A new opera honoring the voting rights freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer and the enduring power of a voice that refused to be silenced.

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South Shore Opera Company of Chicago presents the long-awaited Chicago premiere of Fannie Lou, I’m Sick and Tired at the historic Paul Robeson Theater at the South Shore Cultural Center.

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​This powerful multimedia production brings the extraordinary life, courage, and voice of civil rights and voting rights freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer to the stage in a singular, one-night-only performance.

 

A sharecropper born in poverty who became one of the most formidable voices of the American Civil Rights Movement, Fannie Lou Hamer helped register Black voters in Mississippi, co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and became a nationally recognized advocate for voting rights and political representation. Her insistence on being heard — and her refusal to surrender in the face of intimidation and violence — made her a defining figure in the struggle for American democracy.

 

The production stars acclaimed mezzo-soprano Qiana McNary as Fannie Lou Hamer, with a stellar ensemble cast featuring Warnell Berry as Pap, Joelle Lamarre as Ella, and Julian Otis as Robert Moses of the SNCC.

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SSOCC Artistic Director Maestro Leslie B. Dunner leads a 16-piece chamber orchestra in this full multimedia production.

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Music by Richard Thompson
Libretto by Cassandra Medley

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Qiana McNary — Fannie Lou Hamer
Warnell Berry — Pap, Fannie’s husband
Joelle Lamarre — Ella, Fannie’s mother
Julian Otis — Robert Moses, SNCC

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Conductor: Maestro Leslie B. Dunner
Director: Amy Hutchison

Costumes: Janice Pytel
Projections: Joseph Bondmass
Movement Direction: Faith Balderrama

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Audience Advisory:

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Reflecting the harsh realities of the world in which Fannie Lou Hamer lived and fought for the right to vote, Fannie Lou, I’m Sick and Tired contains historical racist language, racial slurs, and stylized depictions of violence.

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These elements are presented in their historical context and are not an endorsement of the actions portrayed.

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We invite you to experience her powerful story with care, reflection, and an open heart. Fannie Lou Hamer’s extraordinary courage, conviction, and perseverance in the face of injustice remain an insipiration to us all.