Insurrection: Holding History

A boldly theatrical time travel epic from one of the premier chroniclers of Black gay life in the American theatre.

In Robert O’Hara’s stunning debut play, gay Black grad student Ron is transported back in time with his 189-year-old great-great-grandfather to the time of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Applying a thrilling theatrical lens to some of the darkest chapters of American history, Insurrection: Holding History is an investigation of the scars of racism and homophobia, as well as a passionate tribute to the power of resistance. This play won O’Hara the1998 Oppenheimer Award for Best New Playwright.

Insurrection: Holding History received its world premiere at The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival in 1996. It is the third title in the TCG Books Illuminations series, edited by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.