Program Description
Event Details
In 1715, Angus “Quill” MacGregor, nephew of the infamous Highlander outlaw Rob Roy, sailed to the Caribbean to join the pirate rebellion fighting to place Catholic James Edward Stuart on the throne of Britain instead of the German-speaking Protestant George. Although he sailed for most of his pirating career with Edward “Blackbeard” Thache, Angus was also a companion and confidante of “Black” Sam Bellamy, called “The Robin Hood of the Seas,” from 1715 until Sam’s death in April 1717.
Angus (portrayed by actor Joey Madia) will introduce the audience to the way of life of the pirates in the Golden Age and dispel popular myths.
Joey Madia is an actor, screenwriter, audio dramatist, playwright, novelist, and director.
He has written several main stage musicals and dramas, with a specialty in Historical Education Theatre and participatory plays for youth. He has written and performed pieces about Civil War Captain Louis Emilio as a Chautauqua Scholar for Voices from the Earth, and since 2016 he has portrayed six different Golden Age pirates and a Royal Navy lieutenant in The Cannon and the Quill, commissioned by Port City Tour Co.
As a teaching-artist he has taught and mentored thousands of students in theatre and creative writing and has spoken at many schools and national conferences. He has worked with organizations including The Epilepsy Foundation of NJ and Camp NOVA to bring theatre to students with disabilities.
His website is newmystics.com/joey. He also has profiles at Stage 32, Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, Film Freeway, IMDb, and OnStellar.
Funding has been provided by Virginia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaHumanities.org