She Who Dared | |
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Premiere | June 3, 2025 Studebaker Theater, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
She Who Dared is an American opera written and composed by Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton. The opera follows seven women in the U.S. civil rights movement: Aurelia Browder, Claudette Colvin, Susie McDonald, Rosa Parks, Jeanetta Reese, Jo Ann Robinson, and Mary Louise Smith. It was commissioned by American Lyric Theater [1] [2] and premiered on June 3, 2025 at the Chicago Opera Theater, in the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois. [3] [1]
The work is the duo's first full length opera, [4] and is thought to be the first professionally-produced opera written by two Black women. [3] It combines classical music with "soul, gospel and protest music". [3] [5] The work has an all-Black cast. [6]
Mouton was inspired to write the opera after learning she was related to Aurelia Browder. [3] [4] The creative duo began working on the piece in 2022. [5] Chicago Opera Theater received an NEA grant in the amount of $30,000 for the world premiere production. [4] [7]
Source [6]
Role | 2025 premiere |
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Aurelia Browder | Chrystal E. Willams |
Claudette Colvin | Jasmine Habersham |
Susie McDonald | Leah Dexter |
Rosa Parks | Jacqueline Echols |
Jeanetta Reese | Cierra Byrd |
Jo Ann Robinson | Deborah Nansteel |
Mary Louise Smith | Lindsey Reynolds |