SCENES AND SONGS FROM FANNIE LOU Opening Night Sold Out

A new musical about voting rights has proven to be popular among DC-area residents, selling out several days before its scheduled one-night-only performance.

"Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou" will be performed Tuesday, July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Anacostia Arts Center. The event, which marks the 50th anniversary year of the Voting Rights Act, includes a perspective-setting introduction prior to the performance and a talk-back session afterward. When the event sold out this Saturday, a few more seats were added to accommodate enthusiastic patrons. Those quickly sold out as well, according to composer/lyricist/producer Felicia Hunter.

"The reception in DC for 'Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou' has been fantastic," said Felicia. "People are excited about it, and they're very much looking forward seeing it."

Felicia attributes the local excitement about the musical to word-of-mouth support.

"At this point we don't have a marketing budget, so all of our 'advertising,' so to speak, has come from people who have seen the musical, or have heard about it, and are spreading the word," said Felicia.

Inspired by the life of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, "Scenes and Songs from Fannie Lou" consists of dialogue and music excerpts, in concert format, from the full-length original musical Fannie Lou. Previous performances include an Off-Broadway premiere of Fannie Lou in 2012 and a presentation of the "Scenes and Songs" version at Carnegie Hall last October. Felicia is hoping for a Broadway run in the not-too-distant future.

The Tuesday performance will feature primarily DC-area talent.

"The actors and singers are just wonderful," said Felicia. "The audience is going to be so impressed by them."

Among the featured players is Sisi Wright, who in the role of the Narrator guides the audience from one scene to the next.

"I'm excited to be a part of something that's new. I've never had that opportunity before," said Sisi. "It'll be exciting to watch where it ends up."

Other cast members are Iva Jean Ambush, Jacob Berger, Amanda Campbell, Niles Finklea, Emily Gilson, Ravenn McDowell, Yewande Odetoyinbo, Nicole Spence, Malcom Stokes, Mike Thomas, Annette Mooney Wasno and Zoia Wiseman.

Cindy Adkins serves as pianist, and Colin Dieck is the lighting designer.

For more information about the cast, the creative team, the production and its inspiration Fannie Lou Hamer, please visit the Fannie Lou Musical website at www.fannieloumusical.com.