The Courtesan Tales
Inaugurates new space beginning May 6th

"the sexiest show in New York" -- New York Post

Following her sold-out run last fall, internationally-acclaimed performance artist Nicole Blackman brings her notorious Courtesan Tales back to PS122 beginning May 6th. This unique theatrical experience features over a dozen intimate tales designed for a blindfolded and restrained (hands gently bound) audience of one. For the first time, Blackman has also trained another "courtesan," allowing more clients to experience The Courtesan Tales.

"I knew the Tales would be a hit in New York," says Blackman, "but when the show got so much publicity and people called to make reservations, I felt badly we couldn’t get them in. So now we have two Courtesans performing every evening, and people will be able to request one or the other, or even choose the same story from each of us for two distinctively different experiences!" The trained Courtesan is Eve Prince, who was a hostess for the run last fall.

The Courtesan Tales are "tales of the senses," blending fairy tales, lap dances and haunted house stories. The tales are romantic, mysterious, erotic (21+ only), chilling and nostalgic, and have left audiences from Los Angeles to England shaken, moved, enlightened, amused and provoked, all without seeing the artist herself. The tales are performed by appointment only, one story per appointment (multiple appointments may be made back-to back). Each tale is approximately seven minutes long and customers can choose their tale when they arrive, or leave it as "Courtesan’s Choice."

In an unprecedented move, PS122 has also created a customized performance space for The Courtesan Tales downstairs, with a dramatic Courtesan’s Lounge where customers can relax and enjoy tasty drinks and treats before and after their appointments. It’s a unique date idea or prelude to a romantic evening.

The Courtesan Tales are told May 6 -- 29, Thursdays-Saturdays, 7-10 PM, by appointment only. Stories are $20-30 each. P.S. 122 is located at 150 First Avenue at 9th St. (accessible from the #6 train at Astor Place or the L train at First Avenue). You will need to bring photo ID with proof of age to the box office when you arrive. For reservations or for more information, call 212-477-5829 x309 or visit ps122.org.

THE COURTESANS:

Nicole Blackman is the creator and performer of acclaimed and notorious Courtesan Tales, which has been performed in New York, LA and England. She is best known as a spoken-word artist and is the author of Blood Sugar (Akashic), which is in its third printing, and featured on over twenty cds, including recordings with Recoil, The Golden Palominos, KMFDM, Scanner, and Space Needle. Her performance Bloodwork premiered at The Kitchen in 2000 and Blackman’s work is in over a dozen anthologies, including the upcoming Brooklyn Noir, Aloud: Voices From the Nuyorican, Poetry Nation, and Verses That Hurt. She is also a sought-after voiceover performer who’s voice has been featured on hundreds of commercials and network promotions. nicoleblackman.com.

"I began performing The Courtesan Tales a few years ago and challenged myself to develop a performance that I’d never experienced before, something confrontational and memorable that would evoke memories and emotions differently for each listener. I like that they are blindfolded and trusting me to do whatever I like to them, so I find the customers entertain me as much as I entertain them. The fact that I ‘do it for money’ makes the exchange comfortable for them, as we all seem to be used to paying masseuses, therapists, strippers, manicurists or prostitutes for services. I want it to be an experience that you can’t sum up easily, but that moves you deeply in some primal way. Everyone likes to be told a story. Everyone likes to be touched. Everyone likes a mystery. I’ll leave it at that. Come to see me if you want to hear the rest."

Eve Prince is one of the founders of the long-running Chicks Cook! performance art dinner party series at Collective Unconscious. After receiving her culinary degrees at The Institute of Culinary Education, she began her catering company The Artist’s Palate, which produced the recent COco Seder at PS122, as well as the tasty treats for The Courtesan Tales. Prince has appeared at Lincoln Center, Lollapalooza and the Hammerstein Ballroom, and her background includes installation art, performance, and theatrical costume/make-up. With a Masters in Art Therapy and Creativity Development, Prince has spent ten years developing and running art therapy programs for clients ranging from "well-adapted" to "pathologically disturbed," which makes her particularly well suited as a performer for The Courtesan Tales. eveprince.com.