Stevie Holland-Led LOVE, LINDA, at The Triad Closes Tonight, 11/21

LOVE, LINDA, a new one-woman musical about Linda Porter and her life with husband Cole Porter, will debut this fall Off-Broadway at The Triad Theater (158 W. 72 St.) in New York City from October 28 to November 21, 2009.

With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Stevie Holland and Gary William Friedman, LOVE, LINDA stars Stevie Holland as Linda Porter, the Southern beauty who married the legendary songwriter Cole Porter at the dawn of the roaring twenties. Although Cole Porter was gay, their companionship and love lasted through 35 years of marriage and together they lived a spectacular, glamour-filled life.

The score for LOVE, LINDA includes such beloved Porter songs as "So in Love," "In the Still of the Night," "Love for Sale" and "Night and Day." Woven through the compelling narrative of LOVE, LINDA, these songs, and lesser-known Porter gems, unite to tell the story of Linda and Cole's unconventional relationship and great love for each other.

A tall, slender beauty from a wealthy family in Kentucky, Linda Porter was a favorite of designers of couture clothing and opulent jewelry. She was also keenly intelligent and highly cultured, - and a driving force behind Cole Porter's success. Cole and Linda's dinner parties were graced with royalty and the literary and theatrical lights of their generation. Their life together also had its darker sides; they briefly separated when Cole's indiscreet same-sex relationships in Hollywood became too much for Linda to bear. But after a horseback riding accident left Cole crippled, they reunited, and remained devoted to each other to the end.

LOVE, LINDA is directed by Ben West, whose direction of the musical HOW NOW, DOW JONES at the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival earned much critical praise. Musical arrangements are by award winning composer Gary William Friedman. LOVE, LINDA is being produced by the theatrical enterprise, 150 Productions.

Dress designs for LOVE, LINDA are by Pamela Dennis, well-known and celebrated for her stylish red-carpet creations for celebrity clients such as Angelina Jolie, Madonna and Sharon Stone. Jewelry for LOVE, LINDA is by Verdura, whose designs were worn by iconic women of taste including Katharine Hepburn and Greta Garbo. Cole and Linda Porter were among the designer's top clients and helped to put Verdura on the map in the 1930's.

Stevie Holland is a critically-acclaimed jazz vocalist and lyricist. Her most recent CD Before Love Has Gone was chosen by USA Today as a Top CD of 2008. Her previous CDs More Than Words Can Say and Restless Willow were included on a variety of top ten lists and played on jazz, smooth jazz and traditional pop and standards radio stations nationally. Ms. Holland has headlined at major New York City jazz venues, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola and Iridium Jazz Club, in addition to concert halls and clubs around the country; her dynamic performances have also won her fans in the cabaret world, where she has been the recipient of the Back Stage Bistro Award for "Outstanding Vocalist of the Year." The story of the wife of a composer is a subject close to Holland's heart, as she happens to be the wife of composer Gary William Friedman.

Gary William Friedman is the composer of the TONY nominated, OBIE Award winning musical THE ME NOBODY KNOWS. Other musical theater credits include the award winning TAKING MY TURN (presented on PBS Television's Great Performance Series) and PLATINUM. In addition to the theatre, Friedman's music spans the genres of film soundtracks, symphonic works, and jazz. As Music Director for T.V.'s "The Electric Company", he wrote many songs including the popular "Spider Man Theme Song". He and Holland are songwriting collaborators, and Friedman has co-produced and served as arranger for Holland's recordings.

Ben West recently revised and directed HOW NOW, DOW JONES at the Minetta Lane Theatre as part of the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival. Broadway: Old Acquaintance, assistant director and dramaturg; AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and THE HOMECOMING, assistant producer. Other assistant directing credits include the Ravinia Festival production of GYPSY starring Patti LuPone and the premiere of Neil Sedaka's BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO.

LOVE, LINDA will be performed, as follows: Wednesdays, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, 11 and 18 at 8PM and Saturdays, Oct. 31, Nov. 7, 14 and 21 at 9:15 PM.

Tickets are $35, plus a two-drink minimum. For reservations call Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or visit Theatermania.com.

For more information, visit www.lovelindathemusical.com.