Unveiling Gabriel’s Rebellion: A heartfelt musical tribute by VCU alumni

Saanvi Vootla, Contributing Writer 

People gathered at the historic Hanover Tavern, prepared to learn about one of the forgotten slave rebellions of Virginia’s history in a musical depiction. 

VCU alum Jerold Solomon wrote and starred in the musical “Gabriel: The True Story You Were Never Told,” covering one of Virginia’s most buried slave uprisings, at Hanover Tavern, which  has been around since the time of the uprising. It will play from Sept. 26 through Nov. 16.

Gabriel’s Rebellion was supposed to occur in Virginia in the year 1800 as a means for enslaved people to overcome their pain and suffering.

Lights were dimmed as actors took to the stage in historical clothing while displaying graphic images from the rebellion on the screen. The combined impact of the introductory song and the spirit of the actors was enough to send chills down the spines of the audience. 

The songs and dialogue encapsulated the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness of enslaved people during that time, while the choreography replicated the movement’s intensity.

Each character was played with passion to accurately tell the story. For some actors, it meant replicating the harsh treatment of the slave masters in that time. For others, it was questioning God for the unjustness that occurred.

“The original Gabriel musical was more focused on getting the historical aspect out rather than driving a story narrative,” Solomon said, who played Gabriel. “When Foster — my cousin — and I joined the team to rewrite it, we latched onto the idea that not many people know about the rebellion and made adjustments.”

Rebellions like this have been lost, buried and forgotten in history, Solomon said.

“I’m from Virginia and went to school in Richmond, and I didn’t even know about Gabriel’s Rebellion,” Solomon said. “It’s important that we tell the story that needs to be told for people of all ages and backgrounds to know.”

Replicating the essence of the rebellion was possible due to the selection of the location for the show, Solomon said.

“The idea to have the show in Richmond, specifically Hanover Tavern, was from ATLAS, the production company,” Solomon said. “Hanover Tavern had been around at the time of the  Movement and some of the slaves had worked at the tavern.” 

The enslaved people’s voices were suppressed for so long that, besides using them to scream and shout in moments of pain and agony, using them for freedom was seldom a thought, as shown in the musical.

Ditcher, played by David Lyve Watkins, is a cellmate to Gabriel and ignites the fire within Gabriel to start the rebellion and use his voice. Watkins said he was not aware of Gabriel’s Rebellion until he became a part of the musical. 

“I just recently learned about the slave trail along the James River in Richmond,” Watkins said. “Hearing about all the stories and being in the place where this rebellion took place was overwhelming.”

The number of audience and cast members who knew about the rebellion before the show was slim, showcasing the significance of telling this forgotten story. 

“We tried our best to at least capture the spirit of the slaves during the rebellion and pay homage to the actual story,” Watkins said. “We’re only taught one side of history and it makes you wonder what else has been buried or forgotten?”

Throughout the story, attendees saw the progression of Gabriel gaining his fighting spirit, inspiring the others to finally let the fire rise from within their souls.

As the slaves started to gain that spirit, the slave masters — Lucy Hilton and Thomas Prosser Jr. — and Monroe did everything in their power to silence them once again.

The musical allowed for the subject matter to be told in a way that maintained accuracy and emotional impact for the audience.

“I think this format heightened the emotional tone of the story, and it was really effective in conveying the urgency and intensity of fighting for freedom for the slaves in that time for me,” attendee Naila Smith said.

Feelings of shock, rage and sympathy washed over the audience’s faces as they tried to navigate the gravity of the experiences that African Americans faced during that time. 

The audience was moved by the lyrical merit, silenced by the story and many ultimately left in tears.

To learn more about the Gabriel Musical and other future productions, visit hanovertavern.org.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story detailed the incorrect year Gabriel’s Rebellion was supposed to occur. The story has been updated with the correct information.