Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Her Life and Legacy

Mary Ann Shadd Cary, an African American woman born in Delaware in 1823, became an editor, educator, suffragette, and lawyer. Through dance, poetry, and music, we will tell her life story of working tirelessly to overcome race and gender barriers.

Act 1 - A Lifetime of Achievements

1. Field Cotton

Choreographer - Lynnette Young Overby

Music - Ralph Russell

Poetry - Glenis Redmond

Performers - Ralph Russel, April Singleton, Ikira Peace, Amber Rance, Rachel DeLauder, Dianna Ruberto, Gabrielle Shubert

(6:40)

2. This is for Mary

Choreographer, Main Performer, Spoken Word Artist - Rachel DeLauder

Other Performers - Amber Rance, Gabrielle Shubert, Marion Hamermesh, Chelsea Gbemudu, Ikira Peace, Omi Ames Davis, April Singleton, Marlene Jones

(13:43)

4. Becoming

Choreographers - Teresa Emmons and Lynnette Young Overby

Music and Singer - Ralph Russell

Performers - April Singleton as a young Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Gabrielle Shubert as Mary’s younger sister, Ralph Russel as Mary’s father

(23:13)

5. The Fugitive Slave Law

Choreographers - Desiree Cocroft

Music - Ralph Russell

Voice - Desiree Cocroft

Performers - Ikira Peace, April Singleton, Omi Ames Davis, Chelsea Gbemudu, Gabrielle Shubert, Marion Hamermesh

(29:52)

6. Oh Canada

Choreographers - Lynnette Young Overby

Music - Ralph Russell

Performers - April Singleton as Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Amber Rance, Gabrielle Shubert, Marion Hamermesh, Ikira Peace, Omi Ames Davis, Marlene Jones, Chelsea Gbemudu as Mary Bibb

(35:01)

7. The Colored Convention and Women of the 1800s

Choreographers - Lynnette Young Overby

Music - Ralph Russell

Spoken Word Artist - Rachel DeLauder as Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Performers - Amber Rance as Harriet Jacobs, Ikira Peace as Harriet Tubman, April Singleton, Chelsea Gbemudu

(40:10)

8. We as Women

Choreographers - Kimberly Schroeder with contributions from the performers

Music - Dame Ethel Smyth and Cicely Hamilton

Text - Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Voice - Kimberly Schroeder

Performers - Amber Rance, Marlene Jones, Gabrielle Shubert, Omi Ames Davis, Ikira Peace, April Singleton, Chelsea Gbemudu, Marion Hamermesh

(54:20)

Act 2 - Passing on the Legacy

9. Legacy

Poetry - Bebe Coker

Speaker - Rachel DeLauder

Singer - Ralph Russell

(59:38)

10. Breaking Boundaries

Choreographer - Marion Hamermesh

Poet - Christian Wills

Music - Ralph Russell

Performers - Omi Ames Davis, Amber Rance, Marlene Jones, Ikira Peace, April Singleton, Chelsea Gbemudu, Gabrielle Shubert

(1:04:39)

11. Torch Bearer

Poetry - Glenis Redmond

Speaker - Michelle Peebles

(1:10:51)

12. Superwoman

Choreographers - Ikira Peace and Amber Rance

Music - Alicia Keys

Performers - April Singleton, Chelsea Gbemudu, Ikira Peace, Omi Ames Davis, Amber Rance

(1:12:12)

13. Three Etudes to Freedom

Choreographer - Rachel DeLauder

Music - Nina Simone

Performers - Chelsea Gbemudu, Ikira Peace, Amber Rance, Omi Ames Davis, April Singleton, Marlene Jones, Marion Hamermesh

(1:18:07)

14. Finale

Choreographer - Lynnette Young Overby with contributions from the performers

Composer and Spoken Word Artist - Christian Wills

Vocalist - Jordon Lloyd

Performers - April Singleton, Gabrielle Shubert, Rachel DeLauder, Omi Ames Davis, Marlene Jones, Chelsea Gbemudu, Ikira Peace, Marion Hamermesh, Amber Rance

(1:24:57)