Incarceration Plantation: The Musical – A Home Brew Series work in development
March 29, 2025 – 7 PM at 7 Stages – FREE
Incarceration Plantation: The Musical is a sister and brother’s creative journey, despite the walls that keep them apart. They reflect on more than 30 years of dealing with America’s prison system, its impact, and how systemic racism and the disproportionate sentencing of Black people perpetuates a form of modern slavery.
When Dorothy Bell was 14, her brother Roger Bell II committed a burglary, but was convicted for murder and sentenced to three life terms. In 2020, he began sharing his poetry with Dorothy, and she helped him through the process of writing a book. Their continued communication and collaboration helped them get through some dark and terrifying times.
Inspired by classic musicals like The Wiz, Oklahoma and Mary Poppins, Dorothy adds a spoonful of sugar to make these stories more accessible. Dorothy explains “I am a singer, composer, musician and empath ready to sing the story out loud so that we can combat the narrative of fear and division through the power of art.” This story is about decades of incarceration, but it shines a lot on the possibilities of hope and healing.
This production is part of 7 Stages’ Home Brew Series, a program that provides a platform and resources for works in development. While Home Brews offer support at any stage in the development process, this new production is in the seedling stage. This public sharing will offer audiences select new musical and movement compositions, letters between Dorothy and Roger, original poetry created behind bars and a sneak peak into the overall storyline.
