One year after nearly 2,000 audience members flocked to nine Chicago Parks to experience the power of American civil rights freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer, Goodman Theatre produces Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) by Cheryl L. West, directed by Goodman Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez. This immersive and electric call-to-action, replete with music and movement, is West’s original play from which she adapted the abridged version—Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It!, which toured Chicago parks in September/October 2020. The “utterly unstoppable” (Chicago Tribune) Chicago favorite E. Faye Butler expands her performance as the titular character, hailed in theaters across the country as “magnetic” (Washington Post), “powerhouse” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune), “moving and memorable” (Oregon’s Times-Standard). Three musicians—Deonté Brantley, Morgan E. and Felton Offard (during performances between October 15-31) and Michael Ross (during performances between November 3-14)—join Butler on stage to breathe new life into more than 10 iconic spirituals, including “We Shall Not Be Moved,” “I’m on My Way to Freedom” and “I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round.”
Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer) appears October 15-November 14 (opening night is Monday, October 25 at 7pm); tickets (starting at $15) are now on sale at GoodmanTheatre.org/Fannie or by calling 312.443.3800. This Goodman co-commission with Seattle Repertory Theatre previously appeared as part of the 2019 New Stages Festival. The Goodman is grateful for the support of PNC, Arts in Community Sponsor; Abbott Fund, Corporate Sponsor Partner; and Allstate, Youth Arts Sponsor.
Health and safety note: Proof of full vaccination with an FDA-authorized vaccine is required for all guests 12+ and a recent negative test must be presented for children under 12. Patrons must wear face coverings at all times while inside Goodman Theatre. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Protocols for more information.
“Fannie Lou Hamer was one of the most inspirational and powerful women of the civil rights movement—yet she remains very much an unsung hero,” said playwright Cheryl L. West. “My own family is from Mississippi, so I was especially motivated to tell the story of a Mississippian woman in her own vernacular. Fannie Lou was all about empowering her neighbors and helping them along the way. I hope Goodman audiences are uplifted and inspired to action by watching her story.”
“As an immigrant to this country who was raised to be fiercely patriotic, I was drawn to Fannie’s unwavering love for America, even as she stood bravely against intolerance and injustice,” said director Henry Godinez. “As depicted in Cheryl L. West’s beautiful play, Fannie's drive to seek unity and justice and her deeply rooted belief that we are one nation despite our differences, in fact strengthened by our diversity, is an inspiration to me.”
Fannie Lou Hamer, who would become known for her political activism and continuous efforts for civil rights, was 44 years old before she discovered that she had the right to vote. It took her three attempts to pass Mississippi’s voter registration test, which was designed to disenfranchise people of color and those with few educational opportunities. Ms. Hamer spent the rest of her life as a fierce advocate of civil and voting rights, surviving extreme violence to help found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the National Women’s Political Caucus. For more information, explore this timeline of Fannie Lou Hamer’s life.
Fannie
The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer
- By Cheryl L. West
- Directed by Henry Godinez
- A Co-Commission between Goodman Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre
Cast
- Fannie Lou Hamer…………..E. Faye Butler
- Fannie Lou Hamer Understudy….Melody A. Betts
Musicians
- Drumset/Percussion/Vocals….Deonté Brantley
- Piano/Organ/Auxiliary Keyboards/Vocals…..Morgan E.
- Acoustic/Guitar/Electric Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals (during performances between October 15-31)…..Felton Offard
- Acoustic Guitar/Electric Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals (during performances between November 3-14)…..Michael Ross
- Piano/Organ/Auxiliary Keyboards/Vocals Alternate…..Dominique Johnson
- Drumset/Percussion/Vocals Alternate…..Linard Stroud
The creative team includes Colette Pollard (Set Design), Michael Alan Stein (Costume Design), Jason Lynch (Lighting Design), Victoria Deiorio (Sound Design), Rasean Davonte Johnson (Projection Design) and Mr. Bernard (Wig Design). Music Direction and Arrangements are by Felton Offard, dramaturgy is by Christine Sumption and casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Kaitlin Kitzmiller is the Production Stage Manager.
ACCESSIBILITY AT GOODMAN THEATRE
Touch Tour: Saturday, November 7 at 12:30pm – Touch tours for the 2012/2022 season will not have access to the stage due to current health and safety protocols, but will feature alternate pre-show sensory introductions.
Audio-Described Performance: Saturday, November 7 at 2pm – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset.
ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, November 13 at 2pm – Professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.
Open-Captioned Performance: Sunday, November 14 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.
Visit Goodman theatre.org/Access for more information about Goodman Theatre’s accessibility efforts.
ABOUT THE GOODMAN
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement.
Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” It’s longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.
Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home to these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.
As a cultural and community organization invested in quality, diversity and community, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Goodman Theatre’s Action Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Access (IDEAA) was born out of the belief that progress means action, which includes building on the decades-long commitment to using art, assets and resources to contribute to a more just, equitable and anti-racist society.
Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.
Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Rebecca Gilman, Dael Orlandersmith, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Jeff Hesse is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Fran Del Boca is Women’s Board President and Megan McCarthy Hayes is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.