Captain André Cailloux was born enslaved on August 25, 1825, in Plaquemines Parish. He came to New Orleans at age five. He learned to read in secret. At twenty-one, he was granted his freedom. He became a master cigar roller, a skilled boxer, a devoted husband to Félicie Louise Coulon, and a father of four. He was known throughout the Tremé and 7th Ward as a man who lifted others.
When the Civil War broke out, André Cailloux joined the 1st Regiment Louisiana Native Guards — the first Black regiment to serve under the Union flag. On May 27, 1863, at the Battle of Port Hudson, he led charge after charge under enemy fire, refusing to leave the field until he fell. He was 37 years old. His funeral in New Orleans drew thousands. His name has been honored, forgotten, and reclaimed.
This role is the center of the 30-minute one-man show. The artist playing Captain Cailloux holds the full weight of the narrative and moves the audience through his life, his resistance, and his legacy.
Create a free account to keep reading — and to apply.
Create My Free AccountYou're just 60 seconds away from your new Creativeloft account.