WITCHDUCK – CADENCE AND FIREHOUSE THEATRE

WOMEN, WITCHES AND A WORLD PREMIERE CADENCE AND FIREHOUSE THEATRE PRESENT WITCHDUCK BY EVA DEVIRGILIS May 8–24, 2026 at The Carol Piersol Stage at Firehouse Theatre

Cadence and Firehouse Theatre present the world premiere of WitchDuck, a dark comedic and wickedly subversive new play based on the true story of Grace Sherwood, Virginia’s last convicted witch. This new work, written by Eva DeVirgilis, reexamines this dreadful history with a smart feminist perspective. In 1706 in Norfolk, Virginia, Grace Sherwood is about to become the last woman to be ducked in North America.

Witchducking was the practice of tying up women suspected of being witches and throwing them into the water. If they floated, they were thought to be guilty of witchcraft and in league with the devil. If they sank, they were absolved, but at that point, they were also deceased. WitchDuck brings this atrocious history to light with defiant, dark comedy and deep subversion, exposing the absurdity of power and inequality.

Three hundred and fifteen years later, playwright Eva DeVirgilis saw a sign for Witchduck Road while driving on I-64, and her curiosity was stirred. She learned about Sherwood’s fate, which took place about nine miles from DeVirgilis’ home. Thus, the birth of WitchDuck and a year-long Pipeline New Works Fellowship through Cadence, where DeVirgilis conducted additional research on early American history in the Tidewater area. Eva continued to work on the piece and brought it to a writer’s retreat held in the spring of 2025 and hosted by Cadence.

“The systems that once labeled women as “witches” didn’t disappear, they just evolved, and I feel a responsibility to bring a new voice and perspective to stories that have been told and too often forgotten,” said DeVirgilis. She added, “I wrote this for anyone who’s ever felt silenced. I want people to laugh, but I also want that laugh to catch in their throat a little. I want people to feel seen and leave entertained but also to ask harder questions about power, voice, and who gets believed. I hope it reminds us that we don’t have to turn on each other – that the real work is to reach toward one another.”

WitchDuck is directed by Rebecca Wahls and features an all-female ensemble of some of Richmond’s most beloved actors with Anna Sosa as Grace Sherwood. WitchDuck will play the Carol Piersol Stage at Firehouse Theatre from May 8-24, 2026. For show information, visit WITCHDUCK.

This production is made possible through the generous support of the following: Byrne Canaan Law, Creasy Woolfolk Concepts, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation, Herndon Foundation, Lynn and Jay Schwartz, National Endowment for the Arts, Reinhart Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Style Weekly, and an anonymous donor.

ABOUT CADENCE Cadence is a Richmond-based arts organization dedicated to presenting contemporary, award-winning theater and film works that inspire discovery, contemplation, and empathy. Alongside this professional work, Cadence offers arts education programs for children, youth, and adults, providing a safe and creative space for self-expression, cultural exploration, and individual growth. The arts have always promoted social change and expanded feelings, and Cadence’s programs encourage public dialogue, cultural exchange, and candid reflection on critical issues. These life-changing opportunities are making a positive impact on students and the wider Richmond community.

ABOUT FIREHOUSE THEATRE The Firehouse Theatre is a thriving hub of creative activity and a center for community engagement where new work takes center stage. Firehouse strives to amplify the diverse voice of the New American Theatre and advance artform and industry through innovative artistic and organizational practices.

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