artist statement

why this show? why now?

Today our nation is polarized and raw. Now, more than ever, we need someone to unite us. Over 80 years ago, a Black woman named Marian Anderson did just that. She defied racial prejudice to electrify the country with a live concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Her magnificent artistry bridged divided races, cultures, classes and political factions. 

As theater makers, we envision a world where stories of women and people of color are readily invited to take center stage. Anderson’s story is fresh and largely unknown to this generation. This show presents an incredible opportunity for a complex female lead to defy stereotypical representations of the Black experience. 

Marian rose from desperate circumstances to enrich, inspire and enlighten the world with music. She sang and spoke in multiple languages to remind us that humanity has one, unified voice. In this tumultuous time in history, we need heroes to help us imagine and create a more just, inclusive world. Marian Anderson is a role model who healed through music and exemplified love, equity and the eternal, unbreakable connection between all people.