, Let's Celebrate Women's History Month

LIZ MEGILL

PROJECT MANAGER

Liz Megill has been leading the rebuild of The Pearl since September 2024, guiding the vision, development, and execution of this transformational community project.

With a professional background rooted in hospitality and brand development, Liz has helped grow destination-driven spaces, including Terrain under the URBN umbrella, The Inn at Grace Winery, and, most recently, her own company, Allaire Event Rentals & Design, which she successfully built and sold.

Her career has centered on creating environments where people gather, celebrate, and feel connected. As a fellow artist and graduate with a fine arts degree, Liz believes deeply in the power of creative expression. She understands that art is not simply entertainment. It is essential.

For Liz, The Pearl is more than a building. It is an opportunity to invest back into the community that raised her and to create a space where the transformative power of performance brings people together for generations to come.

Connect with Liz at Lmegill@thepearloxford.org

PACHY BANKS-CABRAL

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

My name is 'Pachy'…just short for Patricia, and I am the brand-new Director of Development for The Pearl, Theater on 3rd.

It's a privilege to join the Oxford community through this work, and honestly, it feels like a dream come true.

This role brings together my 15+ years of experience in fundraising and public relations with my background in performing and visual arts, both on stage and behind the curtain. I've studied fundraising, communications, graphic design, interior design, classical ballet, acting, and musical theater. This moment feels full circle, where all my worlds and experiences are finally coming together with a special energy I can't wait to share with Oxford.

Before life brought me here, I led development efforts at Main Line Art Center in Haverford, Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, and, most recently, the Chester County History Center in West Chester.

My most precious accomplishment is my family. They are my daily reminder of why I do this work: to leave this world a little more beautiful, a little more connected, a little better.

Connect with Pachy at

Pbanks@thepearloxford.org

With the growth of our team, we now have an office in the heart of downtown at 64 South 3rd Street, Oxford, PA 19363.

We welcome the opportunity to meet with members of our community. If you would like to connect, please reach out and schedule an appointment. We are happy to sit down and share what is ahead.

We present our logo!

This visual identity marks an important milestone as we step confidently into our next chapter. Alongside the logo reveal, a brand-new website will launch in the coming weeks.

We are proud to be working with fellow Southern Chester County Chamber member First Ascent to shape our brand identity and digital presence.

This is a year of momentum, clarity, and building something lasting together. Be sure to follow along.

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This Women's History Month, The Pearl Theatre honors Laura Keene. A trailblazing woman who built her own theatre when the world said women couldn't!

In 1856, at age 30, Laura Keene opened Laura Keene's Theatre in New York City, becoming the first powerful female theatre manager in America^.¹ She didn't just manage - she acted, directed, wrote plays, designed sets, handled publicity, and ran the business.^² Her production of Our American Cousin ran for a record-breaking five months straight, something unheard of in that era!^³

Abandoned by her husband with two young daughters and no money, Keene reinvented herself, changed her name, and became one of the most successful theatrical producers of her time.^⁴ Her company included theatre legends like Joseph Jefferson and Dion Boucicault.^⁵

She later managed Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Theatre (1869-1870), bringing her vision to Pennsylvania audiences.^⁶

Laura Keene proved that women could build theatres, run companies, and create art that changed American culture. Her legacy lives on in every woman who dares to lead in the theatre world.

References: 1. 'Laura Keene.' Britannica, October 31, 2025. 2. 'Keene, Laura (c. 1826–1873).' Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. 3. 'Laura Keene.' History of American Women, April 17, 2014. 4. 'Laura Keene.' Wikipedia, January 14, 2026. 5. 'Keene, Laura.' The Vault at Pfaff's. 6. 'Laura Keene.' Britannica, October 31, 2025 (Re: Chestnut Street Theatre management)

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about The Pearl, Theatre on 3rd project, please reach out to:

Liz Megill, Project Manager at lmegill@thepearloxford.org or 484.222.8742, or

Pachy Banks-Cabral, Director of Development at pbanks@thepearloxford.org or 484.222.8732