DIGITAL PROGRAM
THE BLACK PEARL + THE FRIVOLOUS PRINCE
Paris, 1930s. Al Brown – Latin America’s first world boxing champion – loses his title when his manager drugs him before a fight and he passes out in the ring. In a grand pivot Al, a talented singer and dancer, teaches himself to play the saxophone and becomes a cabaret star. Then he meets Jean Cocteau and life takes an unexpected turn. What happens when a celebrated Panamanian boxer meets a legendary French artist?
Special Thanks + Acknowledgement:
Public Donors : Laurie Lander, Jody Oberfelder, Judith Sachs, Michelle Slavik; and all our Private Donors.
Lantern Theater Company and Kate Coots.
KEILA CORDOVA
CHOREOGRAPHER | DIRECTOR
Keila Cordova is the artistic director of 3 Pony Show, a dance-theatre company centered on embodying untold stories. Her works - including A Tree When No Moon Shines, KITH, As Pretty Does, Volcano My Love, Agnes Falling, Janet 2.0 - have been performed in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, San Diego, Chicago and Toronto. She’s a choreographer, performer, writer and educator. Her short film, “RESIDUALS” was a 2021 Official Selection of the Montreal Independent Film Festival, the DUMBO Film Festival and the Toronto International Women Film Festival. The Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival honored her with the Story Changers Award for Outstanding Leadership and for Empowering Women in the Arts in Philadelphia. She’s received funding support from The Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Leeway Foundation, Small But Mighty Arts, Puffin Foundation, Harlem Stage, the Greenwall Foundation; creative residencies at Saltonstall, the Millay Colony and Norcroft. A current co-board chair of thINKingDANCE. She has an MFA from The New School for Social Research.
JULIA WRIGHT
COMPOSER
Composer and electronic music producer Julia Wright crafts soundscapes that blur the boundaries between nature, mythology, and cultural memory. A recent college graduate with a passion for musical storytelling, Julia weaves together influences from African mythology, the rhythmic energy of ska, the infectious grooves of mento, and the theatrical storytelling of musical theater into immersive electronic compositions.
CHRISTINE CAUSER
LIGHTING DESIGN
Christine's past work includes assisting and design work at The Prince Music Theatre. Shows include West Side Story, several cabaret events, Anyone Can Whistle. She currently teaches design and technical theater to high school students in New Jersey. Christine has a BFA from VCU. Love to Shon!
VENRICK JAMES
PERFORMER
Venrick James is an emerging dancer/choreographer from Allentown, PA. A very versatile mover, Venrick has training in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Umfundalai, West African, Capoeira, and Asian contemporary styles. Venrick has collaborated with artists such as Ellenore Scott, LaTasha Barnes, Dara Meredith, Fairul Zahid, and recently finished a high school tour with Sarah Carlson’s Dancelink. He has presented his own choreography through festivals such as the Northeast American College Dance Association Festival and Touchstone Theater’s Festival Unbound.Presently, Venrick is a graduate of Temple University with a B.F.A in dance, graduating.
LAURIE LA ROSE
EDITOR
In a past life Laurie La Rose worked in arts administration and as a massage therapist.
ANDREW THOMPSON
SCENIC DESIGN
ANDREW THOMPSON has been on the production side of theater for 35 years! He's designed for theater and dance over the past 21 years. Technical Director|Head Carpenter at Bristol Riverside Theatre 6 seasons 2018-2024, Scenic Design for Drexel Theater: The Lighting Thief, the Percy Jackson the Musical, Songs for A New World, Anonymous, Peter & the Star Catcher. Technical Director - Ajijaak on Turtle Island National tour directed by Heather Henson | Ibex puppetry - 2019, 16 seasons with Upper Darby Performing Arts Center| Summer Stage - 1987 - 1999 & 2016-2022; 13 seasons as Technical Director for Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 3 (Philadelphia PA) 2003 - 2016 Walnut Street scenic design favorites include Moon of the Misbegotten | tour, Becoming Dr Ruth, Elliot: A Soldier’s Fugue, Glass Menagerie | tour, Proof | tour, Around the World in 80 Days |tour, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, WST Mainstage: And Then There Were None. WST KIDS: How I Became a Pirate (directed by Rob Marlow), Diary of a Worm, Spider, Fly Other credits: Spoleto Festival USA (TD/ATD) 20 seasons 1996-2015, 954 Dance Movement Collective, 3 Pony Show technical supervisor | scenic design: KITH, Linear Default, As Pretty Does Agnes Falling, Volcano My Love, Scenic Design | Technical Consulting for Playhouse Productions, Becoming Dr Ruth, Waist Watchers the Musical! National. Tour, Lincoln Center Out Of Doors Festival (crew chief 7, seasons); Trisha Brown Dance Company international tour - Production Carpenter, 3 years 2000-2003. Thanks to all.