"Enlightening and Engaging... 3.5 out of 4 stars".
-Chicago Sun Times
"Lovingly Fact-checks civil rights history"
-Chicago Tribune
The Story of the Women of the
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Libretto by Deborah DEEP Mouton
Composed by Jasmine Arielle Barnes
World Premiere June 3, 6, & 8, 2025
Commissioned by American Lyric Theater
Produced by Chicago Opera Theater
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS?
Everyone has heard of Rosa Parks, but she wasn’t the first to refuse to move. She Who Dared recenters the spotlight on the courageous women who helped desegregate the Montgomery bus system in the 1950s. These Civil Rights pioneers pay homage to the quiet struggle for justice that has often gone unknown – further amplifying the effects of the historic case of Browder V Gayle. While often riotous and sometimes hilarious, these women demonstrate how everyday people have the power to challenge the systems around them and affect tangible change – if only they dare.
The She Who Dared world premiere feature sopranos Jasmine Habersham, Jacqueline Echols, Lindsey Reynolds, and mezzo sopranos Chrystal E. Williams, Jazmine Olwalia, Leah Dexter, and Cierra Byrd. Conducted by Michael Ellis Ingram and directed by Timothy Douglas. Scenic design by Junghyun Georgia Lee. Costumes by Yvonne L. Miranda. Lighting Design by Jason Lynch
