A woman in a blue dress holds a silver bowl of berries in her lap and smiles as she sings.
Tonya Pinkins as Pearl in the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Black Pearl Sings!

date September 25, 2009 — October 28, 2009

Susannah, a song collector for the Library of Congress, travels the country seeking little-known melodies. When she encounters Pearl in a Texas prison, she discovers dozens of musical treasures rooted in the African tradition. Pearl must decide whether to give away her ancestors’ songs for a chance at her own freedom. Music unites strangers in a powerful story that illuminates America’s racial divisions and the attempts of two women to bridge them. Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins makes her Ford’s Theatre debut in the title role with Erika Rolfsrud as Susannah.  Jennifer L. Nelson returns to direct for the first time since her critically acclaimed production of Jitney.

Cast

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Tonya Pinkins

Alberta ‘Pearl’ Johnson

Silhouette of a human head on black.

Erika Rolfsrud

Susannah Mullally

From the Gallery

Set design by Tony Cisek is a 2-story exterior brick wall covered in a hodgepodge of window sizes and colorful doors. At the font of the wall sits a living room set that has a red loveseat and armchair, four lamps and various coffee- and side-tables.

The set of the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! designed by Tony Cisek. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

An actress in a blue dress stands with arms raised in song. Behind her sits an actress wearing a red dress and holding an autoharp.

Tonya Pinkins as Pearl with Erika Rolfsrud as Susannah in the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A woman in a blue dress holds a silver bowl of berries in her lap and smiles as she sings.

Tonya Pinkins as Pearl in the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

A woman in a blue dress gazes upward as a woman she is visiting sits in an armchair nearby.

Erika Rolfsrud as Susannah and Tonya Pinkins as Pearl in the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

An actress in a blue dress stands with arms raised in song. Behind her sits an actress wearing a red dress and holding an autoharp.

Tonya Pinkins as Pearl with Erika Rolfsrud as Susannah in the Ford’s Theatre production of Black Pearl Sings! directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.