Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story is an opera written and composed by Mary Watkins. This video includes excerpts from the production done by the Oakland Opera Theater in November 2009, directed by Darryl V. Jones and conducted by Deirdre McClure. (8 minutes)

For information about producing this opera, please contact WomenArts Executive Director, Martha Richards.

In this trailer, Fannie Lou Hamer is performed by Raina Simon Parks, and Fannie’s husband Pap is performed by Joe Vincent Parks. Jeannine Anderson plays Fannie’s mother, and Bolanle Origunwa is young Fannie. The men in the quartet are: Darrin Flagg, Jeremy Lutein, Jo Vincent Parks and Gary Stanford Jr.

Special Thanks to Kevin Pina for editing this video and to Darryl V. Jones for his narration.

All Music and lyrics ©2009, Mary Watkins, All Rights Reserved, BMI