In her compelling 2015 collection of poetry called “Lucy Negro, Redux,” Nashville writer Caroline Randall Williams identified the Dark Lady as someone of African descent and gave personality and meaning to Shakespeare’s muse, developing her as a person and not just as the bard’s spark. Rhiannon Giddens, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Carolina Chocolate Drops cofounder, Big Ears veteran and Nashville and Broadway actress uses Williams’ work as the springboard for a full ballet that explores ideas of love and equality in a world that does not make them easy. A collaboration with Williams (who narrates); The Nashville Ballet and dancer Kayla Rowser; and artistic director Paul Vasterling, Lucy made its world premiere in Nashville in February 2019. Its second performance happens in Knoxville in connection with Big Ears 2019 – fitting, as Giddens pursued the project after texting festival founder Ashley Capps a set of demos inspired by Williams’ book. She composed and will perform the score live with her recent collaborator, acclaimed Italian pianist and percussionist Francesco Turrisi.

This production is recommended for adults due to explicit language and mature theme.