Prime Stage Theatre will return to its roots with a livestream performance of “Sojourner,” with Delana Flowers portraying the 19th-century women’s suffrage and abolition activist in a Black History Month production.

The theater group’s inaugural production 25 years ago was another play about Sojourner Truth.

”Sojourner” is by Richard LaMonte Pierce, a playwright and published author whose work expounds on the Black and American experience, according to Prime Stage. Pierce is a founding member and playwright in residence at First World Theatre in Philadelphia.

It will be available for streaming Feb. 12-26.

“The life of Sojourner Truth, along with her passion, determination, faith and vision is important for audiences of all ages. As young people seek a hero, Sojourner Truth is perfect,” said Wayne Brinda, Prime Stage co-founder and producing artistic director.

“Having a Zoom conversation with Sojourner Truth’s great-great-grandchildren, we are learning and confirming very exciting facts about Sojourner Truth that audiences will see in the performance by Delana Flowers and Sam Lothard,” Brinda said.

The production tells the story of the woman born into slavery in 1797 as Isabella “Belle” Baumfree in New York. Bought and sold four times, she was subjected to harsh physical labor and punishments. In 1826, the year before New York’s law freeing slaves was to take effect, she escaped to freedom with her infant daughter. She went to court to recover her son in 1828, becoming the first Black woman to win such a case against a white man.

She gave herself the name Sojourner Truth in 1843.

[gps-image name=”3493106_web1_gtr-sojourner2-020321.jpg”]

She is remembered for her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. The Prime Stage production will use the text of that speech as it was transcribed at the event.

“Also, being that Sojourner Truth was from New York and grew up speaking Dutch, we are pleased to have Lisa Bansavage as our dialect coach and confirmation of the dialect by her grandchildren,” Prime Stage said.

This will be Flowers’ debut with Prime Stage. Her credits on regional and community stages include “DINAH,” “Dreamgirls,” “Mechanics of a Legend” and “Do Lord Remember Me.” A teaching artist, she performs in acting, singing, spoken word and public speaking.

Flowers said her performance is inspired by her late grandmother.

“I knew immediately who I would channel to bring this physical representation of Sojourner Truth’s resilience. My Nanny, Annie Flowers, was exactly the kind of strength and dignity I could relate to. She was the Sojourner Truth of my lifetime.

“One of the things that stood out the most to me over the course of that last month of my grandmother’s life was her perfect posture. It amazed me that though her body was failing, the dignity with which she held herself never faltered,” she said. “Right up to the end, she always sat with such unbelievable poise and a confident grace that you couldn’t help but notice. Just like Sojourner Truth.”

Flowers said both women taught her “how to stand tall in my truth, in my Blackness, in my womanhood, in my power.”

Pittsburgh-based actor Lothard voices several character from off-stage. Locally, he has performed with Bricolage Theater and his stage credits include August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

Director Linda Hastings has worked as a professional actress, singer, dancer, director and teaching artist. She has toured regionally and nationally in various productions, and has directed and performed with many Pittsburgh theater companies.

The recorded link to “Sojourner” will be available Feb. 12-26, good for streaming for 24 hours after purchase. Fee is pay-what-you-wish with a minimum of $5.

The recorded production will be available with options for audio description and captions.

A live webinar with Sojourner Truth’s great-great-grandsons Thomas Mcliechey and Cory Mcliechey will join Flowers, Hasting and Brinda for a live webinar at 1 p.m. Feb. 21. There will be an opportunity for the public to submit questions to be answered during the session.

Details: primestage.com

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)