Epoch Tribe understands the power of storytelling. Cofounded by sisters-in-law Hannah and Shardae Hasan, the Black-women-owned production company based in Charlotte, N.C., has been lifting up the real-life narratives of people and places for nearly two decades. And as the pair prepares to bring I Am Queen: Nashville to TPAC’s Polk Theater for one night only on April 19, their mission remains clear: “Through the stories of a few, we tell the stories of many.”
“We started doing community arts engagement work back in 2008,” Shardae says. “At that time, we were both working other jobs, and just wanted to create space for arts programming that we weren’t seeing anywhere else. But in 2019, Hannah started working on another project — a coffee-table-style book that would celebrate the contributions and experiences of Black women in the city of Charlotte with interviews and photos. And once she started working on those interviews, she immediately realized that this needed to be more than just a book. These stories needed to be onstage. She got me involved, and in 2021, we did our first presentation of I Am Queen: Charlotte. It was a huge success. We had a nearly sold-out audience. I think we filled more than 1,800 seats at the Blumenthal Arts Center, and the response from the community was just overwhelming.”
So far, Epoch Tribe has presented three different “classes” of Queens in Charlotte, with each production offering a thoughtful blend of theatrical storytelling, movement and music, all based on the experiences of local women. Hannah interviews each Queen, adapting their stories to the stage, while Shardae serves as creative director, working on costumes and other elements. I Am Queen: Nashville promises to build on that model, honoring the narratives of eight notable Queens currently making a difference in Music City.
“Obviously there are a lot of incredible women making their mark on the city of Nashville,” Shardae says. “But one of the things that makes our shows so unique is that we’re not just talking about these women’s accomplishments or the work they do in the community. We’re also looking at who they are as people. It’s important to us that we represent a wide range of experiences, different journeys and perspectives. Yes, they’re all Black women, but we try to cover a lot of ground, representing as many different ways of being a Black woman as we possibly can.”
The Nashville class includes eight fascinating Queens — from entrepreneurs like Mignon François (of The Cupcake Collection) and Elisheba Israel Mrozik (founder of Queen Bee Ink) to voting-rights advocate Gicola Lane and Metro Councilmember At-Large Zulfat Suara. Nashville’s multitalented R&B trio The Shindellas also feature prominently in the production, which is directed by Frandasia Williams.
“We like to say that we are curating an experience — a very human experience,” Shardae says. “As Hannah and I sit out in the audience, we’re deeply hopeful that we’ve put forward something that can change people, opening their minds and bringing forth conversations. You’re going to hear some amazing stories, but there’s also music, movement and dancing, lighting, costuming. It’s truly a sensory experience, and this cast is just exceptional.”
One of those cast members is Danielle Houston, a Charlotte-based actress, singer, dancer and harpist. For Houston, I Am Queen: Nashville offers an interesting departure from standard theater productions.
“I typically do more traditional plays and musicals, which I love,” Houston says. “But it’s been exciting — and honestly, really freeing — to work on this piece, because I feel like there’s a lot of me in there. It’s not about mimicking or imitating the Queen that I’m portraying. It’s using my own voice and essence to bring the story to life. My creative process is still very much the same — working on lines, using good stage technique, being in touch with my body — but there’s a real freedom and honesty to it all. I think it’s been incredibly inspiring for all of us to see these women honored through our voices.”
And she’s hoping audiences will feel the same.
“No matter where you’re from or what your background, I think you’re going to recognize a bit of yourself in these women’s stories,” says Houston. “Success may look a bit different for each of them, but they’ve all gone through some of the same highs and lows and challenges. So I hope people will walk away feeling seen and heard, and realizing that they’re not alone in their struggles. It’s such a beautiful production. It almost feels like you’re stepping into another realm — something that’s very powerful and regal, but also very relatable.”
