Based on a true story.
ACT ONE begins in July of 1800, just outside Richmond Virginia. Gabriel, a 24-year old enslaved blacksmith, works on Thomas Henry Prosser’s plantation, making plans to purchase his freedom by hiring out for extra blacksmithing work (“Closer”, with all cast). Prosser, who has inherited the plantation from his recently deceased father, relishes the control he’ll now have over the plantation and its properties (“Daddy’s Gone”).
Nanny, who is bringing a broken rake to Gabriel for repairs, comes across Prosser, who flirts briefly with her. She continues to the blacksmith shop. Intrigued by Gabriel and his recent escape attempt, Nanny tries to get him to describe what the escape was like (“What Was It Like?”), but he insists that she never attempt it. Frustrated, Nanny confronts Gabriel about his plan for his own freedom, leaving him unsure of himself.
On her way back to the work site, Nanny encounters Absalom Johnson, a mean-tempered, local white farmer looking for work. He intends to rape Nanny, but is interrupted as Gabriel comes to her aid. Johnson taunts and demeans Gabriel, who then wrestles Johnson to the ground and bites off part of Johnson’s ear in the process.
In the aftermath, Prosser refuses Johnson’s insistence that Gabriel be lynched then and there. Prosser knows that if Gabriel is executed by the courts, Prosser will be reimbursed by the state for Gabriel’s value. After the others leave, Gabriel tries to strike a deal with Prosser, offering to purchase his freedom instead of facing trial. After Prosser determines where Gabriel has hidden his money, Prosser arranges for Gabriel to be taken to jail. Prosser then finds Nanny, who spurns his advances.
Awaiting trial, Gabriel shares a jail cell with the powerful Jack Ditcher, an enslaved man who fans to flame Gabriel’s sense of rage at the injustices undergone by the enslaved (“Stoke the Fire”). In court, Gabriel takes advantage of an arcane legal rule which allows for a suspended sentence if the guilty can read. The judge requires Prosser to post bond, guaranteeing Gabriel’s good behavior. The judge admonishes the young Prosser to better control his slaves.
On the way home with Gabriel, Prosser, embarrassed and enraged, tells Gabriel that the cost of the bond, plus the embarrassment Gabriel has caused, will be made up for by Gabriel’s life savings. Prosser swears to never free Gabriel, not at any price. Enraged, Gabriel initially blames Nanny for this (“Because of You”). Nanny fires back, pushing him to explain why he intervened on her behalf. He admits that he perhaps cares for her, then asks her not to rush off, and to stay for a quiet moment together (“Here for Now”).
Nanny goes to Prosser’s house to ask for permission to be Gabriel’s wife, but Prosser resumes his advances. When she refuses again, Prosser says he’s going to sell her, trading her in—after the harvest, after he’s done with her.
Elsewhere on the plantation during a barbeque, the enslaved welcome Jack Ditcher, whom Gabriel had met in jail. Nanny arrives, distraught that she is to be sold. She and the others ask God why He hasn’t yet delivered them yet (“Why Lord?”). Jack Ditcher calls on them to rise up instead of pray, and to revolt right then and there. Faced with his growing sense of the injustices, Nanny’s sale, and knowing that a limited revolt would be quickly crushed, Gabriel proposes a coordinated, planned attack that will rally the enslaved from all over Virginia as a single army. Act One ends as thousands of others around Virginia are recruited to the cause (“Death or Liberty”).
ACT TWO opens on the night of the planned uprising, when an unprecedented torrential downpour floods the roads and bridges, making it impossible for the enslaved to rally (“Feel the Rage”). As the uprising is postponed for one day, Gabriel’s brother Martin tells Gabriel he can still back out. Gabriel, though, determines to move forward with the uprising (“Seen Too Much”). Two enslaved men on a neighboring plantation betray the conspiracy, and the next morning, having been notified by Governor James Monroe of the planned uprising, Prosser confronts Gabriel. Gabriel overpowers Prosser and escapes.
Gabriel and Ditcher go into hiding. Nanny arrives with food and tells them that Gabriel’s older brother Martin has been captured along with others and is to be hanged. Gabriel wants to rescue Martin. Ditcher tells Gabriel and Nanny that he plans to escape to Norfolk. Hearing this, Nanny recalls that the enslaved in Norfolk had been prepared to take part in the uprising. They decide that Gabriel needs to somehow make his way to Norfolk and rally the enslaved there. Gabriel promises to return to Richmond with an army.
