Celebrating the life and music of Nina Simone, one of America’s most iconic singers and civil rights activists, Christina Ham’s provocative musical journey Nina Simone: Four Women makes its East Coast debut at Arena Stage. Set in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in which four little girls lost their lives in 1963, Ham uses Simone’s song “Four Women” as the framework to explore the songstress’ shift from artist to artist-activist. Timothy Douglas returns to Arena Stage to direct this “gorgeous and moving testimonial” (Star Tribune). Nina Simone: Four Women runs November 10-December 24, 2017 in the Kreeger Theater.