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New Orleans, LA (October 21, 2026) - From Friday, October 16 through Saturday, October 24, Voices in the Dark Repertory Theatre Company will present Le Code Noir – Revisited, New Orleans’ first and only outdoor historical drama.
Co‑written by the late Mark R. Sumner, Director Emeritus of the Institute of Outdoor Drama, and award‑winning producer/director Tommye Myrick, Le Code Noir takes its name from the 1685 edict issued by King Louis XIV of France. Comprised of 48 articles, the edict governed the lives of enslaved Africans and Free People of Color and ordered the expulsion of Jewish communities from France’s colonies in the Western Hemisphere. Code Noir remained in effect in America until Emancipation in the early 1860s and was formally repealed by unanimous vote of the French Assembly in France on May 28, 2026.
Rooted in documented history and directed by Ms. Myrick, Le Code Noir explores the regional and national events, cultural traditions, and social customs that shaped Louisiana’s identity. Le Code Noir first premiered in Congo Square from October 13–15, 2023, with a cast of more than 63 performers.
The drama chronicles the 30‑year journey of a 17‑year‑old enslaved African girl who arrived at the port of New Orleans in 1794, auctioned after her former master fled Saint‑Domingue during the Haitian Revolution. Her story illuminates the making of Louisiana, highlighting the Haitian Revolution, the Louisiana Purchase, the Revolt of 1811, Louisiana statehood, the War of 1812, and the Battle of New Orleans. Told through songs, dance, and portrayals of historical figures such as Jean Laffite, Andrew Jackson, Marie Laveau, and W.C.C. Claiborne, the production reveals not only the merging of cultures unique to New Orleans, but also the merging of bloodlines that shaped its heritage.
Featuring an ethnically diverse ensemble of more than fifty performing artists—including actors, singers, dancers, and musicians—the production brings together the Kai Knight Dance Ensemble; legendary percussionist and cultural bearer Baba Luther Gray; master percussionist Bill Summers, to evoke the authentic rhythms and spirit of Congo Square.
Le Code Noir is sponsored, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts; the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation; the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund; the New Orleans Council for the Arts; the Louisiana Division of the Arts; Le Musée de Free People of Color Museum; the Congo Square Preservation Society; and the City of New Orleans.
Performance Details: Dates: October 16–24, 2026. Showtimes: Fridays & Saturdays: October 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday: October 18 at 5:00 p.m.
Reservations, groups, or school performances: Contact Ms. Australia at (504) 314‑8606
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