Meanwhile, Governor Monroe asks Prosser about Gabriel and Prosser’s apparent failure to keep his slaves under control or to detect their organization of the uprising. Monroe gets Prosser to fund the reward money and to forego compensation by the state for Gabriel’s ultimate hanging.
Gabriel narrowly evades capture in the woods as he attempts to find a way to Norfolk on heavily patrolled roads. He comes across Captain Richardson Taylor, a white, former overseer. Recently converted to the Christian faith, Taylor has developed a conscience. Gabriel convinces Taylor to do the right thing and help Gabriel escape to Norfolk (“What’s Right”). After arriving in Norfolk, however, one of the enslaved ship’s hands, Billy, hoping for the reward money with which he hopes to purchase his freedom, immediately betrays Gabriel to the authorities.
Meanwhile in a Richmond prison cell, Martin and Ben await their trials. Ben, who had been enthusiastic about the rebellion, now succumbs to fear of a hanging and offers to the authorities, in exchange for his life, to provide testimony against all those being tried. Martin, resigned to his fate, sings a hymn, giving him courage to face what lies ahead (“Bring Me on Home”).
Gabriel is returned to Richmond in chains, where he is interrogated in the Governor’s residence by Monroe and Prosser (“Like This”). Monroe seeks details of the planned uprising. Gabriel confronts Monroe with the cruelty of slavery in a nation founded on liberty and equality. Gabriel says the uprising would have completed the American Revolution, a war that had freed only half of all Americans. To avoid martyring Gabriel, Monroe offers him deportation to the deep south, but Gabriel chooses instead to die with his captured companions. Gabriel confronts Prosser, who attacks Gabriel to silence him and is pulled away by the guard and Monroe.
Gabriel is taken to prison and locked in a cell with Nanny and Ditcher. Gabriel and Nanny admit they cannot regret losing all in their quest for freedom (“Fan the Flame”). Knowing that freedom does not come free, they hold to the hope that their actions will inspire future generations to pursue freedom for all people, at any cost.
ACT ONE begins in July of 1800, just outside Richmond Virginia. Gabriel, a 24-year old enslaved blacksmith, works on Thomas Henry Prosser’s plantation, making plans to purchase his freedom by hiring out for extra blacksmithing work (“Closer”, with all cast). Prosser, who has inherited the plantation from his recently deceased father, relishes the control he’ll now have over the plantation and its properties (“Daddy’s Gone”).
Nanny, who is bringing a broken rake to Gabriel for repairs, comes across Prosser, who flirts briefly with her. She continues to the blacksmith shop. Intrigued by Gabriel and his recent escape attempt, Nanny tries to get him to describe what the escape was like (“What Was It Like?”), but he insists that she never attempt it. Frustrated, Nanny confronts Gabriel about his plan for his own freedom, leaving him unsure of himself.
On her way back to the work site, Nanny encounters Absalom Johnson, a mean-tempered, local white farmer looking for work. He intends to rape Nanny, but is interrupted as Gabriel comes to her aid. Johnson taunts and demeans Gabriel, who then wrestles Johnson to the ground and bites off part of Johnson’s ear in the process.
In the aftermath, Prosser refuses Johnson’s insistence that Gabriel be lynched then and there. Prosser knows that if Gabriel is executed by the courts, Prosser will be reimbursed by the state for Gabriel’s value. After the others leave, Gabriel tries to strike a deal with Prosser, offering to purchase his freedom instead of facing trial. After Prosser determines where Gabriel has hidden his money, Prosser arranges for Gabriel to be taken to jail. Prosser then finds Nanny, who spurns his advances.
Awaiting trial, Gabriel shares a jail cell with the powerful Jack Ditcher, an enslaved man who fans to flame Gabriel’s sense of rage at the injustices undergone by the enslaved (“Stoke the Fire”). In court, Gabriel takes advantage of an arcane legal rule which allows for a suspended sentence if the guilty can read. The judge requires Prosser to post bond, guaranteeing Gabriel’s good behavior. The judge admonishes the young Prosser to better control his slaves.
