Virginia Stage Company and Norfolk State University Theatre Company present

WATCH A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM TOM QUAINTANCE

THE PARCHMAN HOUR
Songs and Stories of the ‘61 Freedom Riders

OCTOBER 25 - NOVEMBER 12

written and directed by Mike Wiley
In this co-production with Norfolk State University Theatre Company, Journey through the Deep South with the pioneers who fought discrimination and paved the way for the future. Adapted from real life accounts of the 1961 Freedom Rides, this play shares these struggles through music that ranges from Bob Dylan to spirituals. This stirring play contains racially charged language and scenes of violence and is recommended for patrons 13 and older.

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cast parchman hour dee dee batteast jonathan cooper benjamin curns anthony stockard meredith noel

THE BAND

Roy George
Keys

Tau Chapman
Percussion

Ajay Knight
Bass

Otis Booker
Guitar

THE PARCHMAN HOUR EVENTS

Downtown Happy Hour at the Wells Theatre →
October 27, 4:30-6:30pm, Wells Theatre Tazewell Lounge

Opening Night of The Parchman Hour
October 28, 7:30pm

Military Appreciation Day
October 29, 2pm
Use the promo code MILAPP to get $25 in advance

The Parchman Hour Talkback →
October 29, 4:30pm

Freedom Riders, Sit-ins, and Tidewater
Experts on the history of Civil Rights protests locally and nationally talk about the history of protest and its place in our political discussion.

NSU Night
November 2, 7:30pm

The Parchman Hour Talkback →
November 2, 9:30pm

Protest Then & Now - Looking at Protests from the Civil Rights Movement and Today

The Parchman Hour ASL Performance
November 4, 7:30pm

The Parchman Hour Talkback →
November 5, 4:30pm

Persons of Protest
Join us in conversation with people from the field - the folks who have participated in protests in the 60’s through today.

The Parchman Hour Audio Captioned Performance
November 11, 3pm
Audio Caption by Access Virginia

PARCHMAN PRESS

Featured

Alt-Daily.com: "One show that you do not want to miss"

I must admit, with some remorse, that I went into this show not knowing anything about Parchman Farm and not very much about the Freedom Riders. That changed in a hurry...

WHRO 90.3 "Opening Night with Rebecca Evans" on THE PARCHMAN HOUR

WHRO's Rebecca Evans reviews THE PARCHMAN HOUR on "Opening Night with Rebecca Evans". Click here to listen!

The Virginian-Pilot: Mal Vincent on PARCHMAN HOUR

Mal Vincent reviews The Parchman Hour: Songs and Stories of the '61 Freedom Riders for The Virginian-Pilot.

American Theatre Magazine: Freedom Riders Ride Again in Mike Wiley’s ‘Parchman Hour’

For performer and playwright Mike Wiley, telling the stories of African American historical figures was a one-man job that he excelled at. He took his solo acts across the country, weaving narratives out of the African-American diaspora, playing countless characters even though he was the only person onstage. Though he’s now directing...

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT interviews Mike Wiley

The violence isn’t real. But that wasn’t the case 50 years ago, when a fist to the face and near-fatal choke holds were part of everyday life at Parchman Farm, the notorious Mississippi prison.

Theater students from Norfolk State University work on fight scenes during a rehearsal for “The Parchman Hour” at the Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk. A man runs onto the stage...