Soul Value is an interdisciplinary, duet performance project created by April H. Brown and Jessica T. Pearson which brings to life the stories of New England Black women—Elleanor Eldridge, Elizabeth Freeman, and Margaret Kinnicutt—and the men of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment during and after the American Revolutionary War. Through a compelling blend of monologue, dance, ritual, and song, Soul Value illuminates the often-overlooked contributions of Black and Indigenous people in New England history, centering their advocacy, resilience, and determination to survive and thrive. The work invites audiences to engage with a more complete and inclusive understanding of the American story while creating meaningful connections between the past and the present.
Since its premiere at Rhode Island College in 2024, Soul Value has garnered recognition for its artistic excellence, historical relevance, and community impact. In 2025, the project was commissioned by Rhode Island District Court Judge Melissa DuBose for the 160th Anniversary of the 13th Amendment: The Undeniable History at Salve Regina University, affirming its value within civic, educational, and cultural spaces. Soul Value was commissioned to perform for the opening of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History in Newport, RI. The work has subsequently been invited to perform at Tiny Dances, produced by Motion State Arts, and Voices in Verse 2: Legacies—What We Carry, What We Leave at Trinity Repertory Company. Building on this momentum, Soul Value received funding from the RI250 Commission to support strategic performances and community engagement initiatives throughout 2026.
This conversation will illuminate the performance traditions that underpin Soul Value and bring audiences closer to the power of artists reflecting on and embodying the archive.
Buy Ticket
