Rachel Beanland depicts a real-life tragedy in "The House Is on Fire": the Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811. One December evening, a theater in Richmond is packed for a double-billing performance. In the audience are Sally, a young widow and descendant of an American hero; Cecily, a young Black woman looking for an escape from her increasingly-difficult life; Patrick, a stagehand with dreams of a steady job; and Gilbert, a Black blacksmith trying to secure his wife's freedom. When a fire breaks out, these four, along with everyone else in the theater, must make split-second decisions that could determine whether they live or die. Even after the flames subside, their stories will forever be intertwined.
Release date: April 4
