Here are demo's of the songs from the show. Some amazing vocalists are featured in these recordings: Jerold Solomon, Mariah Lyttle, Grant Paylor, Desiree Roots, and Janet Hazlegrove.
ACT ONE
We are in 1800 Richmond Virginia, in the Prosser blacksmith shed. Brooding after a failed attempt to run for freedom, Gabriel, a 24-year old enslaved blacksmith, stands next to a glowing furnace, beating a scythe blade into shape. He is determined to work enough side jobs so that one day soon he will have enough money to purchase his freedom from Prosser. He describes his plan and his hopes in "Closer."
"Daddy's Gone" -- 24-year old Thomas Henry Prosser, Jr. formulates what he will do now that his father has died, while Gabriel encourages him to follow through on a plan he'd made when they were both kids growing up together.
"What Was It Like?" -- 19-year old Nanny, who feels she can only dream of ever being free, asks Gabriel about his failed attempt to escape slavery.
In "Stoke the Fire," Jack Ditcher, a powerful enslaved man awaiting trial for disorderly conduct, encourages Gabriel, his cellmate in the county jail, to face his anger at the injustices they experience.
Prosser has told Gabriel that he'll never set Gabriel free, not at any price. Gabriel realizes that his hopes and plans have been crushed. In "Because of You," he blames Nanny, since it was in saving her from an attack that Gabriel was thrown in jail, bringing shame on Prosser. Nanny fires back at Gabriel and presses him for his reason for coming to her aid. Gabriel evades her question, but then admits it could have been because he cares for her.
After their argument and softening toward each other, Nanny turns to leave, sensing an awkward moment, but Gabriel encourages her to stay and enjoy a quiet time together, just "Here for Now."
In "The Man is Mine," the well-to-do Lucy Hylton, engaged to be married to Prosser, demeans Delia, Nanny's younger sister, the enslaved girl Prosser has been raping.
To assuage Lucy's vicious jealousy, Prosser assures her that he will sell Delia. Delia, distraught, tells her sister Nanny. The enslaved pray "Why, Lord?", asking God why He hasn't provided the deliverance He promised so long ago. Jack Ditcher, fed up with praying and waiting, urges them to act NOW.
Gabriel rallies the enslaved and lays out the plan for overthrowing the government and ending slavery. Their battle cry turns Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" on its head.
ACT TWO
On the night of the scheduled uprising, the enslaved take shelter from an unprecedented storm, trying to decide whether to follow through with their plan or wait.
Gabriel gradually convinces Captain Richardson Taylor to follow his conscience and to do "What's Right" by helping Gabriel in his escape to Norfolk, where he intends to rally the enslaved there.
Alone in prison and betrayed by his fellow slave, Ben, Gabriel's older brother Martin sings a prayerful spiritual on the eve of his execution, asking his Lord to "Bring Me On Home".
Governor James Monroe pushes for Gabriel to disclose the details of the plan, while Prosser tells Gabriel that he'll be forgotten. Gabriel counters them both by challenging them to follow through on their rhetoric of equality and freedom. He refuses Monroe's offer to be sold south in exchange for details about the planned uprising. Each party insists that it didn't have to end the way it has.
In the finale "Feed the Flame," Nanny and Gabriel find hope in the cause of spreading the inspiration of freedom. The entire cast joins them.
ACT ONE
"Feel the Rage".........................................................................................Company
“Closer”......................................................................................................... Gabriel
“Daddy’s Gone”............................................................................. Prosser, Gabriel
“What Was It Like?”......................................................................... Nanny, Gabriel
“Stoke the Fire” ............................................................................. Ditcher, Gabriel
“Because of You”............................................................................. Gabriel, Nanny
“Here for Now”................................................................................. Gabriel, Nanny
"The Man is Mine"...................................................................................Lucy, Delia
“Why, Lord?”....................................................................................... The Enslaved
“Death or Liberty”.............................................................................. The Enslaved
ACT TWO
“We Will Rise”................................................................................... The Enslaved
“What’s Right”................................................................................. Gabriel, Taylor
“Bring Me On Home” .................................................................................. Martin
“Like This”...................................................................... Gabriel, Prosser, Monroe
“Feed the Flame”.................................................................................... Company