RTA Accomplishments - 2005
Shakespeare Sonnets/Contemporary Monologues' Workshop concluded in January with a performance for invited inmate guests and RTA volunteers. Participants developed monologues for two and three-person scenes during December and received constructive comments and critiques from the workshop participants.
A Playwriting Course for beginners and advanced beginners started in October 2004 and continued through February 2005. Attracting a group of four-to six prisoners each week, the course provided the men with an introduction to play structure and dialogue writing. The workshop leader, Howard Meyer, provided each individual participant with a critique of his work as well as guidance for further development of each piece. Two new plays have emerged from this course that show potential for a Sing Sing production.
An Improvisational Workshop began in January and continued through the end of February. The course was led by Randy Mulder, a licensed drama therapist and artistic director of Village Playback Theater (VPT) . Over the eight weeks, the prisoners were taught a range of improvisational techniques and were introduced to aspects of Playback Theatre. The final session culminated in a performance for the participants' peers and other RTA volunteers.
In the show, the performers used the improvisation techniques learned to elicit stories and ideas from each other and from the participant prisoner audience. The result of such a performance, which included the use of music and movement, was a highly personalized, communal exchange that moved everyone in the room with excitement and a greater understanding of a shared experience.
The Spring Theatrical Production of Breakin The Mummy's Code started rehearsals in March, and the production was mounted for four nights, from May 17-20. The first three nights were performed for the prisoner population, with a total attendance of approximately 900 men. On the final night, May 20, the cast performed for an audience of 225 invited guests from the outside community. The play was written and directed by Brent Buell, an RTA volunteer, featuring a cast of 25 that played over 70 characters.
Breakin' The Mummy's Code tells the story of a fictional RTA production that is allegedly written by six prisoners. The audience quickly learns the play isn't ready and that they will be watching the first run-through. What follows is the fractured and uproarious journey of a young Egyptian Prince seeking to uncover the mystery of his "mummy's" murder. The search leads him through a staggering variety of locales - from Medieval London, pirate ships and the Old West, to gladiatorial combat in the Roman Coliseum. An additional 15 prisoners participated as the stage and technical crew.
The Fundamentals of Theatre, an 8 week course for new members and a refresher course for other members of RTA was initiated in early June. It was led by Dr. Joanna Chan and included the basics of acting, stage etiquette and language and production planning.
A Scene Study Workshop, lasting 6 weeks, began in late June. Open to any member of RTA, the Workshop focused on building acting and text interpretation skills and having fun. This course examined scenes from great classics ranging from Shakespeare to the 20th century. The course was led by Linda Atkinson.
Reentry Improvisation Workshop, initiated in July, focused on studying documentaries and conducting dialogue on issues surrounding pre-release from prison and reentry into free society. The goal of the workshop was to develop a small troupe of RTA actors who would work with reentry personnel within Sing Sing to better prepare prisoners for their re-integration into society and family when released.
A Visual Art Class was established in July , taught by Rachel Mason, an established teacher and published artist. This program is the first departure from theater arts for RTA and answers a long standing request from the prisoners for RTA to provide art classes. The class has attracted 8 students and will run year round.
Fishkill Correctional Facility (Beacon, NY). During the summer a theater program was established in this prison through a collaboration of RTA and New York University's Drama Therapy Department. Robert Landy (Drama Therapy Dept. Chair) began his involvement with RTA as a teacher for the program and, subsequently, continued his relationship by creating an intern exchange program between NYU/RTA and Fishkill Correctional Facility.
Woodbourne Correctional Facility (Woodbourne, NY). A theater program was established at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in October, as a result of a collaboration between RTA and New York University's (NYU) Education Theater Department. Professor Philip Taylor (Education Theater Dept. Chair) is leading the course work with support from NYU graduate students. A research program to study the impact of drama in this setting may be developed this fall by Dr. Taylor.
The Fall Theatrical Production of The N Trial began rehearsals in August , and the production was mounted for four nights, December 13-16 . The first three nights were for the prisoner population with an attendance of nearly 1000 men. The final night had a 250-person audience, comprised by members of the outside community. The N Trial, written by Philip Hall, a prisoner member of RTA, and directed by inmate Kelly Watts, is a thoughtful and provocative investigation of the use of the word "nigger" in American culture. It featured 25 actors and a production staff of 13.
