Four teenage girls gather for a workshop on writing an effective college essay. The teacher asks them to “Tell me who you are.” Each of the girls shares her story. One is mourning the loss of a special friend. Another hides behind her popularity. The third feels constrained by her parents’ expectations. And the last has a troubled homelife. Despite the chorus of trolls that taunts them, the girls unite, declaring their empowerment.

Fierce tells stories inspired by the lives of the Cincinnati-area teenage girls who helped create it. Composer William Menefield and novelist Sheila Williams join forces to present this new work in collaboration with community partners WordPlay Cincy, The Music Resource Center—Cincinnati (MRC), and i.imagine.