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Stand by the River

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Stand by the River
Carey Brown, Gary Giles, James Gwathney and Christine Clemmons in the Swarthmore College Presentation of Stand By The River
MusicMark Sutton-Smith
LyricsMark Sutton-Smith
BookJoanne Sutton-Smith
BasisThe life of William Still
ProductionsHedgerow Theatre
Swarthmore College
Philadelphia Library
Rowan College
Chicago Stages Festival
The Theater at St. Clements
ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop

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.

Production history

The work was presented in New York City 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. 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.

Synopsis

Act I

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 hunters 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
  • ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop, 2004
  • Finalist, TAM New Voices Prize 2004
  • Theater Building Chicago Stages Festival, 2003
  • Finalist, Richard Rodgers Awards, presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2002
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