PREVIEW: BTTUNY’s Upcoming Production of Confederates Examines the Past and Present
02/05—02/15 @ theREP, Albany
Photos by Willie David Short
“I think it’s easy to see a play or movie about slavery and think things aren't as bad as they once were and get complacent. But if you look around and pay attention, you see the oppression and aggression remnants of the slave trade in American culture.”
Separated by over a century, an enslaved rebel and a tenured professor at a modern-day college are living parallel lives. In Tony-nominated writer Dominique Morisseau’s new play Confederates, she deftly pierces through time as she examines the past and present through the eyes of two Black American women and the reins that racial and gender bias still hold over American educational systems today.
Audiences are invited into this entwining world at the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York’s (BTTUNY) upcoming production of Confederates, held at the Capital Repertory Theatre from February 5–15.
“Confederates takes the audience on a journey from slavery during the time of the Civil War to being Black in America in modern times and paints a picture of the clear parallels that exist between the two worlds,” says actress Dalina Quinones, who plays the modern character of Sandra.
For Quinones, the role of Sandra is her fourth theatrical appearance. She admits that she had never considered acting before, her husband David being the actor of the family. He has prolifically directed and acted in productions for Creative Action Unlimited, a nonprofit theater and film company that creates original productions about social issues. In 2023, Quinones herself “caught the acting bug.”
Performing ignited a new passion within her. The character of Sandra encapsulates the themes of social justice and human rights that first drew Quinones to community theater.
“Sandra is the perfect picture of how, no matter how far we've come since the Civil War, the juxtaposition between then and now is evident, and there is still a long way to go,” she says. “Sandra is a tenured college professor with many accolades, publications, an elite background, and several achievements. But none of that makes her exempt from being Black in America.”
Quinones’ co-star, Miekayla Pierre, views this production as a reason why she fell in love with theater in the first place. A senior at the University at Albany, Pierre is bringing a lifelong passion for storytelling to the character of Sara.
“Sara exists in the historical timeline of the play, and she represents the lived reality of the past that often gets romanticized or erased. What’s interesting about her is that she’s not just a symbol; she’s a person navigating survival, fear, and strength within the confines of her world,” says Pierre. “Through Sara, the audience is forced to confront the emotional truth of history, not just the facts. Her presence helps draw a very clear line between past and present, while also showing how deeply connected they still are.”
Director Michael A. Lake, who has been acting and directing with BTTUNY since its inception as Soul Rebel Performance Troupe, is fascinated by Confederates’ use of language and motifs of duality. Except for the characters of Sara and Sandra, the rest of the cast portrays dual roles.
“Each of them is playing two characters; one character is dealing with similar themes in either timeline, and highlighting the different aspects of those issues is also really interesting. It was a great challenge to be able to pull on those threads and make those connections,” says Lake.
Actress Laura Graver sees this as a credit to the play’s representation of inner duality. Her characters of Missy Sue and Candice challenge the theme of white progressivism and allyship alongside Sara and Sandra that is just scratching the surface of the larger issues they believe they understand.
“It’s about parallel timelines, but also how the past and the present aren’t really that much different,” says Graver. “Things change, but somehow they still stay the same. Things may evolve, they may shift, they may morph into something else, but at the core, they’re the same. I think it’s really topical and timely for today.”
“A big theme in the play is how we relate to one another, as Black people, amidst Black struggle and how we all are finding ways to survive in our respective institutions,” Lake adds. “Sometimes those ways align, and sometimes they don't. Sometimes that creates conflict. This is one of the themes highlighted in our production: people going through struggles can draw opposite conclusions and attack those problems differently. Not wrong, just differently.
“It expands what I think race plays can communicate, in a way that not only pulls along a white audience into a new realm of understanding, but also offers a Black audience an opportunity to see and to recognize something that we all know within our own lives.”
In addition to the play’s forefronted topics, Graver emphasizes the subliminal messages that are equally powerful. “Be kind; don't judge a book by its cover. Make sure that when you're speaking about others, speak about them kindly. Don't spread misinformation, and just be a good person. Misjudging someone and gossiping about someone is so lethal.”
Morriseau’s writing layers this thematic material with a satirical, wry wit that this production seeks to draw out. The tones balance each other, as the play delves deeper and deeper into the multilayered world.
“I think it’s easy to see a play or movie about slavery and think things aren't as bad as they once were and get complacent,” says Quinones. “But if you look around and pay attention, you see the oppression and aggression remnants of the slave trade in American culture. Sandra, like so many African Americans today, is still dealing with those remnants.”
The BTTUNY cast is eager to perform Confederates for Capital Region audiences, and Pierre praises the unique perspective the troupe brings to Confederates. “BTTUNY brings a real sense of community and intention to this production. Everyone involved genuinely cares about the story we’re telling, and that passion shows in the work.”
“This is my first production with BTTUNY, and I’ve felt incredibly welcomed and supported throughout the process,” she continues. “There’s a shared commitment to honoring the material and to telling this story with respect, honesty, and heart. I’m just really grateful to be a part of a production like this. Confederates is challenging in the best way, and being able to contribute to a story that feels so timely and important has been incredibly meaningful to me.”
“I hope audiences walk away thinking,” Pierre adds. “I want them to reflect on the connections between history and the present and to recognize how those connections show up in everyday life. More than anything, I hope it sparks conversation and encourages people to question narratives they may have accepted without really examining them.”
Confederates, presented by BTTUNY, is showing February 5–15 at theREP in Albany. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.blacktheatretroupeupstateny.org/season/confederates-2026
