Four teenage girls gather for a workshop on writing an effective college essay. The teacher asks, “Tell me who you are,” prompting each young woman to share her story. One mourns the loss of a special friend, while another hides behind her popularity. The third feels constrained by her parents’ expectations, and the last faces a troubled homelife. Despite the chorus of trolls that taunts them, the girls unite, embarking on a transformative journey toward empowerment and self-assurance. With authenticity and sensitivity, Northern Kentucky-based novelist Sheila Williams interviewed local teens to inspire the opera’s libretto, while Cincinnati native William Menefield employed jazz, modern, and classical music styles in its high-energy score.

Fierce is presented in collaboration with community partners WordPlay Cincy, The Music Resource Center—Cincinnati, and i.imagine.