Five Women

About Five Women Performance Ensemble

Five Women Performance Ensemble is a Newark, NJ-based collective of women vocalists who are dedicated to the performing arts. We work with a rotation of performers depending on availability, each of them extremely talented.

In April 2015, a group of talented performing artists came together to present an event in celebration of National Poetry Month. The ensemble started with one performance at Focus on Jesus Baptist Church in the South Ward of Newark, NJ. We went on to develop and present a number of programs at such venues as The Newark Public Library, the Jersey City Free Public Library and Newark Symphony Hall. Presenting/performing under the name Five Women, the group performs the works of known and lesser-known women poets, writers, songwriters and playwrights, incorporating various genres of music. The original group featured late poet Breya “Blkbrry Molassez” Knight, singer/songwriter Kelly “Green Light” Thomas, motivational speaker and life coach Caryl R. Lucas, songstress Kim Armstrong and founder and artistic director, Celeste A. Bateman performing poetry, verse and songs. Other former members include  Cynthia “Lady Rose” Roberson, Joy Topping-Mann, Maureen Hawks and the late Ronnell Bey.

Celeste A. Bateman (Artistic Director/Founder) is an arts administrator, booking agent and publicist. As an arts administrator, she traveled nationally and internationally and in 1995 she was one of 10 arts administrators selected by Americans for the Arts to participate in an arts study tour in Northern Ireland, courtesy the British Council. She founded her company, Celeste Bateman & Assocs., LLC, in 1997 and has worked with numerous national and international clients booking her artists, particularly poet/playwright/author Amiri Baraka for whom she served as exclusive agent for nine years and publicist for 12. Celeste A. Bateman  has extensive experience as a producer/organizer of numerous cultural initiatives. She has a long career history in arts administration in the city of Newark and beyond. 

In October 2021, Ms. Bateman premiered her first documentary Gone Too Soon about the Life, Legacy and Loss of several of Newark, New Jersey’s Cultural Icons who changed the landscape of the city, but passed away before they could appreciate the fruits of their labor. The film garnered local and international recognition including an award for “Best Soundtrack” from the New York International Film Awards. As Director Ms. Bateman won “Best Senior Film” (Cannes World Film Festival), and a Best Song nomination for “One More Life” by German producer Wolfgang Lackerschmid (Cannes World Film Festival) in 2022. The film was a semifinalist in the 2022 Berlin Art Film Festival and that year it was screened as part of the Newark International Film Festival. Her second documentary Stronger Than Steel: The Senator Wynona Lipman Story, is about the first African American woman – a political powerhouse ahead of her time — to serve in the New Jersey State Legislature. The documentary has received many accolades including a grand jury prize from the New York International Film Awards, Best Senior Film from Cannes World Festival 2024 among others. The film is currently screening on NJ PBS and was recently accepted into the 2025 Women of the Lens Film Festival in London.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in speech and theater arts at Rutgers University-Newark and  a Master’s Degree in Communication Arts from Montclair State University. She is a filmmaker,  Director of ELMART Theatre Service which takes audiences to the Black theater and is creative director of Five Women Performance Ensemble. Celeste A. Bateman is the recipient of a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Kim Armstrong is a Grammy Award-winning, Dove and Stellar Award-nominated singer, performer and recording artist. She has graced the stage with many luminaries including Shirley Caesar, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Cissy Houston, Donnie McClurkin, Darlene Love, the Clark Sisters, the late, great Ray Charles, Jeff Beck, Darryl Coley, Lionel Hampton and Isaac Hayes, to name a few. She has opened for Gladys Knight with Valerie Adams & The Dimensions Band and appeared on the Bobby Jones Gospel Show. Other television appearances include Good Morning America with Dionne Warwick, and American Idol Gives Back with Jeff Beck and Joss Stone, as well as on the Emeril Lagasse Food Network Christmas Show. Kim has recorded with Black Ivory, Dionne Warwick and so many others. In 2000 she had a popular Club/House song called “Scream and Shout”. Her first gospel song, “Be Still” with Jubilation was her first live recording in 2004. Her last release in 2022, “Make Me Better, is exactly what she wants the Lord to do. In 2015 she was the Garden State Film Festival movie soundtrack winner for “Best Song for a Featured Film” called, “Clipped Wings They Do Fly.”  Kim is a charter member of the Grammy Award-winning Jubilation Choir, directed by Rev. Dr. Stefanie R. Minatee. She retired from Newark Beth Isreal Medical Center after 36 years. “Being a part of this production with Five Women brings me so much joy. I love the Sisterhood that binds us together and I love people.” 

Marlo Cozart was born and bred in Philadelphia, PA and has sung Gospel, R&B, Funk, Club, House and Jazz music, while attending Hampton University in a cover band called SoundFX. She developed a passion for Christ at an early age and began sharing her gift of music, as member of The Voices of Zion Choir at First AME Zion Church, Paterson, NJ. Marlo sings with various R&B cover bands including  Brother 2 Brother, Epic Soul, New Groove and Twisted Band just to name a few. As a contracted soloist, Marlo sings in Recording Studio sessions, weddings, homegoings and other special events. She is often called, “The Song Bird with the voice of an Angel” and can usually be heard tapping, whistling and/or humming whenever she’s not singing out loud.

