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.
Commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival
Performances
Cast and Artistic Team
Mary Cardwell Dawson: Alyson Cambridge+
Frank: Christian Mark Gibbs+
Phoebe: Jazmine Olwalia*
Isabelle: Meroë 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; commission and production sponsored by Robert L. Turner.
Original lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker
Original sound design by Andrew Harper
Details & Resources
We want you to have the best experience possible at our performances!
Here are some details and resources to help. Also visit our Opera FAQs or our Accessibility page.
- Run time currently expected to be approximately 70 minutes
- Understand Every Word: Dialogue spoken in English. Music sung in French and English, with English texts projected above the stage.
- Parking Downtown: get real-time parking availability
- Pre-Opera Talks before each performance
- Braille Programs available at the Byham Theater
- Large-Print Programs available at the Byham Theater
- Download the Study Guide
- View our printed program book
- View our Digital Program
CHILD POLICY:
- Children must be ages 6 and up. Suggestions and tips for bringing children to the opera may be found at pittsburghopera.org/FAQ.
- All children must have a ticket. There is a 50% discount for kids and teens ages 6-18.
FREE RIDESHARES
Our rideshare program lets Pittsburgh Opera ticket buyers add $60 of Uber Vouchers to their The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson ticket purchase, at no extra cost. Get the details.
Synopsis: Contains Spoilers
Synopsis – contains spoilers!
Summer 1943. Mary Cardwell Dawson’s rehearsal studio. The National Negro Opera Company is preparing to present two operas at the outdoor Watergate Concert Barge in Washington, D.C. For the company’s ambitious schedule, La traviata was performed on the first night with the great soprano Madame Lillian Evanti. However, the damp weather was unsuitable, and the attendance was disappointing.
Madame Mary Cardwell Dawson meets with the singers who will perform the leads in a planned performance of Carmen: Frank (Don José), Isabelle (Micaëla), and Phoebe (Carmen). Fearing the rain will again keep the audience away, Madame Dawson inquires about renting a concert hall. While the hall manager agrees to rent to the NNOC, he informs Madame Dawson that the venue has a policy of segregated seating.
The future of the company hangs in the balance: according to the Union agreement, the artists and other personnel must be paid, whether the concert takes place or not. An outdoor performance in the rain is sure to be a disappointment, but an indoor performance with segregated seating is unacceptable.
The young singers, eager to make their mark, urge Madame Dawson to consider the hall. She initially will not hear it, but as rehearsals continue and the weather worsens, she has moments of doubt. The Union board, expecting a breach of contract, demands she leave rehearsal for an emergency meeting. When they insult her, she fights back and is taken to jail. After Madame Dawson is bailed out, Madame Dawson returns to rehearsal, bruised but undaunted.
The young singers realize that Madame Dawson’s life—her determination and struggle—is the greatest lesson she has for them. They tell her they will sing in the rain if necessary. Just as they resolve to go forward, the rain stops.
-Courtesy of The Glimmerglass Festival
Previews and Reviews
- Review: onStage Pittsburgh – Dramady with Operatic Interludes Opens at the Byham
- Review: Tribune-Review – Pittsburgh Opera's 'Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson' is a performance to remember
- Review: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Operatic snapshot of a famous Pittsburgh singer sizzles with humor, drama
- Pittsburgh Magazine – Famous Opera Company Gets Its Own Opera
- Entertainment Central Pittsburgh – Theater Guide April 2024
- Pittsburgh Magazine – Things to Do in Pittsburgh This April
- The POP: The Pittsburgh Opera Podcast – THE PASSION OF MARY CARDWELL DAWSON – Artistic Coordinator Matthew Hrdlicka interviews Alyson Cambridge (Mary) and stage director Kimille Howard
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Pittsburgh Opera's final show this season spotlights a local legend
- onStage Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Opera’s “The Passion of Mary Cadwell Dawson” Will Wrap Season 2023/24
- KDKA-TV CBS Pittsburgh – “Intersections” April 21, 2024 (cast visit to National Opera House, starts at 16:30 of video)
- WESA-FM 90.5 – Play honors Pittsburgh's Black opera pioneer Mary Cardwell Dawson
- onStage Pittsburgh – 9 things to do this weekend in Pittsburgh
- WQED-FM Voice of the Arts Podcast interviews:
- KDKA-TV CBS Pittsburgh – “Intersections” May 5, 2024 (conversation about Mary Cardwell Dawson with Denyce Graves starts at 14:56 of video)
- Broadway World – Photos From Pittsburgh Opera's Production Of THE PASSION OF MARY CARDWELL DAWSON
Video Excerpts
Enjoy these videos below, and view our full set of video excerpts on our YouTube Playlist
Mary Cardwell Dawson (Alyson Cambridge) recalls the excitement of going to the opera as a student at the New England Conservatory.
Mary Cardwell Dawson (Alyson Cambridge) gives stage direction to Isabelle (Meroë Khalia Adeeb) as she rehearses a scene from 'Carmen' with Frank (Christian Mark Gibbs).
The cast of the National Negro Opera Company's production of 'Carmen' tries to convince Mary Cardwell Dawson (Alyson Cambridge) that it's better to perform in a segregated concert hall than risk a rained-out outdoor performance.
Community Events
Join us for a series of FREE community events inspired by the life and legacy of Mary Cardwell Dawson:
- March 26: Family Day Event
- April 5: Opera Meets Jazz
- April 11: Honoring our Past, Connecting to our Present
- April 14: 'Sharing the Experiences of Black Creatives' Panel Discussion
Plus, on April 16, join us for A Legacy Realized: A Conversation and Music with Denyce Graves on Madame Mary Cardwell Dawson.
Part of the 2023-24 Season.