If you love theater, the way it makes you laugh and cry, gives you chills, makes you shudder, hold your breath, scratch your head and say -
"Wow, I didn't know that, never looked at things that way before . . . hmm, maybe I should _________"
That's why P. A. Wray loves theater, why she writes these plays.
I've been learning the craft and writing plays
for over 20 years
Some are complete, published, been produced multiple times
Most are historically-based works in progress
All address the human condition -
personal flaws and strengths
societal failures and triumphs
the way we
harm, heal, move forward
While other versions have focused on Nat's mind, this version explores his heart and feelings, his relationships with his family, community and the whites. No longer a monolog this version should be more accessible to producers who desire larger casts, including colleges. Virginia Playwrights Forum will partner with Live Arts to bring this piece to Charlottesville for the 2024 WATERWORKS FESTIVAL MAY 1 - June 2.
We're excited to announce that Nat's Last Struggle is now a taped Radio Show with the engaging and powerful voice of Brad Paul Breckenridge as Nat Turner. Brad played the role of Nat in Nat Turner's Last Struggle: Finding His Way Home at the 2019 Virginia Theater Association Conference in Norfolk, Va. In 2022, when JuneteenthVA contacted Wray about producing a radio show version to present On Air during their 12 Days of Turner event, one was produced. It will be released soon.
For those interested in my Nat Turner Plays, which have been called "transformative" - I must give credit not only to Nat Turner and his fascinating life's story, but to the actors who bring that story to life. In A Chat With Nat you will see what I mean. Here's the link to view (7) Nat Turner Stage Drama - 5 Actors Talk About Playing the Role - YouTube
Very Little Theater - one of the oldest Commuity Theaters in this country, produced this piece as Readers Theater and garnered a rave review. "
"Without divulging too much of the meat of the play, I found myself entirely on Nat’s side as he wrapped up his self-defense. The story of Nat Turner has always struck a chord with me, even as a dry academic matter. Seeing it smartly dramatized was a singular experience in my American life."
"It’s a remarkable work, one I would unhesitatingly watch again, and one I am sad to say, you have missed for the moment.." - by Kelly Oristano, Eugene Scene, Nov 14, 2022
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Oct 1 & 7, 2022
Responses:
"It was breathtaking and beautiful." - Jackie Grace
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack it was so powerful." - M. Clements
"This whole section of the play [vision quest] made me weep . . . so sad, hopeful, all the feelings."
Robi
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Oct 1 & 7, 2022
Responses:
"It was breathtaking and beautiful." - Jackie Grace
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack it was so powerful." - M. Clements
"This whole section of the play [vision quest] made me weep . . . so sad, hopeful, all the feelings."
Robin Martineau
"We enjoyed how you transformed colonial black female history into a play that artistically and -- social conscience-shakingly-- addresses our present day racial and identity issues! . . . Your talent as a social justice with artful alchemy playwright stands out! We need u! Art needs u! Elizabeth Key needed u! Now psychology in individuation needs u! -
Dr. Maragret Bristow, Historian for
Hampton Roads ASALAH
(Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023
Responses:
"I didn't know a staged reading could be so powerful. But this one captured me and wouldn't let go. The script, the acting, the history - it all worked."
Mike Zeiders
"Congratultions on the new play. I thought the relationship be
Featured in the Proteus New Plays Festival at Zieders American Dream Theater Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023
Responses:
"I didn't know a staged reading could be so powerful. But this one captured me and wouldn't let go. The script, the acting, the history - it all worked."
Mike Zeiders
"Congratultions on the new play. I thought the relationship between the husband and wife was solid and I was complety blown away by the unexpected mystical elements! Keep up the great work."
Chip Fortier
"I loved it. Excellent readers, the emotions, too - extremely high kudos to you for fitting them in with abundance through mixing careful, societal correct for the time period, word choice dialog with subtle gestures. Not just the husband and wife interactions, but Macon and both of them, as well as the meaning of the general to the southern freed folk. Very nicely done."
C.j. X Pression
Twists And Turns Hidden: Stories Of American Racial Intersection
A Blog in Publishing Company,
Have Scripts Blue Moon Plays by Jean Hughes Klein
"These stories of intersectionality are what define us, tell us who we were, and suggest who we should be. With that in mind, I am looking to find those stories that have the touch of legend, of the extraordinary, of the memorable but most importantly, of the commonplace, in re-defining the American Dream." Klein https://havescripts.com/twists-and-turns/ for the entire blog
"The story of Wray’s search for Nat Turner had its origins in her youth. When she was sixteen, her grandmother, whose maiden name was Turner, asked Wray to drive her to Southampton County for a Turner family event. Wray immediately said yes, partly because her grandmother had just purchased a cool new white Impala Convertible with a baby-blue interior. The two reportedly tied on bandanas, put their sunglasses on, and headed for the country with the radio blaring." Klein
As Wray explored her past, she discovered that Missie Whitehead was her third-great aunt. " I may not share Nat’s blood, but the blood of my family members was spilled in his rebellion, as was Nat’s after he was caught — and both are still in the soil there . . . the bodies of my family were mishandled, as was Nat’s by some of the same people — and their bones are still buried in the ground somewhere there . . . What a painful legacy we two share." Wray
Nat Turner's Last Struggle: Finding His Way Home
Metropolitan Community College Longview’s
Black History Month's Show Feb 24-26, 2022
in the MCC Longview Cultural Arts Center Theatre
"Opening night of NAT TURNER'S LAST STRUGGLE, went great. With the snow, I thought we would have few attend, but I was pleasantly surprised. We were just at 80% capacity and the show received a great reception from the audience. Come out and see this powerful production. Keith Townsend, Director, Feb 24, 2022
"The audience response was awesome. This was a great production opportunity for our students. It was such a great experience for our program. The audience loved it. Second night audiences had the same positive response to the show. The script is a winner." Keith Townsend, Director, Feb 25, 2022.
"Fantastic, a new perspective on Nat Turner, so appropriate, and dynamic – I applaud the writer and performance, I think it needs a wider audience"
Bruce Williams, African American Cultural Center, Virginia Beach, Va.
"So moving. I am undone. It needs to be seen in Germany.
"Suzanne Dowaliby, performing artist in Saarbrucken, Germany
"The play was awesome and very informative. The schools don't teach or teach enough about Nat Turner and I wish that there was or can be a dvd on the play. Just in case you missed something while you were watching the play, to have on hand to watch or just to start a discussion on the play. The crew did an excellent job!!!!"
Stacie Torrence
This full length, one act-play about Nat Turner, leader of the Slave Rebellion in Southampton, County, Va., went international and professional with virtual productions by Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, Virginia in 2020. In 2021 two theaters in California live-streamed productions - all bringing accolades and new fans from across the country and beyond!!
From a production of Nat Turner's Last Struggle: Finding His Way Home seen at Wayne Theater in Waynesboro, Virginia, 2019 - Nat Turner has been ordered to stand to face his sentence - he will not die alone or in vain . . . the Great Mother is there to guide him home Marlon Hargrave as Nat Turner, Charisse Minerva as Great Mother
video credit Ernest Lowrey
The opening of the play
in a production at Live Arts in Charlottesville, Va. 2019
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