Pure Confidence (a reading)

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In conjunction with the producers of Pace Setter, a feature-length documentary exploring the uncelebrated legacy of the Black jockey from the 19th century to the present, ILLUSION THEATER is presenting a reading of Mellon Foundation Artist-in-Residence, Carlyle Brown’s Pure Confidence.

Pure Confidence is a story of the high-stakes world of Civil War horse racing with the drama of slavery and Reconstruction. Both Simon Cato, a smart, cocky “colored” jockey, and his horse, Pure Confidence, are owned by Colonel Wiley Johnson. Cato uses his wits and his championship winnings to buy his and his wife’s freedom. But the Civil War changes everything, and the passage of time doesn’t bring Cato the success he expects in this surprisingly funny, daring and emotionally moving look at the complexity of race, humanity, love and dignity in the second half of the nineteenth century. With a vivid backdrop of fast horses, gritty racetracks and high-stakes betting, Pure Confidence is an extraordinary tale of human triumphs and failings that explores the true meaning of freedom.

*member Actors’ Equity Association

Click here to read more about Pace Setter.

See This if you like:

Horse Racing

Black History

Carlyle Brown

Illusion - 50 Years!

Bonnie and Michael were active during the transformative late '60s and early '70s, participating in social and political movements such as the Civil Rights Movement, anti-Vietnam War protests, Women’s Rights Movement, and Gay Rights. They witnessed revolutionary theater across the United States, France, England, and Germany. Inspired by this, they founded ILLUSION THEATER, aiming to create plays that bring to light illusions, myths, and realities, fostering personal and social change. Their work invites audiences to question long-held beliefs and imagine new realities.