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'The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson' opens Saturday

Mary Caldwell Dawson Credit: Pittsburgh Opera

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson , which celebrates the legacy of the remarkable woman who founded the National Negro Opera Company here in Pittsburgh in 1941, open April 27th.

In addition, these three community events are happening over the next 9 days at the Bitz Opera Factory in the Strip District:

 ‘Honoring Our Past, Connecting To Our Present’ Storytelling Thursday, April 11th, 7:00 PM

 Sharing Experiences of Black Creatives Sunday, April 14th, 2:00 PM

A Legacy Realized: A Conversation and Music with Denyce Graves on Madame Mary Cardwell Dawson Tuesday, April 16th, Concert at 6:00 PM

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates Mary Cardwell Dawson and Black Opera in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Opera’s final production of their 2023-24 season celebrates the courage and persistence of one of Pittsburgh’s greatest citizens.

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson is inspired by the true story of the founder of the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC), which was the first Black opera company in the United States. Mary Cardwell Dawson, a victim of that era’s segregationist policies, founded the company in Pittsburgh in 1941.

 The NNOC, which performed nationally before disbanding in 1962 after Dawson’s death, was headquartered in the historic National Opera House (NOH) on Apple Street in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood. The NOH, owned by Pittsburgh Opera Board Member Jonnet Solomon, is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration to return it to its former glory.

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, a 70-minute ‘play with music’, has four performances at the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh April 27-May 5.

 Leading the cast will be Alyson Cambridge, making her Pittsburgh Opera debut bringing the role of Mary Cardwell Dawson to life, after her highly praised performances in the role at The Glimmerglass Festival. Christian Mark Gibbs and MeroĂ« Khalia Adeeb also make their Pittsburgh Opera debuts, as Frank and Isabelle, respectively. Second year Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Jazmine Olwalia sings the role of Phoebe.

In addition, Pittsburgh Opera and the National Opera House are having a series of community events throughout late March and April intended to honor the rich history of Black opera in Pittsburgh, as well as showcase how that legacy lives on today.

 Details on The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, and the related community events, can be found below.

The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson

 Play by Sandra Seaton

 Original music by Carlos Simon

 Additional Music from Carmen by Georges Bizet

 Text for original music by Sandra Seaton

 Spoken and sung in English with supertitles projected above the stage

Where: Byham Theater, downtown Pittsburgh

When:

Saturday, April 27  * 8:00 PM

Tuesday, April 30 * 7:00 PM

Friday, May 3 * 7:30 PM

Sunday, May 5 * 3:00 PM

 Synopsis:

 Pittsburgh’s unsung heroine who taught America to sing

 In 1943, the National Negro Opera Company is set to perform on a floating barge to evade racially-segregated venues. But when bad weather threatens—pushing the performance to a segregated performance hall—visionary impressaria Mary Cardwell Dawson must find a way forward.

 Mary Cardwell Dawson’s dream to provide access for African Americans to perform on stages for all audiences changed the future of opera. Having founded the longest-running, all-Black opera company here in Pittsburgh and organizing opera guilds in the country’s biggest cities, Mary Cardwell Dawson would go on to train hundreds of African American youth to sing.

Written by Mark Twain Award-winning playwright and librettist Sandra Seaton, The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson celebrates the remarkable founder of Pittsburgh’s historic and groundbreaking National Negro Opera Company. This play with music includes selections from Carmen as well as original music by award-winning Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon.

Cast and Artistic Team

 Mary Cardwell Dawson                                               Alyson Cambridge+

Frank                                                                           Christian Mark Gibbs+

 Phoebe                                                                        Jazmine Olwalia*

 Isabelle                                                                        MeroĂ« Khalia Adeeb+

Music Director/Pianist                                                 Marvin Mills+

Stage Director:                                                            Kimille Howard+

Set Designer:                                                              James F. Rotondo III+

Costume Designer:                                                     Jessica Jahn

Wig and Make-up Designer:                                       Izear Winfrey

Lighting Designer:                                                      Todd Nonn

Stage Manager                                                           Cindy Knight

Head of Music                                                             Glenn Lewis

Director of Musical Studies                                        Mark Trawka

Associate Coach/Pianist                                            James Lesniak

Assistant Stage Director                                             Claire Young

Assistant Stage Manager                                           Bee Anderson

+    Pittsburgh Opera debut

*    Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist

Scenery and costumes originally created for The Glimmerglass Festival; Commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival; commission and production sponsored by Robert L. Turner.

Tickets

  Available online at opera.culturaldistrict.org, by phone at 412-456-6666, or in-person at the Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Ave  downtown.

  Tickets start at $15.

 Tickets for children and teens ages 6–18 are half-price.

 Group discounts, student discounts, and other discounts are available

Community Events

Family Day

Tuesday, March 26th, 5:30 PM

University of Pittsburgh Homewood Community Engagement Center

622 N Homewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

In partnership with Homewood Children's Village, this Family Day will consist of different free activities designed to expose children, teens, and their families to some of the many different components that make up opera. Register here.

 Opera Meets Jazz

Friday, April 5th, 7:00 PM

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

444 Lincoln Ave, East Liberty, PA 15206

Join us for a free event where our Resident Artists and Jazz Luminaries from the Afro-American Music Institute present a special concert showcasing the intersection of Jazz and Opera. Come explore the similarities and differences we find in Jazz and Opera as we enjoy music from the time of Mary Cardwell Dawson’s life and some of her favorite arias. Register here.

‘Honoring Our Past, Connecting To Our Present’ Storytelling

Thursday, April 11th, 7:00 PM

Bitz Opera Factory

2425 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Telling the stories of those who knew Mary Cardwell Dawson, had a connection to the Homewood neighborhood, or had experience with the National Negro Opera Company home is at the center of this free event. We incorporate four stories within a live interview with Jonnet Solomon, Executive Director of the National Opera House, to weave together the past and present in this enlightening and fascinating event. Register here.

Sharing Experiences of Black Creatives

Sunday, April 14th, 2:00 PM

Bitz Opera Factory

2425 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Join us for a free panel discussion about the themes and resonances surrounding The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson. Special guests Thomas Douglas (Bach Choir of Pittsburgh/CMU), Shaunda McDill (Pittsburgh Public Theater), Joanna Obuzor (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust), Izear Winfrey (Studio Booth), Claudia Brownlee (Pittsburgh Opera) and Carlton Ford (Taproot Foundation) will share their insights into this work as well as their own stories of their successes and struggles while working in the arts. Register here.

 A Legacy Realized: A Conversation and Music with Denyce Graves on Madame Mary Cardwell Dawson

Tuesday, April 16th

Concert at 6:00 PM

Bitz Opera Factory

2425 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Musical legend Denyce Graves, who had originally intended to be part of the performances, will instead be hosting this intimate, personal event celebrating Mary Cardwell Dawson’s legacy. She will talk about Mary’s place in history, how Mary has inspired her and countless others, and the importance of keeping Mary’s memory alive. Ms. Graves will also sing selections with connections to the National Negro Opera Company and its era.

Limited seating is available for a dinner with the artists following the concert at Balvanera Cocina Argentina. Buy tickets at pittsburghopera.org/denyce or call (412) 281-0912 ext. 225.

 

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