Buffalo Soldier originated when Bruce Miller read about Jones Morgan in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in the early 1990s. A centenarian living in Jackson Ward, just blocks from Theatre IV’s historic Empire Theatre, Morgan was a veteran of the 9th Cavalry who fought in the Spanish-American War. He believed he might be the last surviving veteran of that conflict, and many suspected he was also the nation’s last Buffalo Soldier. General Colin Powell and President George H.W. Bush both recognized him as such, with Powell honoring him in speeches and correspondence, and Bush welcoming him to the White House.

Inspired by extensive interviews with Morgan, Miller wrote Buffalo Soldier in 1995, capturing the man’s story, his memories, and the importance of honoring our military forebears. The play’s national tour, funded by the Wallace Foundation (formerly the Lila Wallace Readers’ Digest Fund), was met with great success.

During a school performance on a military base, Buffalo Soldier caught the attention of a U.S. Army Chaplain. Following the September 11th attacks, the Chaplain invited Theatre IV to perform the play at the Pentagon as a morale booster in the week leading up to the planned removal of the wreckage. Theatre IV accepted, making history as the first professional theatre company to perform within the Pentagon’s walls. The production received overwhelming praise from those in attendance. The play continued to tour to schools and venues into the mid-2010s.

In 2027, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic Pentagon performance, ATLAS Partnership is planning a nationwide military base tour of Buffalo Soldier. To launch this effort, ATLAS seeks to collaborate with Fort Gregg-Adams and Homefront Players, its resident theatre company. Additionally, ATLAS will seek support from our Virginia members of Congress to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm for the production, highlighting its historical significance, underscoring its present-day relevance, and honoring the selfless acts of service and sacrifice of our country’s military families.