Synopsis:

She Rocks is a five woman one-act musical folktale that reclaims the erased legacy of Black women as the true originators of rock ‘n’ roll. Told through a blend of Afrofuturism, mythic storytelling, and electrifying musical performance, the play follows Daughter, a young spirit of sound caught between silence and purpose.

As she wanders through a realm of memory and music, she encounters 3 mythic guides known as the Mystics—Sister Fire, Sonic Siren, Lady Delta, led by the Sacred Mother Sister Rosetta Tharpe—each representing a Black musical lineage: blues, folk, rock, funk, r&b and gospel. These fierce foremothers share their stories and songs, conjuring the spirits of unsung pioneers like Elizabeth Cotten, Memphis Minnie, Odetta, Joan Armatrading, Betty Davis, and many more.

Daughter is haunted by the Shadow, a shapeshifting force of erasure, doubt, and historical theft. Through a rite of passage that includes searing monologues, explosive music, and ritualistic audience interaction, Daughter Dissonance must choose whether to inherit the sound—or remain forgotten. A celebration of Rock music told through the lens of the Black women innovators who created it.

***THIS PLAY IS CURRENTLY ONE OF EIGHT FINALISTS IN DEFINITION THEATRE’S AMPLIFY SERIES IN JULY FOR A 2-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.***

A Note From The Writer:

I've always been drawn to the intersection of blackness and the otherworldliness of magic and Afro futuristic lenses. I see being Black as expansive; Whether watching the story of Marie Laveau on American Horror Story, or watching the Black experience on the series of Lovecraft County, as time and space rendered our experiences a universal story of defiance and overcoming; or me watching with casual reverence the depiction of Lieutenant Uhuru on Star Trek. In other words, Black girl magic and mysticism and futurism just makes sense to me. Not in a dark or spacey or whitchy way, but rather the vast limitlessness and incomprehensible way that black women have overcome every obstacle. The audacity to transcend at all. That is what I consider celestial magic indeed.

I have known for years how mystical we have always been. That knowing has been on one hand instinctual, and on the other factual. Somehow, in spite of negative media depictions and stereotypes, I see clearly how the world is in awe of who we are and what we do. I say this not in a way of communicating superiority. I believe that all people carry some type of magic and wonder in how they push through life. It's a very human quality. But since I am Black and female, I most connect with the lived experiences of those who have travelled the path of their lives in a black body, that is wholly female.

Playing off of the theme of sister Rosetta are being the Mother of Rock'n'Roll, I wonder what would happen if this conjure woman could guide us through the maze of history, to celebrate the women of Folk, Blues, Rock'n'roll, and Rock. Highlighting the women she was at once inspired by, and who she inspired. I knew for certain that she was thoroughly qualified, as she was the first individual on earth to play Rock'n'Roll. Not to take anything away from the men of this sound. I just thought it necessary to give proper credit to those who gave birth to it all.

My wish for your journey through this musical revue, is to relish in the strength and innovativeness of these women. Perhaps they can inspire you, as they continue to inspire me. Please enjoy She Rocks! The Fierce and Fearless Women Who Created Rock'N'Roll