As America approaches its 250th birthday, Still We Rise at Little Theatre of Alexandria resists the temptation to celebrate the nation through nostalgia and buzzwords of freedom and democracy. Instead, the Broadway cabaret examines the tensions that have defined the American experiment: triumph and failure, exclusion and belonging, injustice and progress.
The three-act production, written and directed by Jasmine Jones and with musical direction by Nathan Nichipor, weaves together songs from Broadway musicals spanning decades and genres, including Hamilton, Stephen Sondheim‘s Assassins, and The Color Purple. Through those selections, the cabaret confronts issues ranging from gun violence and military service to white supremacy, LGBTQ+ rights, entrepreneurship, and women’s rights. The result is a musical narrative that acknowledges America’s contradictions without surrendering its faith in the possibility of progress.
Taylor Mitchell delivers one of the evening’s standout performances. Dressed in black leather pants, neatly braided cornrows, and hoop earrings, she brings warmth, charisma, and sharp characterization to “Independently Owned” from Shucked.
Her rich vocals and assured stage presence make the number one of the evening’s early highlights. The song celebrates entrepreneurship while honoring Black innovators whose contributions often go overlooked. Mitchell performs with conviction and joy, embodying the determination and self-reliance at the heart of the piece.
She returns in Act 2 with “Still I Rise” and “I’m Here,” delivering the evening’s most electrifying sequence. If “Independently Owned” showcases confidence, these numbers reveal her full power. Her vocals soar, her energy fills the theater, and her commitment to the material transforms the songs into declarations of resilience. The performance serves as the emotional centerpiece of the evening and embodies the persistence that gives the show its title.
The production also pays tribute to public service and patriotism. Shravya Kadambi delivers a moving rendition of “Welcome Home,” honoring veterans and service members whose commitment has helped shape the nation’s history. The performance underscores one of the show’s recurring themes: America’s story belongs not only to presidents and politicians but also to ordinary citizens who answer the call to serve.
Daniel Qiu opens “Where Is the Justice?” by reminding audiences that the decade leading up to America’s 250th anniversary has been marked by Islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, and deep social divisions. Qiu turns the song into a cry for justice rather than a declaration that justice has already been achieved, emphasizing that many of the nation’s promises remain unfinished.
Even with open binders in hand for the entirety of the production, the ensemble performs with exuberance, flair, and infectious joy.
Particularly memorable is the ensemble’s performance of “Just Be” from Kinky Boots. Accompanied by rainbow-colored fans that snap open in unison across the stage, Cristian Bustillos, Nik Sorocenski, Rylan Snyder, and the company embrace the song’s message of authenticity with confidence and warmth, creating one of the evening’s most visually striking moments. More than a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, the performance reinforces the production’s larger argument that America’s strength lies in its ability to make room for more voices, experiences, and stories.
Kim Crago‘s lighting design, Alan Wray‘s sound design, and Mike Holland‘s percussion provide a strong foundation for the production’s structure. Musical numbers are interwoven with quotations from Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Andrew Jackson, and other figures who helped shape the nation’s civic identity. The approach occasionally feels crowded, but more often it succeeds in creating a dialogue between history and the present.
One quotation featured during the cabaret suggests that if you somehow survive when you should have died, good fortune will follow. That idea becomes the evening’s thesis. Despite wars, political upheaval, social conflict, and repeated predictions of decline, America endures.
Still We Rise argues that the nation’s defining characteristic is not perfection but persistence. At a moment when public discourse often centers on division, Little Theatre of Alexandria offers a reminder that hope, like democracy itself, survives only when people choose to keep moving forward.
Running Time: 90 minutes including a 15-minute intermission.
Still We Rise: A Broadway Cabaret to Celebrate America’s 250th plays through June 21, 2026 (Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm), at Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA. Tickets are available online or through the box office at (703) 683-0496.