On the way home with Gabriel, Prosser, embarrassed and enraged, tells Gabriel that the cost of the bond, plus the embarrassment Gabriel has caused, will be made up for by Gabriel’s life savings. Prosser swears to never free Gabriel, not at any price. Enraged, Gabriel initially blames Nanny for this (“Because of You”). Nanny fires back, pushing him to explain why he intervened on her behalf. He admits that he perhaps cares for her, then asks her not to rush off, and to stay for a quiet moment together (“Here for Now”).
Nanny goes to Prosser’s house to ask for permission to be Gabriel’s wife, but Prosser resumes his advances. When she refuses again, Prosser says he’s going to sell her, trading her in—after the harvest, after he’s done with her.
Elsewhere on the plantation during a barbeque, the enslaved welcome Jack Ditcher, whom Gabriel had met in jail. Nanny arrives, distraught that she is to be sold. She and the others ask God why He hasn’t yet delivered them yet (“Why Lord?”). Jack Ditcher calls on them to rise up instead of pray, and to revolt right then and there. Faced with his growing sense of the injustices, Nanny’s sale, and knowing that a limited revolt would be quickly crushed, Gabriel proposes a coordinated, planned attack that will rally the enslaved from all over Virginia as a single army. Act One ends as thousands of others around Virginia are recruited to the cause (“Death or Liberty”).
ACT TWO opens on the night of the planned uprising, when an unprecedented torrential downpour floods the roads and bridges, making it impossible for the enslaved to rally (“Feel the Rage”). As the uprising is postponed for one day, Gabriel’s brother Martin tells Gabriel he can still back out. Gabriel, though, determines to move forward with the uprising (“Seen Too Much”). Two enslaved men on a neighboring plantation betray the conspiracy, and the next morning, having been notified by Governor James Monroe of the planned uprising, Prosser confronts Gabriel. Gabriel overpowers Prosser and escapes.
Gabriel and Ditcher go into hiding. Nanny arrives with food and tells them that Gabriel’s older brother Martin has been captured along with others and is to be hanged. Gabriel wants to rescue Martin. Ditcher tells Gabriel and Nanny that he plans to escape to Norfolk. Hearing this, Nanny recalls that the enslaved in Norfolk had been prepared to take part in the uprising. They decide that Gabriel needs to somehow make his way to Norfolk and rally the enslaved there. Gabriel promises to return to Richmond with an army.
Meanwhile, Governor Monroe asks Prosser about Gabriel and Prosser’s apparent failure to keep his slaves under control or to detect their organization of the uprising. Monroe gets Prosser to fund the reward money and to forego compensation by the state for Gabriel’s ultimate hanging.
Gabriel narrowly evades capture in the woods as he attempts to find a way to Norfolk on heavily patrolled roads. He comes across Captain Richardson Taylor, a white, former overseer. Recently converted to the Christian faith, Taylor has developed a conscience. Gabriel convinces Taylor to do the right thing and help Gabriel escape to Norfolk (“What’s Right”). After arriving in Norfolk, however, one of the enslaved ship’s hands, Billy, hoping for the reward money with which he hopes to purchase his freedom, immediately betrays Gabriel to the authorities.
Meanwhile in a Richmond prison cell, Martin and Ben await their trials. Ben, who had been enthusiastic about the rebellion, now succumbs to fear of a hanging and offers to the authorities, in exchange for his life, to provide testimony against all those being tried. Martin, resigned to his fate, sings a hymn, giving him courage to face what lies ahead (“Bring Me on Home”).
Gabriel is returned to Richmond in chains, where he is interrogated in the Governor’s residence by Monroe and Prosser (“Like This”). Monroe seeks details of the planned uprising. Gabriel confronts Monroe with the cruelty of slavery in a nation founded on liberty and equality. Gabriel says the uprising would have completed the American Revolution, a war that had freed only half of all Americans. To avoid martyring Gabriel, Monroe offers him deportation to the deep south, but Gabriel chooses instead to die with his captured companions. Gabriel confronts Prosser, who attacks Gabriel to silence him and is pulled away by the guard and Monroe.
Gabriel is taken to prison and locked in a cell with Nanny and Ditcher. Gabriel and Nanny admit they cannot regret losing all in their quest for freedom (“Fan the Flame”). Knowing that freedom does not come free, they hold to the hope that their actions will inspire future generations to pursue freedom for all people, at any cost.