Marlo was blessed to have a duet Gospel CD, on the Independent Records Label Red Wagon called, “JordanCozart: New Beginnings,” with Frank Jordan. She has participated in multiple DMP Christian Christmas musical productions under the Direction of Monty Blackwell. Her chart-topping Gospel Club song called “A Fool” was released here in the US and London on the Merle Art Music/69 Records Labels. Marlo is also a House Music artist on the New Generation Record Label with club charting House Remake singles such as, “We Are One, Wonderful World” and Caught Up.” Never straying far from her Gospel roots, she is currently a member of the anointed Quartet Group Ladies of Adoration. The latter two projects have pending CD releases, so stay tuned!

Christa Syreeta Caldwell-Pretlow is a stage performer and creative producer with a warm, grounded presence and strong emotional range. She has appeared as Shug Avery in The Color Purple and starred as the lead in Tomorrow at the Ritz Theatre. She has also contributed background vocals on CeCe Winans’ “On That Day” alongside Lauryn Hill. In addition to performing, she produced a student-driven production of Mean Girls: The Musical and supported set design at Arts High School, bringing a collaborative, story-forward approach to the stage.

Gail Lou (Musical Director/Piano/Vocals) is a product of Vaux Hall, NJ. She is a vocalist, musician, songwriter, arranger, actress and musical director. Her performances and recordings include R&B, House, Gospel, Musical Theatre and Jazz. Currently concentrating on her jazz influences, she is writing songs and melodies she hopes become jazz standards. She has worked with such jazz stalwarts as Calvin Hill, Wayne Cobham, Chico Mendoza, and JoeHam. Her professional musical theatre credits include one-woman pieces Billie, featuring the music of Billie Holiday and I’ve Got A Mind to Ramble –with the music of Alberta Hunter. Her single “Another Day” is part of producer Bobby D’Ambrosio’s House music project Here I Am. She also recorded “You Got the Vibe” on DANCE BABY Records and “Hidden Lover” with D. Mills. Gail has sung Gospel background vocals at Carnegie Hall in New York City with Carla Harris and Cissy Houston. Gail and songwriting partner Shawn Lucas created Light & Sweet – An American Tea Opera a souazz (soul and jazz) piece, and 7 Good Ways, a musical celebration of Kwanzaa. Gail Lou has studied advanced jazz vocals with Marion Cowings at Jazzmobile and jazz arrangement and composition under jazz great Jimmy Heath. Gail Lou holds a B.A. in Vocal Music Performance from Montclair State University. She is thrilled to have been a part of the Together In Dance family, a Brooklyn-based teaching artists program. Gail Lou would like to “shout out” her husband (Andre), daughters (LC and TS Rose).

Jackie Jones (alternate) is a graduate of Newark’s High School of the Performing Arts and Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey. While earning her degree in Psychology at Rutgers University, she continued her formal music education at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. There she trained and further refined her musical style under noteworthy jazz talents as pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Keith Copeland, vibraphonist Steve Nelson and bassist Larry Ridley.  Ms. Jones has electrified audiences throughout the United States as well as internationally, including Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and Russia. She is currently teaching Jazz Voice at NJPAC. Ms. Jones’ musical associations are formidable indeed. She has opened for the legendary Lou Rawls and has performed with numerous noteworthy artists, including pianist Nat Adderley, Jr, saxophonists, Houston Person & Don Braden, Trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, and bassist Christian McBride.

Deborah Keeling-Geddis Born into a musical family, Deborah Keeling crafted her singing skills in her church choir and by performing in school and local community events. Her first professional role was in the hit Off Broadway musical, Mama, I Want to Sing, featured as Sarah Vaughan. From there, “Debbie” shared the stage with various singers such as Jennifer Holliday, Peabo Bryson, Patti Austin, Desiree Coleman and others. Her musical theater credits also include The Apollo: It was Just Like Magic (directed/choreographed by George Faison) and in the Off-Broadway production of A Brief History of White Music. Deborah is excited to get back on the stage and step out of her performing hiatus for the first time in many years!

Charmaine E. Broadbelt When not providing Counseling and Life Coaching services, Charmaine is motivating, singing, studio recording and other music-related engagements. She has toured internationally with Earth, Wind and Fire, and has sung background for Barry Manilow, Ricky Dillard, Ted “Wizard” Mills of Blue Magic, Phillip Bailey of EWF and William McDowell, to name a few. She opened for Anthony Brown and Group TherApy and has performed in off-Broadway productions. She dabbles in songwriting and has collaborated on a few as well. Charmaine is a Gospel singer and a Worship Leader. She loves live music of all genres. “Singing and music are like air and water to me; I can’t live without them!”