HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
PIGFOOT MARY'S HARLEM RENAISSANCE
Written by Daniel Carlton
Produced by First Woman
From New York, New York
Pigfoot Mary, secretly wealthy from her popular food stand, dreams of California’s skies and awaits news on a property sale that could mark her departure from Harlem. But leaving isn’t easy— her world includes Hot Fingers the Piano Player, The Garveyite, Zora Neale Hurston, and the famous Langston Hughes. Is her legacy in the food and friendships she’s built or in following a new dream?
Inspired by Lillian Harris Dean, one of Harlem's most successful early entrepreneurs in the 1920s, this lively two actor play bursts with jazz, vibrant characters, and dances of the Harlem Renaissance. We get a taste of literature and history references throughout, and audiences will connect the past to today in a fun, poignant, and educational way.
Daniel Carlton originally wrote and performed Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye To The Harlem Renaissance for general adult and high school audiences in 2011. This new version of the play is being developed to reach a broader range of young audiences (including elementary grades) and is supported by the TYA Tour Development Collective with contributions from Midwest Trust Center, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, and Walton Arts Center. It will have a developmental workshop performance in September 2025 and will premiere before its inaugural national tour in winter 2027.
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Langston Hughes
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Language Arts: Creative Writing, Poetry, Verse, Plays
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History: The Great Migration, American History African American Studies, Marcus Garvey, Women's entrepreneurship, Harlem Renaissance, Food and Culture, Precursor to food trucks, Real Estate/Economics
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Emotional/Social Development: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self-Management, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making; Discrimination; Honesty; Respect; Challenging Public Perception; Personal Politics; Empowerment; Empathy; Agency
Featured In The New York Times Overlooked Obituaries Series :
Overlooked No More: Lillian Harris Dean, Culinary Entrepreneur Known as ‘Pig Foot Mary’ - The New York Times
Outreach and Workshops
Student, Educator and Community Workshops may be available to accompany the performance. Options include:
Cookin’ Up Family Stories: In this playful storytelling workshop, kids will whip up a recipe inspired by their families, seasoned with their imagination - just like it came from Grandma’s kitchen! Then, channeling the spirit of the legendary Pig Foot Mary, they’ll pitch their dish with bold voices and big personalities. A mix of writing, performing, and make-believe, this workshop celebrates family, culture, and creativity - served with a side of fun!
Bring Your Own Blues: Feeling the “Homework Blues”? Or maybe the “Too-Much-Broccoli Blues”? In this music-and-theater workshop, kids will dive into the rhythm and structure of the blues—no singing required! After exploring the classic 12-bar blues form and learning how it tells real stories in creative ways, students will write their own silly, sweet, or serious blues about everyday life. Then, they’ll bring them to life by creating mini scenes with improvisation, teamwork, and flair. It’s all about expressing your true self—one bar at a time!
Recipes with Roots: In this interactive family workshop, kids and grown-ups come together to explore the rich history behind the meals that make us feel at home. Each child will find an elder in the room—parent, grandparent, or community member—and ask about a meaningful family or cultural dish. Together, we’ll uncover the stories, traditions, and memories stirred into each bite. Then, through group sharing and creative reflection, participants will hear how the same dish can hold many different meanings. A celebration of food, family, and connection across generations!
The Great Family Migration: Where did your family come from—and what was the journey like? In this workshop, we’ll explore stories of migration, movement, and home through your family’s eyes. You’ll think about a time your family moved—from one neighborhood, city, or country to another—and bring that story to life through writing, poetry, storytelling, and performance. Whether your family came by plane, train, or imagination, this is a chance to honor where we come from and how we got here—together.
Sensory Friendly Performances
This production is available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.
Minimum Technical Requirements
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Load in: 4 hours (with prehang)
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Loud out: 1 hour
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Crew needs: Minimum 3 crew members - A1, L1, & V1
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Minimum Stage Size: 18' W X 12' D X 10' H, with 4' wing space on both sides.
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Lights: ETC showfile and vectorworks plot to be sent with tech rider.
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Sound: Stereo playback from show Mac, two lapel microphones, venue PA system & stage monitors
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Projection: Projection screen or cyc of at least 16' W X 9' H. Positioned at least 12' deep on stage (no deeper than 18 ft.) Projector of at least 10,000 lumens focus at screen or cyc. (Rear projection preferred but not mandatory.)
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In houses over 600 seats, sound support (3 wireless mics and transmitters) may be required
Artistic Team
Daniel Carlton, director & playwright
Leo Lei, projections designer
Nambi E. Kelly, producer
Cast: TBA
There will be 2 performers and 1 technician on the road.
Acclaim for Past Work from playwright Daniel Carlton
PIG FOOT MARY SAYS GOODBYE TO THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
Daniel Carlton originally created and performed "Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye To The Harlem Renaissance " for general adult and high school audiences in 2011. The new version of the play "Pigfoot Mary 's Harlem Renaissance " is being developed to reach a broader range of young audience.
