Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer

Spencer was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Cal State LA. Theatre performance credits include the August Wilson African American Theatre in Pittsburgh, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre and Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, and Theatre Works in Silicon Valley. He has played for various movie sound tracks and jingles as well as The Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and Sesame Street. He has toured worldwide and recorded on multiple gold and platinum recordings for Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White, to mention a few ... including a White House Performance with Gladys Knight for PBS. spencerbeanmusic.com

Fresh off the critically acclaimed, sold-out run of Come from Away in Gander, Newfoundland, Maiesha is elated to be making her IRT debut! Earlier this year, she moved audiences in her Henry Award-winning portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple at Denver Theatre Center. In 2021, she starred alongside Sara Bareilles on Broadway in the smash hit musical Waitress as Becky. Other notable roles include Clyde's (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Portland Center Stage), Until the Flood (Merrimack Rep), and Mahalia (Dominion Entertainment; Suzi Bass Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical). maieshamcqueen.com / IG: maieshamcqueen

Dorian "Hurricane" Phelps is an Indianapolis musician who picked up a pair of sticks at the age of one and has been honing his craft ever since. Coming from a family of musicians (drummer Kenny Phelps and singer Valerie Phelps), he was exposed to many different genres. From starting in church to studying theory and jazz, he quickly adapted to covering all styles of music. He has shared the stage with Pharez Whitted, Opal Staples, Steve Davis, Lamar Campbell, Tad Robinson, Owl Music Group, and many more. Look for Dorian's first album release featuring many local favorites.

Morgan E. is a versatile creative professional rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Chicago's south side. Noted productions include Marie & Rosetta (Northlight Theatre) and Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre, /Goodman Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, City Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley). She most recently served as conductor and keyboardist for a highly successful run of Passing Strange at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. Morgan E. holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University and a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. linktr.ee/morganemusicnow

PsyWrn Simone, a multi-hyphenate artist from Indianapolis, is elated to be working on her first IRT production! Recognized as a performer on the rise, she has graced many stages and projects around Indy and beyond, including Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Cardinal Stage (now Constellation Stage and Screen), and Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre; and is a member of AEA. Additionally, she serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis. "Shout-out to my supportive 'village' of love—including my parents, brothers, mentors, chosen family, and fiancé, Antonio. Eternal gratitude to the Creator—the Bestower and Perfector of talents!" @psywrn.simone

Cheryl L. West's plays include Shout Sister Shout, The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 (produced by the IRT in 2019), Last Stop on Market Street, Akeelah and the Bee, Pullman Porter Blues, Mwindo, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Birdie Blue, Play On!, Holiday Heart, Jar the Floor, and Before It Hits Home. She is the Webby-nominated writer of the original web series Diary of a Single Mom. She has received the Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award, the American Alliance for Theatre & Education Distinguished Play Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the AUDELCO Award, and the Helen Hayes Charles McArthur Award.

Henry is thrilled to return to IRT where he last directed James Still's Miranda. He is the Resident Artistic Associate at Goodman Theatre, where he most recently directed American Mariachi and Fannie. As director of Goodman's Latino Theatre Festival, he fostered the international production of Pedro Paramo between Goodman and Teatro Buendia of Cuba. Other directing includes Signature Theatre in NYC, Yale Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Rep, and Dallas Theater Center. Henry is professor and chair at Northwestern University, serves on the board of the Illinois Arts Council, and is the co-founder of Teatro Vista.

Collette is based in Chicago and is thrilled to debut at IRT. Recent work includes Fannie (Goodman and Seattle Rep), Little Women (Seattle Rep and Milwaukee Rep), The Lehman Trilogy (Timeline Theatre, where she is an artist associate), Dennis Watkins's The Magic Parlour (in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterinoís), and Gypsy (Marriott Theatre, where next she designs The Music Man and Beehive). Collette is the recipient of several Jeff Awards and is an Associate Professor of Design at the School of Theatre and Music at University of Illinois at Chicago. "Many thanks for endless support from my family."

Ari designed costumes for the IRT's production of Pipeline. Off-Broadway: Covenant (Roundabout Theatre), Nova (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Confederates (Signature Theatre Company, Lortel nomination), School for Wives (Molière in the Park), Little Girl Blue (LDK Productions). Regional: Rocky Horror Show (Dallas Theatre Center), Rent (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), L'Amant Anonyme (Atlanta Opera and Minnesota Opera), A Wonderful World (Miami New Drama, Broadway World winner). Film: Incomplete (20th Century Digital and Hulu, NAACP Image Award Nominee), Disney Discovers (Disney Television, ABC), Cupids (Tribeca Film Festival and P&G), Nigerian Prince (AT&T, Netflix Executively, produced by Spike Lee).

Jason is a Chicago-based lighting designer making his IRT debut with this production. Off-Broadway: You Are Here: An Evening with Solea Pfeiffer (Audible Theatre/Minetta Lane Theatre). Regional: Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Geva Theatre Center, Goodman Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Old Globe, among others. Awards: one Joseph Jefferson, two Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge, Michael Maggio Emerging Designer. Jason is represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE, and the Gersh Agency. jasondlynch.com, @jasonlynch.design

Victoria has composed music and designed sound for The Great Gatsby, The 39 Steps, and The Heavens Are Hung in Black at the IRT. Off-Broadway: Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors, A Christmas Carol, Two Point Oh, Arnie the Doughnut, Cassie's Chimera, The Bluest Eye, and Ophelia. Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Syracuse Stage, Center Stage Baltimore, Chautauqua Theatre Company, American Players Theatre, and many others. She has received seven Joseph Jefferson Awards, a SALT Award, and two After Dark Awards. victoria-sound-design.com

At the IRT, Mike has designed projections for Sense and Sensibility, The Book Club Play, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Mountaintop. Based in Chicago, his credits include the Goodman, Steppenwolf, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Second City, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, Writers' Theatre, the Court Theatre, and many more. Off-Broadway credits include MCC Theater, p73, EnGarde Arts, and the York Theatre. Regional credits include the Alliance Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, South Coast Rep, Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, and more. Mike is an artistic associate with TimeLine Theatre and a member of United Scenic Artists local 829.