NORFOLK, VA — Virginia Stage Company will present a free staged reading of Sally & Tom by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks on Friday, June 19 at 2:00 PM at the historic Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk.
Presented in observance of Juneteenth, the reading offers Hampton Roads audiences an opportunity to experience one of the most acclaimed contemporary works from one of America’s foremost playwrights.
In Sally & Tom, The Good Company, a scrappy self-produced off-off-off Broadway theatre company, is rehearsing its next big show: a play about Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Writer Luce is playing Sally; her partner in romance and art, Mike, is both directing the production and playing Tom. As the company grapples with the challenges of bringing history to the stage, Parks explores the complicated intersections of art, power, race, and American history.
Funny, provocative, and deeply insightful, Sally & Tom examines who gets to tell America’s stories, whose voices are remembered, and how the past continues to shape the present. Through Parks’ signature blend of humor, theatricality, and historical inquiry, the play invites audiences to engage with the complexities of the American story in new and unexpected ways.
The staged reading is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, and reservations are encouraged.
This free community event is presented by Virginia Stage Company with support from the City of Norfolk.
Event Details
Sally & Tom
By Suzan-Lori Parks
Friday, June 19, 2026
2:00 PM
Wells Theatre
108 E. Tazewell Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Free Admission though we recommend people RSVP at vastage.org
About Virginia Stage Company
Virginia Stage Company is the leading professional theatre company in Southeastern Virginia, serving more than 35,000 audience members annually. Based at the historic Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk, Virginia Stage Company produces a diverse season of classic, contemporary, and new works while engaging the community through education, outreach, and artistic programming. For more information, visit vastage.org.
