Raising Voices at The Hut

Raising Voices is the first of what we hope will be an annual fundraising event for Women's Theatre Collective (including Valkyrie Theatre Company).  Part of the funds from this event will go to Native Sisters Circle.  Native Sisters Circle is the leading Youth Organization in the greater Sacramento area - inspiring youth to embrace their true identity while unleashing their inner potential through culture.  Our kick-off Raising Voices event features the music of Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate and is produced in partnership with Light Opera Theater of Sacramento. 

Join us for an evening of music under the stars and light refreshments!  The event features two opera songs by Tate.  The songs, to be performed by local opera performer Paige Kelly, are based on two contemporary indigenous women's narratives.  The first, Hozhó (ho-zsho), is composed for Sophina Calderon and is a musical reflection of her account of being a family doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic, on the Navajo reservation. It is based upon keywords from her poem, Navajo Nation Strong and contains reflections of traditional Navajo songs. This work is dedicated to Sophina and her Navajo community.  The second song is Ithánali (I Know). It's about a Chickasaw woman astronaut who is designated to be the first human to set foot on Mars. In her excitement, fear, and wonderment, she is also aware of the irony of her action - colonizing Mars - and how it compares/contrasts to the historic colonization of her tribe. This song is the first of a song cycle, expressing many aspects of being a modern American Indian and is sung in English and Chickasaw.

The evening will also include blues & jazz numbers performed by local chanteuse Denise Anya and operatic classics by Natasha Collinski, one of the singers from Sacramento Opera Theatre.  

We will be outdoors on the grass so bring your favorite chair, blanket, pillows, whatever you prefer.  When you buy a ticket you are helping us achieve our mission of empowering and supporting women and girls through the power of theatre!