Michael Imperioli to Direct Julianna Margulies in New Off-Bway Play

Emmy Award winner Michael Imperioli and his wife Victoria Imperioli will present LATE FRAGMENT, a new play by Francine Volpe, beginning performances February 9th at the Studio Dante (257 West 29th Street). Michael Imperioli directs a cast that includes Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies and Michael Rispoli (Jackie Aprile on "The Sopranos") along with Will Janowitz, Ken Forman and James McCaffrey (of "Rescue Me" opposite Denis Leary). Performances continue through February 27th only.

Julianna Margulies is probably best known for her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Nurse Carol Hathaway on the hit drama "ER." During six seasons on the show, she was nominated for four Outstanding Lead Actress Emmys and two Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmys, winning one in the latter category. She won a 2001 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress for her performance in the Lincoln Center production of Ten Unknowns. She was seen off-Broadway in The Vagina Monologues (she also appeared in the Los Angeles production of that show) and Intrigue with Faye. Her film credits include A Price Above Rubies, Evelyn and Ghost Ship. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the miniseries "The Grid."

Late Fragment tells the story of a man (Rispoli) who miraculously survives the collapse of the World Trade Center and returns home to his wife (Marguiles) to find that his life is not at all what he thought it was.

Francine Volpe's one-act play "The Confession" was produced at the Atlantic Theater. Her other one-act plays include "The Broker" (Soho Rep), "Call The Person You Love" (Dance Theater Workshop, Soho Rep), and "When Everyone Was Looking" (Soho Rep). Appreciation received a workshop production at The Juilliard School. Other workshops include Stars and Boy (both for Soho Rep). She received a two-year Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwriting Fellowship at The Juilliard School where she completed her graduated study. She was twice received grants from the Lecomte du Nouy Foundation. Recently Francine has received a commission for the New Company in London. Her play, "Girl in the Water, Girl in the Woods" is scheduled to premiere in London in February as well.

As part of an ongoing commitment to New York City, Michael Imperioli has opened the 60-seat theater, Studio Dante to develop and support new work. For the last decade he has produced, directed and acted on the New York stage. Some of his work includes his critically acclaimed performances in Aven'u Boys directed by Fredrick Zollo, Displaced Persons, opposite Martha Plimpton, Half Deserted Street, Seth Zvi's The Writing on the Wall, and Little Blood Brother. He recently won the Emmy Award for his work on "The Sopranos." His wife Victoria studied architecture and design at The School of Visual Arts, NYC, while also attending classes at NYU. She has been involved in various projects in both Europe and the US since the early '90s. Victoria has developed a distinct and often admired style of her own. Her work has recently been featured in Architectural Digest Magazine. Studio Dante is just the latest installment of her work. Michael previously directed Baptism by Fire at Studio Dante.

Tickets for LATE FRAGMENT can be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or by visiting www.ticketcentral.com Tickets will be $40. Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM, with Sunday matinees at 3 pm. For more information, visit www.studiodante.com.