Three Richmond artists will showcase their new musical about a Virginia slave rebellion at a behind-the-scenes preview event next week.

“Gabriel,” created by Richmond collaborators Jerold Solomon, Foster Solomon and Ron Klipp, tells the story of Gabriel’s Rebellion in 1800. The musical will run Sept. 26 through Nov. 9, at historic Hanover Tavern in Hanover County.

  

The free preview event is scheduled for 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 at Highland, President James Monroe’s historic home in Charlottesville. The event will feature performers, production team members and historical partners discussing the creation of the musical. Attendees will hear preview performances and receive discount tickets for the full production.

The story centers on Gabriel, an enslaved blacksmith from Henrico County who organized one of the most significant uprisings of enslaved people in American history. Born in 1776, Gabriel witnessed the contradiction between the Founding Fathers’ promises of liberty and the reality of more than 300,000 enslaved Black Virginians.

His rebellion plot included capturing then-Gov. James Monroe to negotiate an end to slavery. Gabriel was ultimately executed for his efforts.

“Gabriel’s story speaks to us so clearly across time,” said Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s executive director. “He was a powerful leader who was committed to one of the nation’s founding ideals: freedom.”

The connection between Monroe’s home and Gabriel’s story runs deep. Monroe, who served as Virginia’s governor during  the rebellion, was the intended target of Gabriel’s plan to force negotiations over slavery’s end.

ATLAS Partnership is producing the musical, which explores how Gabriel became “a powerful force for justice and social conscience,” according to promotional materials. The preview event will be held in Highland’s Event Barn lower level. Space is limited, and advance registration is required at highland.org/gabriel.