Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery – you can celebrate it with the musical story of the beginning of the end of slavery, right here on the Virginia Peninsula. “Prelude to Freedom” tells how, starting at Fort Monroe in the early days of the Civil War, enslaved people first escaped from their enslavers as “contraband of war.” It was the first step in turning that struggle into a war of emancipation. With stirring music and gripping drama, it depicts the historic events here in 1861.

Thanks to the generous support of Newport News Arts Commission, TowneBank, and individual donors, and assistance from Suffolk African American Cultural Society and Virginia 250, the Contraband Historical Society presents this entertaining and inspiring drama to the public free of charge. Produced by the Contraband Historical Society in partnership with Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center.

Performances

Friday, June 13 at 7pm
Saturday, June 14 at 2pm and 7pm