Save the House Save History
Historic Preservation unearthed the story of #marycardwelldawson – the first lady of Black Opera.
If the Walls Could Talk (our musical) celebrates Mary’s fierce determination for fairness & equal treatment –
It made Mary a pioneer, a revolutionary.
Historical Musicals That Preserve Our Past Through Music.
… They’d Sing These Songs.
Songs for Mary is the story of Mary Dawson, of her life and times, in reflection of our own. Powerful, evocative, personal. Triumphant.
The 15-Song Soundtrack was created by Dawn Carroll and Jon Butcher.
Musicals about History: A Celebration of the Forgotten
Through Songs For Mary, we embrace the transformative power of musicals about history, which illuminate the lives of those often overlooked in traditional narratives. Centered on the extraordinary journey of Mary Cardwell Dawson, our project seeks to bring forth stories buried beneath the weight of more prominent figures. Musicals uniquely intertwine music, storytelling, and emotion, allowing audiences to forge a deeper connection with our shared past.
Honoring Influential Lives
The 15 songs on our soundtrack not only portray Mary’s personal struggles but also pay tribute to the many influential individuals who shaped her life. Together, they form a rich tapestry of the past that deserves recognition and respect. By sharing these stories about people forgotten in history, we aim to inspire a collective memory that resonates deeply with everyone, reinforcing the idea that history is shaped by those willing to share their voices.
Uncovering Inspirational Tales
As we navigate through the past, we uncover the inspirational tales of those who have been marginalized and forgotten, reminding us of their profound impact on our world. Each song serves as a powerful reminder that every individual’s story matters and contributes to the broader narrative of society.
Join the Musical Journey
In musicals about history, each note reverberates with themes of resilience, heritage, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Together, we can bring these vital stories to light, ensuring that the voices of the past are never silenced.
Here’s the Buzz…
Shining a broader, inclusive light on historically marginalized communities is essential for those of us committed to preserving and sharing a more accurate account of our nation’s history. Mary Cardwell Dawson’s contributions to this country’s cultural history are impressive in their own right and need to be added to the larger culture narrative. By preserving and amplifying her exceptional accomplishments and lived experiences as a black woman during a particular period in our history, Dawn Carroll’s comprehensive, timely and inspiring project would enable us to more deeply understand and appreciate a relatively unknown dimension of this unique community.
Boston designer Dawn Carroll wanted to aid the preservation effort. But as she learned more about the house once known as Mystery Manor, Mary Cardwell Dawson, the woman behind the National Negro Opera Company, also called out to her. Dawson was an unsung Black cultural hero whose name and work needed restoration, too. What started out for Carroll as a THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY fund-raising effort grew into a musical passion project, ‘Songs for Mary’
We were impressed by and enjoyed the reading very much. The actors who read the script were animated and brought the story to life and we learned a great deal about the background of Mystery Manor and the important figures who were part of its history. Previously we had no idea about the significance of this special house. After the reading, we looked up more about the history of the house and opera company, and what happened after Mary’s death. What an extra special surprise to have the real-life Michael in attendance.
The Queen Anne style home in Pittsburgh, known as the National Negro Opera Company and the home of founder Mary Dawson, is important for its cultural, architectural, and social embodiment of the arts in Pittsburgh. Preservation of this home connects us to a time in America when the musical arts were admired but not available to all citizens equally due to racial divides. Restoration of the building will not change the history of the past or of the place, but it will allow us to remember the past with clarity. Conserving the past is but a window opening to our future.
This house was never just wood, stone, and bricks. It was a lifeline, a sanctuary, and a cultural hub that held the voices of our ancestors. Artists like Dawn Carroll are helping me make sure these voices still speak. Dawn didn’t just write songs and a musical about saving Mystery Manor. She unlocked ghosts, memories, and movements that built America. ‘Songs for Mary’ isn’t just a soundtrack—it’s a reckoning.
New England Conservatory – Bringing Mary Home. Even Mary Cardwell Dawson’s New England Conservatory alma mater had long forgotten her until Carroll persevered last year, encouraging them to dig through their records until they found her file. Carroll then honored the school by donating a portrait of Mary
What a special and forgotten piece of history this play reveals, and a story that continues to reveal itself today. It was wonderful hearing actors breathe life into the play’s characters and watching them move the audience.
Latest News
The First Reading of If the Walls Could Talk
Timing was absolutely perfect…. celebrating the start of Black History Month with the first public reading of our play, IF THE WALLS COULD...
That Fabulous, Elusive Duesenberg Car
In this chapter of our larger story, I learned about Woogie Harris, his Duesenberg car, and how he helped opera icon Mary Cardwell Dawson, along with many others, achieve their dreams by opening the doors of his beautiful mansion.
Who’s Gonna Save the World?
Once I realized that Songs for Mary would be a theatrical show I knew we needed a song that inspired families to take action. “Who’s Gonna Save the World” became that...
Dawn Carroll Rediscovers the Story of Roberto Clemente Through Her Love of Mystery Manor
April 8th, Opening Day for Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. There is no doubt that truly spectacular individuals have walked this planet, achieved their seemingly...
New England Conservatory Honors Alumna Mary Cardwell Dawson with Portrait Unveiling
Dawson was a Pioneer in Classical Music who Founded the National Negro Opera Company and Fought Discrimination New England Conservatory (NEC) has unveiled a new...
There’s Something About Mary (Mary Cardwell Dawson)
By Larry Katz First, the house called out. The onetime headquarters of the National Negro Opera Company, the Queen Anne-style house in Pittsburgh desperately needed...
A message from the National Opera House
“I first had the pleasure of meeting Mary Cardwell Dawson on a historical marker that regally stood in front of 7101 Apple Street. After that introduction, my life would forever change. For 22 years, I’ve worked to tell the story and establish the legacy of Madame Mary Dawson, her National Negro Opera House and Mystery Manor, the mesmerizing home in Pittsburgh, PA, that’s desperate for restoration.
On July 5th, 2021 my life would change again when I received a random call from Designer Dawn Carroll. She was more excited than I was and wanted to film the restoration of this home. Dawn gave me many, many great ideas saying “Let’s do a design competition show with prestigious designers and have them reimagine all the spaces inside this gorgeous home – it can be a show-house,” she said. I was in!
I adored the idea, but then COVID happened and months went by without a word. I thought I’d never hear back from Dawn and it was just another excited person who realized the huge task in front of us.
Then, months later, an email arrived titled “Boston Dawn Calling.” Dawn told me the reason for her silence was she was busy, busy, busy writing and recording a soundtrack – 15 songs about all the people who frequented Mystery Manor called Songs for Mary. She figured some music would elevate awareness and that would help raise funds for this intricate restoration. She saw that the house was one gust of wind from blowing over, she knew that this history could not be lost so she and her writing partners wrote a song about each person who stayed in Mystery Manor. She got Grammy Nominated Jon Butcher to pull the entire album together and his beautiful writing is all over the album.
Imagine, a bunch of strangers all dedicated to saving this story, it was quite remarkable!
Now that the album is done, the show is being written by Dawn and she is already filming.
I am so excited to see the interest grow in unique ways, I know others will be inspired and will see this investment as an opportunity of a lifetime, an opportunity that saves history, educates, inspires the next generation of remarkable leaders.
Together we can save the woman, the house and the legacy.” – Jonnet Solomon
