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Black Pearl Sings!
by Frank Higgins
REGIONAL PREMIERE
2/11/2010 - 3/7/2010
In this uplifting quest for personal freedom, a search for lost African-American folk music leads Susannah, an ambitious “song collector” for the Library of Congress, to Pearl, a woman with a soulful voice, a steely spirit and an incredible history. Over twenty folk and spiritual songs create a musical tapestry of American history that unites these two very different women, as they journey to find their way out of the shadows and into the spotlight. (Estimated Run Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including one 15-minute intermission)
CAST
Susannah.....................................Valerie Leonard
Pearl.............................................Cherene Snow
CREATIVE TEAM
Director.................................Benny Sato Ambush
Scenic Designer...................................Robin Vest
Costume Designer.............................Deb Newhall
Lighting Designer............................Brian Lilienthal
Music Director...................................Eugene Wolf
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
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VALERIE LEONARD (Susannah) Merrimack Repertory Theatre: debut. Broadway: An Ideal Husband (Lady Basildon), The Odd Couple (Gwendolyn Pigeon) with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, Lend Me a Tenor (Maggie) with Barry Nelson. Off-Broadway: Signature Theatre Company, The Pearl Theatre, Mirror Repertory Company, The Directors Company, PTP NYC. Regional: A Man’s A Man, Theophilus North (world premiere), Arena Stage; Titus Andronicus (Tamora), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania), The Comedy of Errors (Luciana), Shakespeare Theatre Company; The Misanthrope, McCarter Theatre; The Royal Family, American Conservatory Theatre; Hedda Gabler, Two River Theatre Company; George Street Playhouse; Missouri Repertory Theatre; Pioneer Theatre; Bristol Riverside Theatre; Catalyst Theater; The Studio Theatre; Theater J; Rep Stage; Potomac Theatre Project; Olney Theatre (over 20 productions including Therese Raquin, Copenhagen, Night of the Iguana and Elephant Man). Television: Law and Order, The Wire. Education: BA, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR; MFA, Rutgers University.
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CHERENE SNOW (Pearl) Merrimack Repertory Theatre: debut. Off-Broadway: Walking Down Broadway, I See Fire in the Dead Man’s Eyes (World Premiere), Brooklyn Under Construction, The Last of the Thorntons (World Premiere). Regional: Doubt, The Miracle Worker, Home, To Kill a Mockingbird, Straight as a Line (Edinburgh, Scotland), Coyote on a Fence, Flyin’ West, A Piece of My Heart, The Good Times are Killing Me (World Premiere), Playboy of the West Indies (U.S. Premiere), Othello, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Film/TV: My Sassy Girl, Goodbye Baby, City of Angels, The Long Walk Home, Out of Darkness, Law & Order, Chappelle’s Show, Third Watch, Beyond Belief, L.A. Doctors, Reasonable Doubts, Caroline in the City, The Drew Carey Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Education: Illinois State University. |
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PLAYGUIDE ARTICLES
The articles below appear in the student study guide for Black Pearl Sings!, and are intended to help the audience learn more about the production.
The African Song - The incredible true story of Pearl's song from Africa.
Gullah Culture and Hilton Head Island - Learn about history and culture of the island Pearl grew up on.
Leadbelly and Alan Lomax - The real life story that inspired writer Frank Higgins.
PRESS
'Black Pearl Sings!' Tells Soulful Story - Broadway World Review
Black Pearl Sings; I Mean Really Sings! - Zingology review of Black Pearl Sings!
Duet for Actresses - The Lowell Sun previews Black Pearl Sings! with interviews with Cherene Snow and Valerie Leonard.
'Black Pearl Sings' soars with passion and melody - Lowell Sun
'Black Pearl' shines at Merrimack Rep - Metrowest Daily News
BLACK PEARL SINGS! VIDEOS
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