Indiana Repertory Theatre

About the Play

The Reclamation of Madison Hemings
by Charles Smith
March 23 – April 16, 2022
OneAmerica Mainstage

Available for streaming April 11 – 24, 2022

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: The Reclamation of Madison Hemings’ playwright Charles Smith with IRT Board Member Julian HarRell

Saturday, March 26, 2022 | Following the 5 PM performance of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings

Please join us for a lively post-show conversation with playwright Charles Smith and Julian Harrell, an attorney at Faegre Drinker who also serves as an IRT Board member and Chair of its Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee, as they discuss the inspiration behind The Reclamation of Madison Hemings.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SPONSORED BY FAEGRE DRINKER: HOW HISTORY IS REFLECTED & RECOUNTED THROUGH UNTOLD STORIES: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. TERRI JETT AND DR. ANTWAIN K. HUNTER

Sunday, April 3, 2022 | Following the 2 PM performance of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings

Please join us for a post-show conversation with Dr. Terri Jett–Professor of Political Science, an affiliate faculty member of the Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, the Peace and Conflict Studies Program and the Faculty Director for the Butler University Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement and Senior Advisor to the President–and Dr. Antwain K. Hunter, Associate Professor of History at Butler University. The pair will discuss how history is recounted through untold stories and is not fully explored in mainstream conversation. In response to the play, the conversation will investigate the representation and words of Thomas Jefferson in relationship to how he actually lived.

the ties that bind

It’s 1866, and the Civil War has ended. Madison Hemings, son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, and Israel Jefferson, former enslaved footman, return to Monticello in search of Israel’s brother. Together, they must face their conflicting feelings about their shared past, as they reframe the narrative of American history. Slavery has been abolished, but what really has changed? From what personal bonds do we need to break free? And where do we need to hold on tight? Don’t miss this gripping world premiere about history, family, and hard truths.

*Part of IRT's INclusion Series: Celebrating Diverse Storytelling

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission.

The Reclamation of Madison Hemings is the story of two formerly enslaved Black Americans and explores the brutal history of slavery in the United States. The production contains profanity, includes stories of human violence and oppression, and depicts animal cruelty. Recommended for patrons 8th grade and above.

Health & Safety Guidelines:

All IRT patrons attending public performances must show a photo ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (administered no more than 72 hours prior to the performance), in addition to wearing a mask. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge and agree to comply with the terms of our policies. Please see our full Health & Safety information and policies on our FAQs page.

Artistic Note:
“After visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Birmingham, Alabama, and the Whitney Plantation (museum) in Louisiana, I became fascinated by how the mere listing of names had the power to paint a vivid picture of the past, while keeping the past present and vital. For several years, I wondered if there was a theatrical equivalent to what these memorials were doing. When I started researching The Reclamation of Madison Hemings and came across the names of hundreds of enslaved people who lived and died at Monticello, I realized that this was my chance to find out.” – Charles Smith, Playwright

faqs: season, safety, & streaming

read the study guide

Read the free digital program below or click here.