Phelena Jean

Phelena will produce a theatre adaptation of famed jazz musician, Nina Simon’s song Four Women, in an effort to spark dialog about the tradition, myth, history, image, and contemporary presence of women descended from African slaves. Using an aesthetic medium that combines theatre, music, dance, and spoken word, the adaptation will explore how black women have historically negotiated spirituality, social identity, militant resistance, and sexuality under the pervasive forces of oppression. By theatrically exploring black female phenomena relative to race, class, and gender, the project will encourage intergenerational discourse about the significance and future of the black feminist movement.