Black Swan Blues

Black Swan Blues is a new blues-infused musical that explores white privilege and social injustice in New Orleans in 1963 when the winds of change were beginning to blow through the South. Inspired by the ballet, “Swan Lake” and set amid the world of voodoo, the musical tells the story of Shep Chandler, a rich, idealistic journalist who meets Ori Fontaine, a strong-willed blues singer, and how their love is challenged when secrets from their tangled pasts involving race, murder and the Ku Klux Klan are revealed. Ultimately, Shep must face the hidden bigotry ingrained in him in order to move forward in life and love.

• “Evening of Song – The Music of Black Swan Blues” (The Lambs, NYC, 2025)
Cast: Pablo Torres, Jerry Dixon, Jill Paice, Aurelia Williams, Mya Ison, Richard Baskin, Jr., Matt Dengler.
Music Director: John Bronston

• "Black Swan Blues - The Concept Album"- released on all world-wide music streaming platforms (2024)

• Reading, York Theatre Company's Developmental Reading Series (Pearl Studios, NYC, 2022).
Cast: Justin Sargent, Isabelle McCalla, Karen Mason, Aurelia Williams, Gregory Treco, Matt Dengler, Nick Cearley, Gabrielle Lee, Marlaina Powell, Angela Wildflower, Amber Ardolino, Bruce Sabath, Kwame Michael Remy, John Edwards, Amar Atkins, A.J. Freeman.
Directors: Stephanie Klemons, Rickey Tripp.
Music Director: Ben Covello

• Table Reading (NYC, 2021).
Cast: Eric William Morris, Debra Walton, Karen Mason, Jerry Dixon, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Soara-Joye Ross, Matt Dengler, John McGowen, Renea S. Brown, LaDonna Burns.

• Musical Theater Radio, Sampler Platter (internet radio) (2021).

• Music recorded - Eastside Sound (NYC, 2021).
Cast: Christian Hoff, Lilli Cooper, Aurelia Williams, Karen Mason, Jerry Dixon, Soara-Joye Ross, Kayla Davion, Carla R. Stewart, James Jackson, Jr., Kwame Michael Remy, Richard Baskin, Jr., Jillian Louis, Bruce Sabath, Celeste Rose, Jonathan Long.

• New Works Festival, Music Theatre of Connecticut (Norwalk, CT, 2017/2019).