Join New Hampshire Theatre Project for an evening of delicious tunes, soulful poetry and poignant theatre in their second annual Midwinter Showcase, held Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 7-8 and 14-15, at 8 p.m., and Sundays, Jan. 9 and 16, at 2 p.m. This multimedia showcase will feature the new works of New Hampshire artists James Patrick Kelly, Lysa James, Kate Kirkwood, Christy Cloutier Holmes, and Larry Vigus.

Making her premiere as the Seacoast's newest jazz siren is C.C. Holmes, performing jazz originals and standards, with musicians Andrew Dow and Matthew Bradd. And don't miss the opening of a new one-act by Scarlett Ridgway Savage, entitled "What My Daughter Wants." This poignant, touching play tells the story of a woman as she travels through her life in the challenging roles of daughter, friend and mother. Savage's dialogue is quick, intense and humorous, and NHTP artists Larry Vigus, Christy Cloutier Holmes and Kate Kirkwood bring it to life in this wonderful new work.

The showcase will also feature James Patrick Kelly, who will be reading on Jan. 7, 8, 9 and 16. His award-winning science fiction story "Itsy Bitsy Spider" tells the tale of a retired actor and his estranged daughter - and the robot who cares about them.

On Jan. 14 and 15, Lysa James will be reading a selection of poems from her manuscript "In All the Benevolent Directions," as well as some recent works.

Tickets are $15. Seating is limited, and reservations are recommended. Call 431-6644, ext. 5, or e-mail info@nhtheatreproject.org for reservations and information. The Midwinter Showcase will be presented at West End Studio Theatre, 959 Islington St., Portsmouth.

Artist Biographies

Christy Cloutier Holmes attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the University of New Hampshire Theatre Department with a focus on youth drama and secondary theatre education. She is the director of the NHTP Junior Youth Repertory Company and the Rye Junior High School Artist in Residence Program. She has worked as an NHTP teaching artists at numerous schools and summer camps.

Lysa James, a poet and member of the NH State Council on the Arts Artists in Education Program, has taught writing at the University of New Hampshire, in high schools, middle schools, and in independent workshops throughout New England. She encourages creativity, originality, a love for words and self-reflection in her students. James holds an MA in writing poetry from the University of New Hampshire. She has published in national literary journals and is included in an anthology of New Hampshire poetry, "Under the Legislature of the Stars." Her manuscript, "If You Sing to the River," was a runner-up in the Kent State University Poetry Prize judged by American Academy of Poetry member Lucille Clifton.

James Patrick Kelly has written novels, short stories, essays, reviews, poetry, plays and planetarium shows. His books include "Strange But Not A Stranger"(2002), "Wildlife" (1994), "Heroines" (1990), "Look Into The Sun" (1989), "Freedom Beach" (1986) and "Planet of Whispers" (1984). His fiction has been translated into 19 languages. He has won the World Science Fiction Society's Hugo Award twice, in 1996, for his novelette "Think Like A Dinosaur," and in 2000, for his novelette, "Ten to the Sixteenth to One." He currently serves as the chairman of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

Kate Kirkwood studied acting and directing at Herbert Berghof studios in New York City. She has performed and directed in Boston, New York, and many locations throughout New England. Kirkwood has a masters degree in business administration, and spent 15 years in corporate training. She is the facilitator of the City of Rochester Cultural Plan, the artistic director of the Arts Rochester Teen Acting Company, and the interim program manager at Mill Pond Center for the Arts. Kirkwood has worked with New Hampshire Theatre Project in several capacities over the years, and is available as a performer, director and teacher for a variety of ages and projects.

A professional actor for 40 years, Larry Vigus has acted on film, TV and on stage. He has been a casting director, art director, prop master and set designer. Locally, Vigus has appeared on stage at the Mill Pond Center, Exeter Players, The Seacoast Repertory Theatre, and The Player's Ring. As an instructor, Vigus creates an extremely supportive, friendly and fun atmosphere where there are no "wrong" choices, only a series of better, more truthful and funnier choices.