At the time of the pandemic, when we can’t enjoy theater, Curio Theatre Company is working on A Symphony for Saint-Georges – a multi-disciplinary, ambulatory installation designed to encourage social distancing.

The installation will include sculpture, music, dance, fencing, projections, and spoken word that will tell the story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges – a Black fencing expert, virtuoso violinist, and accomplished composer whose life is left out of history books.

The project is supported by The Spotlight Fund, created in honor of Curio’s longtime friend and supporter, West Philadelphia resident Mary Allegra, who passed away last year. The fund continues her legacy by funding projects and initiatives that serve the community but are not otherwise covered by the theatre’s annual operating budget. 

A Symphony for Saint-Georges is this year’s Spotlight Production. Twelve artists are working on this installation: Jermaine Ollivierre (visual artist), Ebony Pullum (actor), Keyonna Butler (costume designer), Dalton Whiting (lighting designer), Randall Goosby (violinist), Karen Smith (percussionist and composer), Paul Kuhn (set designer, Rich Bradford (poet and playwright), Damien Figueras (sound designer), Adja Samandoulgou (choreographer and translator), Ian Rose (fight choreographer) and Dwayne Alistair Thomas (cinematographer).

A Symphony for Saint-Georges will be a Pay-What-You-Can offering to the community.

For more information about this project and to contribute to the Spotlight Fund, please go here. By the way, with every $50 donation donors will receive Mary Allegra‘s cookbook!