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Press Release

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Robin Conklin, Marketing Director 974-2497 rconkli1@utk.edu

Last Week to See Black Pearl Sings! on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage
UT Faculty/Staff Prices – $12, $15

“The world is seen through the eyes, emotions and dreams of two women whose stories become universal in many ways. Audiences get to come along in a story that can make you sing, then laugh, then cry and then sing again,” Knoxville News Sentinel

Audiences are loving Black Pearl Sings! currently on stage at the Clarence Brown Theatre at UT Knoxville! The production is sponsored by Schaad Companies, Knox County, the Rotary Club of Knoxville, the Arts and Heritage Fund, and the City of Knoxville. 

 “Featuring a cappella renditions of spirituals and folk songs like “This Little Light of Mine,” Troubles So Hard, “Kum Ba Yah,” and “Pay Me My Money Down,” the production is a play about discovering songs, with songs. It touches upon issues of ambition, friendship, race, gender, class, civil rights and the ownership of heritage,” said Kate Buckley, director.

The play is partially based on John Lomax's famous discovery of Huddie (Lead Belly) Ledbetter in a Louisiana prison farm, and on the documentary "The Language You Cry In" which traces a Georgia slave song to one still sung by the women of Sierra Leone, Africa. 

 “Because of people like Susannah, we have recordings of some of our country’s most inspiring music. This music was sung originally by a terrified group of Africans, “sung in chains, in darkness, at the bottom of the boat.  Sung when they didn’t know where they was goin’, only where they was from,” thensung by slaves, to motivate their bodies and souls to carry them through punishing work in the Southern heat. Because of people like Pearl in the world, we have the opportunity to understand and appreciate the true meaning of those songs,” said Buckley.

Kate Buckley (Director) is currently a professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Formerly she was a founding member of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Her previous directing credits at UT include:  Moonlight and Magnolias, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Charley’s Aunt, Copenhagen, and Antigone.  Her regional theatre credits include productions at The Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, Kansas City Repertory, Milwaukee Repertory, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, and The Next Theatre, where she served as artistic director for four years. Internationally, she has worked in Milan (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic), and Bratislava (Slovak Republic). She has been honored by Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Committee on numerous occasions, including Best Director, has received two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Direction, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Aurora University, and a Creative Research Award from the University of Tennessee. 

Tracey Copeland Halter (Black Pearl) is assistant professor in Acting in the UT Theater Department.  Past CBT credits include: It's a Wonderful Life, Radio Play, Charley’s Aunt, The Who’s Tommy, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Intimate Apparel, Fences, and A Christmas Carol.  She has performed on Broadway and in regional theaters across the country such as the NY Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center, The Alliance Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare Festival. She has her MFA in Theatre from New York University.
Susan Shunk (Susannah Mullally) is appearing for the first time at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Her regional credits include: Utah Shakespearean Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and seven seasons with American Players Theatre. Her Chicago credits include: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, and Remy Bumppo Theatre.

Libby Stadstad (Scenic Design) earned her undergraduate degree from the University Wisconsin of Stevens Point and is currently in her second year as a MFA student in Scenic Design at UT. Past CBT credits: Phaedra and Tartuffe. She also has worked as a scenic artist at the Dorset Theatre festival and ACME Scenic Arts in Minneapolis.

Kenton Yeager (Lighting Designer) has designed, produced or directed more than 500 productions for Theatre, Dance, Music Industrials, Churches, Festivals, Architecture, Youth Audiences and Touring Productions both nationally and internationally.  He heads the UT Masters Program in Entertainment Lighting Design,  has taught master classes at more than 40 universities, served on the faculty at Penn State, and was Chair/Artistic Director of Interlochen Arts Camps’ Department of Theater.
Mike Ponder (Sound Design) has been the Resident Sound Designer for UT’s Theatre program and the CBT professional company for over 11 years.  For The North Carolina Stage Company, he designed for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He also composed electric bass music for Lee Blessing’s Chesapeake and  designed for Underneath the Lintel.

Arlene Felipe is a second year Costume Design MFA candidate from Goose Creek, SC. This is her third production for the Clarence Brown Theatre.  She has a BS in Biology from The University of South Carolina and an AS in Costume Design from FloArts.

Deya S. Friedman (Production Stage Manager) is a member of the UT faculty with 20 years as a professional stage manager in the Chicago and Midwest theater communities. She also is a founding member of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. 

The show runs through March 11, 2012. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Matinees begin at 2 p.m.  Ticket prices for UT faculty and staff are $12 and $15. Senior discounts and students discounts also are available. For tickets, call the Clarence Brown Theatre box office at 865-974-5161, Tickets Unlimited at 865-656-4444 or online at www.clarencebrowntheatre.com.