Stand by the River
Encyclopedia
Stand by the River is a musical written by Joanne and Mark Sutton-Smith based on the true story of William Still
, an African-American
Abolitionist, and Jane Johnson, a slave he risked his life to rescue.
in an Equity staged reading, in February 2003, at the Theatre at St. Clements
, directed by Larry Thelen of Goodspeed Musicals, and at Theatre Building Chicago's "Stages" festival in 2003, as well as the NYC ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop in 2004. It has also been presented in colleges, libraries, and historical societies. The musical has been covered in over 20 publications and media outlets, including National Public Radio, and the op-ed
section of The Philadelphia Inquirer
.
In the summer of 2011, an abridged version of the work will be presented at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre in NYC, featuring Quentin Darrington and Kenita Miller.
The action begins in Virginia, where Jane Johnson, the slave of diplomat John Wheeler, learns that her eldest child has been sold. When she hears that Wheeler will be taking her through Philadelphia on his way to a diplomatic assignment, she swears that she will escape to freedom with her two other children.
The focus then shifts further south, where another slave, Peter Freedman, has secretly earned his freedom after many years in bondage. Strangers to each other, Peter and Jane end up on the same train, traveling north to Philadelphia. Peter is going there to seek his long lost mother, from whom he was separated as a child. Jane simply hopes to escape with her children once her master brings her onto free soil.
Once in Philadelphia, Peter, begins to search the city and Jane tries desperately to attract the attention of a friendly stranger. Finally, word of her predicament comes to the William Still at the Anti-Slavery
office. At the same time, Peter walks in. When he tells his story, William realizes that this is his own brother, left behind in slavery when his parents escaped years before. But Peter is so alarmed at this unlikely coincidence that, suspecting some duplicity, he flees William’s office in fear and quickly disappears into the streets.
Angry and heartbroken at this cruel turn of events, William throws caution to the winds and leads the group to the Camden ferry and in a dramatic confrontation rescues Jane at the last possible moment. She is put into a coach and sent into hiding. Returning from the ferry, William finds Peter waiting for him, and they are reunited at last, but within minutes, Still is arrested and charged with theft and riot for his part in the rescue of Jane Johnson.
Act II
As the second act starts, Jane Johnson and her children flee north. We learn that the trial of William Still has become a national phenomenon, pitting the values and the laws of North against South. Wheeler prepares a Federal case against Still for publicly humiliating him.
Seth Concklin, another Abolitionist who was inspired by William’s boldness, embarks upon a dangerous quest to liberate Peter’s wife, Vina, who has been left behind in slavery. Though Seth succeeds in bringing Vina north to free soil, bounty hunter
s pursue them and Seth is killed. Vina eludes capture, though her fate is unclear.
In the final scene, William is brought to trial. All hope seems lost until the defense suddenly introduces a surprise witness: Jane Johnson, who has returned from hiding to testify on Still's behalf. The judge orders the marshals to arrest Jane, but she escapes once again. Because of her testimony, Still is released. The epilogue finds William once again at his desk in the Anti-Slavery office. Vina enters, seeking news of her husband, and she and Peter are reunited at last.
William Still
William Still was an African-American abolitionist, conductor on the Underground Railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist....
, an African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Abolitionist, and Jane Johnson, a slave he risked his life to rescue.
Production history
The work was presented in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in an Equity staged reading, in February 2003, at the Theatre at St. Clements
The American Place Theatre
The American Place Theatre was founded in 1963 by Wynn Handman, Sidney Lanier, and Michael Tolan at St. Clement's Church, far west on 46th Street in New York City and was incorporated as a not-for-profit theatre in that year. Tennessee Williams and Myrna Loy were two of the original Board members...
, directed by Larry Thelen of Goodspeed Musicals, and at Theatre Building Chicago's "Stages" festival in 2003, as well as the NYC ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop in 2004. It has also been presented in colleges, libraries, and historical societies. The musical has been covered in over 20 publications and media outlets, including National Public Radio, and the op-ed
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
section of The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
.
