No Prison Can Hold the Soul

When everything has been ripped away – family, autonomy, dignity – all that’s left is faith and free will. And if a chance arises to take those things back? No weapon would be off limits. Nat Turner’s life hangs in the balance, anchored on one side by his actions, and on the other, the atrocities committed against an entire race. There is much to be pondered in that space. About humanity and justice. About how to honor a life wrongfully taken. But who writes that story? And whose truth is ultimately put to paper? Join us for a lyrical meditation on the confluence of righteous violence, freedom and belief, shining light on a forgotten figure who was instrumental in the fight to end slavery in America. Helmed by the director who brought you last season's sensation The Royale. Runs October 17 - November 10.

Due to a pressing family matter, Gavin Lawrence will stepping away from the role of Nat Turner for the remainder of the run. We are excited to announce that APT favorite La Shawn Banks will be performing the role November 3 – 10.

Contains adult themes & language. Please contact the Box Office at 608-588-2361, or email boxoffice@americanplayers.org for specifics.

Summary

In 1831, Nat Turner led an uprising of enslaved people that has been credited by some with accelerating the onset of the Civil War. While he was in prison awaiting his execution, Turner dictated his story to attorney Thomas Gray, and it was published as “The Confessions of Nat Turner, the leader of the late insurrection in Southampton, VA.” In Nathan Alan Davis’ 2016 play Nat Turner in Jerusalem, Turner's final night in jail is reimagined in a meditation on past deeds and future repercussions that The New York Times called “an earnest, gravely lyrical gloss on a document that will surely always evoke passionate and widely different responses.”

Portable Prologue - Spotify

Portable Prologue - Apple Podcast

Humanity and history: a Q&A with "Nat Turner in Jerusalem" director Tyrone Phillips
Robert Chappell, Madison 365

At APT, 'Nat Turner' and the aftermath of 'holy vengeance'
Lindsay Christians, The Cap Times

Two men, many questions
Jonathan Shipley, Isthmus

APT Nat Turner in Jerusalem Talk Back

The Cost of Justice: A Review of "Nat Turner in Jerusalem" at American Players Theatre
Mary Wisniewski, NewCity Stage

Director's Notes

“But seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33

I am honored to return to American Players Theatre with the weighty responsibility of telling a story that history has almost hidden: the story of Nat Turner, a prophet who led a group of enslaved Africans in a courageous fight for their freedom in Virginia in 1831. Through the eloquent and poetic words of playwright Nathan Alan Davis, we have created a living monument that honors the life of Nat Turner and explores what his final hours may have been like. Alongside Turner’s story, we meet Thomas Gray, the lawyer whose three-day interview with Turner will be published as “The Confessions of Nat Turner,” providing much of what we believe to know about this extraordinary man.

By gathering in this theater today, you bear witness to Nat Turner’s legacy. You experience the emotional cycles of incarceration that any human would feel as
they faced their mortality. This production is not just a historical account but a reflection on profound themes of power, fear, freedom, faith, violence and
sacrifice. You may encounter images, questions, or arguments that challenge your comfort zone, but I urge you to engage deeply with the work. It asks us to wrestle with unsettling truths about our shared history and its ongoing impact. The painful reality is that the United States was built on one of the largest crimes against humanity. Even after Turner’s rebellion, it would take nearly three more decades before the institution of slavery was abolished. This story may be set in the 1800s, but the struggles for justice and equality remain present in our world today. The question of what we are willing to sacrifice for a more just society lingers.

As we honor Nat Turner and his movement, we must also reflect on the forms of oppression that still persist. We can’t ignore the upcoming election as key human rights are once again at stake and the war for America’s soul wages on. Theater, at its best, compels us to confront these realities and ask ourselves: What are we willing to do, and what are we willing to give up, to bring about the change our world still desperately needs? What will your life inspire?

- Tyrone Phillips, Director of Nat Turner in Jerusalem