Perri Tales
about me
I have been a full-time professional actor and writer since 1995. Prior to that I had to supplement my acting income with “day time jobs” including; a laborer with local 829, a substitute teacher, a coat checker, a typist and freelance writer. While writing “The Resurrection of Alice,” I occasionally read passages to a writing group called Tuesdays @ 9. They first suggested that “… Alice” was also a script. So, I adapted my novel into a one-woman play and created work for myself between gigs. “The Resurrection of Alice” won the 2014 African American Arts Alliance of Chicago Award (AAAAC) and the 2014 Black Theater Arts Alliance’s (BTAA) Best Lead Actress Award (Chicago) and received nominations for the 2014 BTAA Best Play and Best Playwright Award categories, “…Alice” was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress, Visiting Production by the 2014 Helen Hayes Awards (Washington DC), and nominated for Best Solo Performance by the 2012 Audelco Awards (New York City). I wrote and perform JOSEPHINE, a multimedia monodrama based on the life of Josephine Baker; wrote and narrate “C2EA: The Campaign to End AIDS,” a feaure-length documentary; and I am developing a webisode, “The Substitute,” from a compilation of short stories based on my experience as a substitute teacher. I co-wrote "Managing Artists in Pop Music" and "The Business of Broadway" with Mitch Weiss (Skyhorse Publishing). My commissioned poetry includes “Something Marvtastic” (a memorial tribute to Larry Leon Hamlin, the founder and producer of the National Black Theatre Festival) and “Kickin’ It With My Girl Friends” (for the Ohio Chapter of Girl Friends, Inc®)
Writing Bio
Perri Gaffney's debut novel, The Resurrection of Alice, has been receiving hearty accolades (see Early Accolades). She adapted the book into a one-woman play that won the 2014 Black Theater Alliance's Best Lead Actress Award (Chicago) and the 2014 African American Arts Alliance of Chicago Outstanding Actress Award. The Resurrection... has also received many nominations including; the 2014 Black Theater Alliance's Best Play and Best Playwright categories, the 2014 Helen Hayes’ Outstanding Lead Actress-Drama Award (Washington DC), and 2012 Audelco’s Best Solo Performance Award (New York City). Perri wrote and performs Josephine, a multimedia monodrama based on the life of Josephine Baker; and wrote and narrates C2EA: The Campaign to End AIDS, a feature-length documentary. Ms. Gaffney wrote The Substitute a compilation of short stories, has written numerous articles for Routes (routes-mag.com), and has been commissioned to write several poems. Ms. Gaffney lives in New York City. Books: "The Resurrection of Alice" (Perri Tales); "Managing Artists in Pop Music" and "The Business of Broadway" (co-written with Mitch Weiss - Skyhorse Publishing).
future
My father, George D. Gaffney, was a gifted poet, painter and novelist whose work, like so many of our talented relations, has gone unpublished and unrecognized on a grand scale. I plan to publish his novels – “Beyond the Seed” and “Yesterday’s Anger” – in the near future. Also look for “My Godmother’s Mother,” a picture book that pays tribute to the incredible life and love of my mother, Lucille Gaffney, as I once told it to my goddaughter, Paris Mason. Other writing and film projects include: “Perri Tales,” a series of original children’s stories recreated from popular Fairy Tales; “The Substitute,” a webisode adapted from my book of short stories of the same title; “The Consequences,” an action feature film scheduled to shoot in 2016; and “Travel Diary,” an educational multimedia project I will host of near and distant lands and cultures.
Future Projects
"The Consequences" an independent feature-length film
Travel Diary - educational travel host
"The Substitute" a webisode adapted from her short story collection
"Perri Tales" recreated Fairy Tales by Perri Gaffney
"Beyond the Seed” by George D. Gaffney
"Yesterday’s Anger" by George D. Gaffney
"My Godmother’s Mother" the story of Lucille Miller by Paris Mason as relayed by Perri Gaffney
Links:
Email Address:
PerriGaffney@aol.com
Telephone:
1 917 378 2417
BOOK A PERFORMANCE:
“JOSEPHINE," "HARRIET," "SOJOURNER," "JUST ME," and “… ALICE” are ideal for Special Events including: Fundraisers, Grade School Assemblies (ages 10 and up); College Presentations; Church Presentations; Women’s Groups of all kinds including sororities, religious, cultural and social. I have a technical director for the sound/video requirements that are integral to some productions. I also conduct empowerment seminars that include excerpts from “…. Alice,” "JUST ME," and “Josephine” but have no technical requirements.
For more information or to book a presentation/seminar, please contact me via email or phone. Make sure to include: date(s), venue, audience size, and budget.