“I really enjoyed this play because it was educational as well as entertaining. It struck me how difficult it must’ve been to write it because it had a rhyme scheme and a meter. Both of the actors sang well and with emotion which added a feeling of reality to the play. The play was educational because it taught me about Marcus Garvey who fought for civil rights and Langston Hughes who was famous for his poetry. This play taught about the struggles of being black in a time of racism” - 9th grade student
“ I really enjoyed the play because it taught me a lot about the suffering of African Americans during the early 1900’s and the cultures that were brought upon the Harlem Renaissance. Many important African Americans that were introduced helped form African American culture. These great people were Langston Hughes, Marcus Garvey, Madam CJ Walker that helped push forward equal rights.” - 9th grade student
“I loved the play because it enlightened me to an older culture with different perspectives. I enjoyed the interaction and the constant rhyme. I learned how to dance and about Marcus Garvey and his Black Starline.” - 12th grade student
Acclaim for Past Work from First Woman
HERO: THE BOY FROM TROY
"Nambi E. Kelley writes from the heart. She writes from the soul. She writes for us. The students were engaged, enriched and most importantly, they were seen. What a beautiful show for children to learn about the legacy of John Lewis in a way that is fun, informative and inspiring.” - Lauren Wells-Mann, Arts in Education Director, The Center for Performing Arts at Governor State University in University Park, IL.
“I was giving a tour of City to a group of Latinx kids who are our community partners and I asked if they ever saw a play before and a few raised their hand and said “I saw a play about John Lewis!!!” 💙💙💙 then one went on a monologue about separate but unequal. He was 6 years old. Your show is touching the masses!” - Monteze Freeland, Co Artistic Director City Theatre, Pittsburgh
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM
"This was perfect for my students. It was engaging as well as historical." -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
"Good amount of history interwoven into an entertaining, up-to-date format that my fifth grade students could relate to." -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
"...seeing it through a young boy's eyes helped the students to understand and put themselves in his position." -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
"I hope this experience will give my students permission to express themselves and address their feelings and emotions." -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
"I think it's very important to get children talking and learning about racism and what it entails, what it looked like in history and what it still looks like today. If it's something they hear at home or with relatives, we can empower them to speak their minds and possibly help to educate their families. They are also the future and hopefully they can continue to fight against racism and help it to banish it forever!!" -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
"I was a bit nervous about tackling such a controversial topic (BLM) in my school. But having the support of EFA allowed us to have thoughtful lessons and discussions on this topic. Normally I don't hear much from families on the AE lessons but I wanted to pass along this message I received from one of my families regarding Jabari Dreams of Freedom. "Whoever came up with this did an amazing job - {my child} has been talking a lot about the aesthetic Ed and is excited for the trip. I believe more (and more accurate) education is key to ending systemic racism and this is a definite step in the right direction for our kids." -5th Grade Teacher from Kalamazoo, MI
Company Background
Past North American Tours include: JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM
About First Woman, LLC:
First Woman is a full service production company that develops and produces projects for television, film, stage, and work for young audiences. Named for the East African creation story from which her first name comes, founder Nambi E. Kelley is an award-winning playwright, actress, and screenwriter. Most recently, First Woman completed the inaugural tour of Hero: The Boy From Troy in spring 2025 and will have another national tour of Hero coming up in spring 2026. They completed a second national tour of Jabari Dreams of Freedom after a successful inaugural tour culminated in New York on 42nd Street at the New Victory. First Woman’s inaugural production was the digital incarnate of Jabari which has been shown across the world in multiple film festivals garnering tremendous accolades and awards.
Learn more on their website here.
About Daniel Carlton:
Daniel Carlton is a celebrated Harlem, NY based Director, Actor, Storyteller, Playwright, Poet,Lyricist , and Teaching Artist. An award-winning talent, Carlton's diverse work has graced stages in New York, across the nation, and internationally. Also known for his unique flair for bringing performances to unconventional spaces, Carlton has shared his storytelling artistry in schools, jails, homeless shelters, museums, parks and libraries. Recent TYA credits include: Jabari Dreams Of Freedom and Hero The Boy From Troy (First Woman Productions, Director), Freedom Flight and Keep Marching (Mad River Theater Works, Director, Playwright, Lyricist), Freedom Riders (Mad River Theater Works, Director), and Finding North (RainART Productions, Actor, Collaborator with David Gonzalez). Other credits include March On (Blackberry Productions at Apollo Theater, National Black Theater Festival, Playwright, Director), Pigfoot Mary Says Goodbye to The Harlem Renaissance (Playwright), A Whistle In Mississippi (Co-Playwright with Michael Green), Memories Of Self( Playwright) Hidden Inside (co-written with Nambi E Kelley, Keen Teens, Concord Publications), This Ability (Director, Co-Written with Nambi E Kelley, Chicago Children’s Theater), and So Journey to The Truth (Co-Written with Nambi E Kelley, Syracuse Stage/Regional Tour). JazzReach ( Narrator).
For more information, please visit Daniel's website: www.danielcarlton.com
Past Productions
New Victory LabWorks, Christine Jean