Music holds so much power. Nearly everyone has a visceral reaction upon hearing a soft lullaby from childhood or the pop ballad that underscored that first kiss or a solemn hymn at a relative's funeral. Music sustains us, enriches us, gives us permission to feel, and in Black Pearl Sings!, music brings unlikely friends together.

It's 1935. A wealthy white woman (Shanara Gabrielle) is searching for acceptance from male-dominated academia. She visits a Texas prison to find forgotten tunes sung by the inmates. A poor black prisoner named Pearl (jazz vocalist and St. Louis treasure Denise Thimes, in a glorious return to the Black Rep stage) is searching for her freedom and her daughter. Their love of music binds them together and allows them to discover that, despite differences in race, background and education, they are more similar than they would have ever imagined. Director Andrea Frye (last seen in a beautiful portrayal of Mama Nadi in the Black Rep's Ruined) obviously loves these two characters, and her love is infectious. You ache for them to find what they're searching for.

Black Pearl Sings! runs through May 15^th at the Grandel Theatre. For ticket information, visit the St. Louis Black Rep's website or Facebook page.

What indelible memories are tied to music in your life? Share your story by clicking on "Comments," below.