The Charleston Gambit: Robert Smalls' Bid for Freedom
Thursday, February 4, 2027, 7:30 PM EST
Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective
$ Unknown
Written & Performed by Chesney Goodson (WORLD PREMIERE!) Step aboard history’s most daring escape in The Charleston Gambit , a riveting one-man show that brings the legendary Robert Smalls to life. Born enslaved in Beaufort, South Carolina, Smalls commandeered a Confederate warship in 1862, sailing himself and his crew to freedom. His audacity changed the course of the Civil War—and his legacy as a statesman reshaped Reconstruction. Acclaimed character actor Chesney Goodson (last seen in DS!PAC’s Juked ) delivers a powerhouse performance that spans Smalls’ transformation from enslaved pilot to U.S. Congressman. Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman , this production is a bold tribute to resistance and radical possibility.