The Story of Gabriel Comes Home

“Gabriel” the musical brings an often-overlooked piece of Richmond history to life – Gabriel’s Rebellion, an organized effort to ensure liberty and justice for all. The inspiring performance debuts at Hanover Tavern and runs Sept. 26 to Nov. 9, 2025.

Richmonders know that our city is steeped in history. Cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, and landmarks whisper stories of revolution, rebellion, and resilience. But sometimes, the stories that shaped our past aren’t told often enough. This fall, one of those stories is taking center stage at Hanover Tavern.

The ATLAS Partnership, a nonprofit formed by some of the longtime leaders of Barksdale Theatre, is bringing the new musical “Gabriel” to life from Sept. 26 to Nov. 9. It tells the powerful story of Gabriel’s Rebellion, one of the most significant uprisings of enslaved people in American history The performance is an official program of the Virginia 250 Commission (VA250), part of the state’s commemoration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Who was Gabriel?

Born in 1776, the same year the colonies declared independence from Britain, Gabriel was an enslaved blacksmith who worked in the Richmond area. He was literate, skilled, and inspired by the revolutionary ideals of liberty and justice that echoed through the new nation. While names like Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry are etched into our civic memory, Gabriel asked the same questions of freedom. But he and other enslaved workers yearned for freedom from their enslavers, who were often harsh, cruel taskmasters, not from the power of England.

In the summer of 1800, Gabriel and his allies planned an audacious rebellion. Their strategy: gather nearly 1,000 enslaved men, seize Richmond by force, capture Governor James Monroe, and negotiate an end to slavery in Virginia. Their plans came together in secrecy, with remarkable courage and clarity of purpose.

But history turned on the weather. On Aug. 30, 1800, the rebels were ready. Instead of opportunity, torrential rains poured down across Richmond, washing out bridges, flooding roads, and making movement impossible. Imagine trying to coordinate hundreds of people on foot in the middle of a once-in-a-century flood, with none of the communication modes we take for granted today.

To make matters worse, two men betrayed the cause by disclosing the plot to their enslavers. Governor Monroe quickly mobilized the militia. Gabriel and more than 100 others were captured. Trials followed, swift and unforgiving. Gabriel and 24 of his fellow rebels were executed.

‘Gabriel’ the musical: from history to the stage

The story of Gabriel has often been sidelined in Virginia’s mainstream historical narrative, but “Gabriel” the musical seeks to change that.

Written by Jerold Solomon, Foster Solomon, and Ron Klipp, with music and lyrics by Klipp and Jerold Solomon, the show turns historical record into living, breathing art. Klipp said, “This is a theatrical experience that draws its strength from history, but its heartbeat from the energy of live performance.”

Broadway veteran Jerold Solomon takes on the title role. Behind the scenes, Richmond talent abounds: Foster Solomon directs, Leslie Owens-Harrington choreographs, and Desirée Roots joins the producing team. The production also brings in experts like Ana Edwards, public historian and VCU professor, to ensure historical accuracy, and Rev. Rodney Waller of First African Baptist Church to provide pastoral guidance.

The rehearsal location itself connects directly to Richmond’s Black history. First African Baptist Church, dating back to 1780, has counted Maggie Walker, John Mitchell Jr., Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Henry “Box” Brown, and Gilbert Hunt among its members. Holding rehearsals there grounds the project not just in history, but in the living heritage of Richmond’s Black community.

Why Hanover Tavern matters

The choice of Hanover Tavern as the performance site adds another layer of resonance. Built in 1733, with its oldest surviving section dating back to 1791, the Tavern was already a fixture of Virginia life when Gabriel planned his uprising. In fact, five men who joined Gabriel’s cause were enslaved at Hanover Tavern itself. To watch this story unfold “in the room where it happened,” as Desirée Roots notes, is to feel the weight of history pressing close.

Hanover Tavern has its own theatrical story. Rescued from ruin in 1953, it became home to Barksdale Theatre – the region’s first professional performing arts group in the modern era. Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway, now part of ATLAS, helped bring theater back to the Tavern in 2006 and carried forward its legacy through the creation of Virginia Repertory Theatre. With “Gabriel,” the ATLAS team is reaffirming the Tavern’s role as a place where Virginia’s past and present meet on stage.

Remembering, reframing, reclaiming

Gabriel’s Rebellion may have failed in 1800, but its impact endures. In 2002, Richmond City Council formally recognized Gabriel and his allies as freedom fighters. In 2007, then-Governor Tim Kaine issued posthumous pardons. These official acts acknowledge what many have long understood: that Gabriel and his compatriots were part of America’s fight for freedom, every bit as much as the Revolutionary patriots celebrated in textbooks.

The new musical picks up where proclamations leave off – inviting audiences to feel the urgency, bravery, and tragedy of Gabriel’s story through song and performance. The final scene, depicting Gabriel’s meeting with Governor Monroe before his execution, promises to be especially powerful, underscoring the human cost of the struggle.

Looking ahead

After its Richmond run, “Gabriel” the musical is slated to travel. In January 2026, it will move to the Perkinson Center for the Arts in Chester. Plans are in motion for a Norfolk production as well – where Gabriel was captured. But Richmond remains at the heart of the story, and Hanover Tavern offers the perfect setting for its debut.

As Virginia prepares for the nation’s 250th birthday, “Gabriel” reminds us that liberty was not freely given to all. Enslaved people demanded it, fought for it, and in Gabriel’s case, died for it. His story is a Richmond story, a Virginia story, and an American story. And this fall, it will be told with music, passion, and power on a stage just a few miles from where it all began.

For more information or tickets, visit atlaspartnership.org.

“Gabriel: The True Story You Were Never Told”
Sept. 26 to Nov. 9, 2025
Hanover Tavern – Hanover, Virginia

Credits: Image by Aaron Sutten. Article assistance from AI.