PRISON PERFORMING ARTS
Our prison theatre class decided not to do Shakespeare this time and instead chose a play by Bertold Brecht, evidently a famous German genius. The play is called The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and we're busy reading and blocking and trying to figure out who's playing who. In case you haven't heard of it, and I sure hadn't although I recently read a review because a troupe in San Francisco is currently performing it, it's very political and hilarious in a most strange way.
Since PPA began here at WERDCC, we have performed Macbeth, Crowns, Midsummer Night's Dream (my very favorite), and Twelfth Night. We work in semesters and take on a few scenes per semester. (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.)
We always perform for the prisoners here, and then we perform two shows in the visiting room for staff and visitors. Anyone who's a member/contributor of Prison Performing can attend—if he or she can pass a Highway Patrol MULES check. (I guess the prison administration doesn't want unsavory characters with prison records or outstanding parking tickets coming in to the prison as a bad influence on the convicts.)
Our visiting room shows are scheduled for Monday, June 28, a matinee (1:00) and an evening show (6:00). Professors, attorneys, family, an occasional judge, friends of the arts and assorted other interested people attend. A fascinating bunch. And before and after the show and reading of our original poetry, we are allowed to mingle and talk with the audience members, which is always fun and enlightening for all.
If any perusers of Facebook, who are interested in meeting me or rubbing elbows with prisoners at the women's prison in Vandalia, want to come, all you have to do is give a donation to Prison Performing Arts and let them know that you want to attend the June 28th show. You will then have to submit your social security number so that the prison can run a check on you. PPA takes care of all this paperwork.
PPA runs entirely on donations, so they always need help. Check out all the good they do for men and women in jails and prisons in Missouri: (www.prisonartsstl.org); 314-289-4190; PPA 3547 Olive Street, Suite 250, St Louis, MO 63103-1014. Any and all contributions are most welcome!
Our fearless leader is Professor Agnes Wilcox, who motivates us, cheers us on, corrects us, directs us, researches for us, brings in fascinating material and guest speakers, and is totally convinced that we are not to be discarded as the worthless of Missouri. She makes sure we all do the best we can and learn much about the arts and about ourselves.
Check out their website and contribute to this most amazing organization—and I hope to see you in June!
--Patty
No comments:
Post a Comment