Vanessa covers the Nellie (full lyrics soprano) in the world premiere of Fizz & Ginger presented by The Curiosity Cabinet Ensemble.

Fizz & Ginger traces the steps of the 1920s New Yorker nightlife reviewer, Lipstick, as she heads up Amsterdam to write about the jazz of the Harlem Renaissance. She meets five quintessential New York archetypes who represent the diversity, feminism and cautions of a changing world. The work celebrates the better times of bathtub gin and late night debauchery in the roaring 20s speakeasy scene. Lois Long (Lipstick) is a staple in New York nightlife journalism, archiving our rich culture’s history in her column “When Nights are Bold.” The creators are providing a cautionary tale of substance abuse in times of hardship, all the while highlighting the diversity and achievements in art during the beginnings of the Harlem Renaissance.

Nellie, based on the life of Nella Larsen, grounds the ensemble with her experiences as a front-lines journalist and advocate of equitable change for this world. She stands by the community, and her community likes to let loose in the Underground.