With music by Tim Hinck and libretto by Gaye Jeffers, GIVE ME ROOM! is a unique look at the journey of suffrage through personal moments that explore the lives of women in Chattanooga and Tennessee who supported ratification of the 19th Amendment and others who were against a woman’s right to vote.
GIVE ME ROOM! is inspired by telegrams, letters, historical records and newspaper articles. A variety of musical styles blend current themes with those of one hundred years ago. The process of creating an original musical allows new reflections on a well-documented event. Exploring the rights of women to have a voice in the political system shines light on current struggles that continue to come into question. The desire to be mindful of our past in the midst of questions of equality and acknowledgement in the 21stcentury lends GIVE ME ROOM! a timeless resonance.
With the support of Opera Tennessee and Chattanooga singers and actors, GIVE ME ROOM! is a collaborative creation that continues to evolve and shift as we develop this new work for its staged premiere.