THE OPENING OF SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: UNBOSSED AND UNBOWED

ATLANTA, GA-On the evening of March 10, 2023, Out of Hand held the first performance of Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed and Unbound, A One Woman Show, written and performed by Ingrid Griffith, at the home of Shane Little and Phil Cooper. The show is a part of the Shows in Homes series, a program where hosts open up their homes for performances to take place and have a discussion centered around the themes of the play. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Partnership for Southern Equity, a non-profit organization dedicated to civil rights and equity on the local level. 

Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed and Unbound tells the story of the first black woman elected to Congress during the Civil Rights era. The performance given by Ingrid Griffith is one filled with emotion and nuance as she tells Chisholm’s story through the lens of multiple perspectives throughout the late congresswoman’s life. 

After the performance, a talkback was held featuring Griffith and Joel Alvarado, a representative from the Partnership for Southern Equity. The conversation revolved around the impact of Shirley Chisholm’s life and how her story continues to inspire people today. Present during this discussion were guests from the political and civil rights spectrum, including the former mayor of Macon, Jack Ellis. Patrons asked questions about how Shirley Chisholm’s life inspires the work of the Partnership of Southern Equity and how Griffith was able to create and perform the piece with passion. 

Concerning the performance aspect, Griffith explained in detail about her process for embodying Shirley Chisholm, as well as other characters within the show, from the body posture of each character to their speech patterns and language. With the Partnership for Southern Equity, Alvarado spoke at length about how the efforts of Shirley Chisholm embodies their message of fighting for equity in all spaces and how the leadership of Chisholm speak to how political leaders today should fight for their constituents who are struggling. 

Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed and Unbound is a stunning tribute to the first black Congresswoman and highlights her strength and power as she fought for her constituents and for truthful representation in Congress. If you want to see the show, it runs through April 30th; be sure to check Out of Hand Theater’s website for tickets.