ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The life and music of Nina Simone are taking center stage at Geva Theatre. 

"Nina Simone: Four Women" tells the story of the singer and songwriter.

The show's name comes from the Simone song "Four Women." 

The play looks at Simone’s response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963 and her shift to civil rights activist. 

The show’s director says many of the issues Simone was fighting for are ones we still face today. 

New compositions of many of Simone’s songs were created for the show, allowing audiences to discover new meanings in their words. 

“I hope audiences in this experience will listen more. I think you hear songs over and over again and you think 'I like it' or 'I don’t like this song,'" said Charlotte Brathwaite. “You don’t really think 'what is this artist saying' and 'what are they speaking to?'"

The cast also features an actress from Penfield as one of the women portraying Nina Simone.

The show runs through Feb. 9.