In the summer of 2011, an abridged version of the work will be presented at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre in NYC, featuring Quentin Darrington and Kenita Miller.
Synopsis
Act IThe action begins in Virginia, where Jane Johnson, the slave of diplomat John Wheeler, learns that her eldest child has been sold. When she hears that Wheeler will be taking her through Philadelphia on his way to a diplomatic assignment, she swears that she will escape to freedom with her two other children.
The focus then shifts further south, where another slave, Peter Freedman, has secretly earned his freedom after many years in bondage. Strangers to each other, Peter and Jane end up on the same train, traveling north to Philadelphia. Peter is going there to seek his long lost mother, from whom he was separated as a child. Jane simply hopes to escape with her children once her master brings her onto free soil.
Once in Philadelphia, Peter, begins to search the city and Jane tries desperately to attract the attention of a friendly stranger. Finally, word of her predicament comes to the William Still at the Anti-Slavery
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
office. At the same time, Peter walks in. When he tells his story, William realizes that this is his own brother, left behind in slavery when his parents escaped years before. But Peter is so alarmed at this unlikely coincidence that, suspecting some duplicity, he flees William’s office in fear and quickly disappears into the streets.
Angry and heartbroken at this cruel turn of events, William throws caution to the winds and leads the group to the Camden ferry and in a dramatic confrontation rescues Jane at the last possible moment. She is put into a coach and sent into hiding. Returning from the ferry, William finds Peter waiting for him, and they are reunited at last, but within minutes, Still is arrested and charged with theft and riot for his part in the rescue of Jane Johnson.
Act II
As the second act starts, Jane Johnson and her children flee north. We learn that the trial of William Still has become a national phenomenon, pitting the values and the laws of North against South. Wheeler prepares a Federal case against Still for publicly humiliating him.
Seth Concklin, another Abolitionist who was inspired by William’s boldness, embarks upon a dangerous quest to liberate Peter’s wife, Vina, who has been left behind in slavery. Though Seth succeeds in bringing Vina north to free soil, bounty hunter
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
s pursue them and Seth is killed. Vina eludes capture, though her fate is unclear.
In the final scene, William is brought to trial. All hope seems lost until the defense suddenly introduces a surprise witness: Jane Johnson, who has returned from hiding to testify on Still's behalf. The judge orders the marshals to arrest Jane, but she escapes once again. Because of her testimony, Still is released. The epilogue finds William once again at his desk in the Anti-Slavery office. Vina enters, seeking news of her husband, and she and Peter are reunited at last.
Musical numbers
- "How Many Thousand"
- "Who Is That Running?"
- "Gonna Leave Here"
- "A Simple Dream"
- "I’ll Remember"
- "Where Is My Lord?"
- "Joseph"
- "I Want To Be Free"
- "Stand By The River"
- "Go Now, Run Now"
- "Stand By The River – Reprise"
- "Hush My Children"
- "Put Him Down"
- "Send Him To My Door"
- "The One Left Behind"
- "America"
- "The Path Ahead"
- "Born Into Hope"
- "The Path Ahead – Reprise"
- "Where Is My Lord? – Reprise"
- "The Trial"
- "Stand By The River – Reprise"
Awards
- Village Originals Festival, Seattle, 2004
- ASCAPAmerican Society of Composers, Authors, and PublishersThe American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
Musical TheaterMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Workshop, 2004 - Finalist, TAM New Voices Prize 2004
- Theater Building Chicago Stages Festival, 2003
- Finalist, Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
Awards, presented by the American Academy of Arts and LettersThe American Academy of Arts and LettersThe American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 250-member honor society; its goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Located in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan in New York, it shares Audubon Terrace, its Beaux Arts campus on...
, 2002
External links
- Stand By The River - Official web site of the musical
- William Still - Underground Railroad Foundation