

Cast and Crew

More Information

Nominated for three Nashville First Night Awards, including OUTSTANDING PLAY,  OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL WORK AND OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE

FROM THE CRITICS

“That woman.” How many times have we heard stories about “that woman” or “those women” to denote perceived undesirable female figures in history who happened to have sexual encounters with those in power? Focusing on stories buried in the history of one of the most revered presidents, “That Woman” is an absolute must-see of the festival. 

Beautifully written by Tennessee Playwrights Studio, directed by Molly Breen, and sublimely acted by Kisha Banister, Molly Breen, Jessie Paxton, Lauren Smith, Brioni Garvin, and Jessica Whitfield, the series of monologues is profoundly moving and speaks not only to the period these women lived through but also to all generations of women who have been pushed to the sidelines of history behind the mighty men who used them. These monologues represent the beautiful spectrum of feminine energies, from a brash burlesque performer to the calculated brain of the First Lady, illuminating unapologetically those who some would simply apply the label of whore, slut, harlot, floozy, and prostitute. This ensemble of women achieves what is rarely accomplished in a series of monologues; they create a cohesive story of the astounding women JFK had the pleasure to have known during his short but illustrative time in the White House, culminating in the most calculated monologue of the entire show. 

In historical justice, unfaithful men receive the lightest sentencing while women receive the harshest narratives. “That Woman” magnificently elevates the unsung voices of strong, resilient, and remarkable women whose stories have been grossly forgotten through honest, conversational, and sincere monologues. This production is not one to be missed and is a model for future historically based performances. Brava. Bravissima. ---Ethan Platt, KC Fringe Reviews

"Several of Nashville’s finest creatives conceptualized, wrote, produced, directed, designed, stage managed, crafted and performed pieces that reach beyond decades of headlines, books and broadcast documentaries regarding President Kennedy’s extramarital affairs for the humanity, and individuality, of the women either revealed or alleged to have been involved with him as well as his wife of 10 years."  Evans Donnell, Stagecritic.com

“It's a must-see production for anyone who supports and appreciates original theater, as well as anyone with a genuine interest in some forgotten or unknown events in recent American history. Moreover, That Woman should be required viewing for anyone eager to witness frank and personal interpretations of the women whose lives are connected because of their relationships with the President whose life was ended tragically and abruptly on November 22, 1963.”  Jef Ellis, BroadwayWorld Nashville

AUDIENCE REVIEWS FROM KC FRINGE (First stop on 2024 Fringe Tour):

1. The actresses in the “That Woman” cast delivered powerful performances. This performance is definitely one to put on your “must see” Fringe play list.

   Brioni Garvin, an African-American actress, plays the part of Judith Exner, an Irish/German socialite with Mafia connections. Garvin’s performance was outstanding. One could argue the realistic casting choices in “That Woman.” If the reason to include a Black mistress was to spur discussion, “That Woman’s” casting selection excelled and should be applauded. If these female casting choices represent the full spectrum of every woman exploited by JFK, the selection is genius.

   Although history paints Kennedy as a racial justice advocate, his platform was different from his well-documented personal statements. A “The New Yorker” article (2020) explained, “For Kennedy in the 1950s, it wasn’t anything in the range of what we’d now regard as social justice, especially racial justice. Something else was at the top of the list of moral absolutes for him: maximizing the national power, wealth, and influence of the United States.”

   “That Woman” is raw, gripping, and emotional. ***** Five stars.

2. “That Woman” is a compelling monologue show that is worth seeing. The creators of this piece treat the characters as real human beings. In the hands of the wrong people, this show could have been tabloidish and preachy. I was especially drawn by the stories of Blaze Starr and Mimi Alford, who is played by the show’s director and co-creator Molly Breen.

3. “That Woman” was an interesting and insightful look into some of the women involved with JFK. I never knew there were so many documented instances of JFK’s infidelities. I throughly enjoyed each monologue and each actress. Some were somber (Mary Pinchot Meyer – Lauren Smith) and other’s were outrageous (Blaze Starr – Jessie Paxton) just as the women they played. I think the cast did a great job and had the audience hooked from the very beginning. I would recommend this Fringe play to anyone and everyone! Great job everyone!

4. That Women is a wonderful show…. A Must See! All actresses are amazing!! Really enjoyed the monologues of Blaze Starr and Mimi Alford.

5. When a show is a series of monologues, it’s easy to expect a weak one–and I didn’t find one here. Every one of the six monologues of stories imagined from the perspectives of women involved with John F. Kennedy is powerful, well-written, and most importantly, well-delivered. All six actors do a wonderful job, including Jessica Whitfield who is very convincing as Jackie Kennedy. There was a great mix of pathos and humor depending on the monologue, and it was always fascinating to watch and listen to. “These Women” in “That Woman” are telling us something, and it’d do us all good to listen.

   • The insight into some of the lesser known mistresses was great. Hearing from the perspective of the women involved is so interesting. The cast was excellent, as well as the writing.

6. Absolutely a MUST SEE performance. Incredibly well-written. Flawlessly performed. Riveting, from start to finish. What could have been a tawdry, gossipy indulgence was instead a surprisingly personal, heartfelt introduction to six unique individuals who happened to share a common thread. Intelligent. Informative. Insightful. I simply can’t say enough good things!

7. The show concept is fascinating. These stories have been overlooked and it’s great that we get to hear them. The actors bring depth and humor and do a great job of painting a picture for the audience.

8. I found myself surprised how much I enjoyed the show. There are several standout performances, and the actors ROCKED their monologues. Great characterizations and levels to their stories.

9. I thoroughly enjoyed this show and the cast members were absolutely phenomenal.

10. This play was very well written. And even better performed. It would have fallen into gossipy drivel. But it didn’t.

Monologues written by:

Mary McCallum (Ellen Rometsch)

Molly Breen (Mimi Alford)

Angela Gimlin (Blaze Starr)

Dianne DeWald (Mary Pinchot Meyer)

Elizabeth Turner (Judith Exner)

Ang Madaline-Johnson (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)

Bios of co-creators

Molly Breen (co-creator) see cast bios.

Angela Gimlin (co-creator) has been active on the Nashville theater scene for close to 20 years. She is best known for being the Founder and COO of the Inebriated Shakespeare Theater Company. She is a huge fan of improv and, obviously, Shakespeare. Some of her favorite past roles include Queen Gertrude in Hamlet and Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. Obviously, she gravitates and embraces strong female roles. When she isn’t treading the boards, you can find her cheering on her two favorite teams – the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma City Thunder.