At the prison in the 1980s and 90s, trounstine directed productions such as arsenic and old lace and the merchant of venice, and adaptations that included the scarlet letter. Julius caesar at luther luckett correctional complex shakespeare is my church. Sammie byron, brutus most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Shakespeare behind bars is director hank rogersons documentary of toftelands prison production of the tempest in its ninemonth gestation, from its first workshops through its performance. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Shakespeare behind bars, written and directed by hank rogerson and produced by jilann spitzmiller, is an inspiring work that demonstrates the value of such initiatives. Shakespeare behind bars is a powerful story about the redemptive power of art and education.
Trounstine assisted me with viewing her personal archives of the performances. Whether you are able to view shakespeare behind bars in a theatre or you must wait for the eventual dvd, shakespeare behind bars is a film that begs to be seen. Teachers who think their students are tough might find inspiration in trounstines 10year stint teaching creative writing and theater in a high security. Mostly, it is about the shakespeare behind bars program run by curt tofteland in the luther luckett correctional complex in kansas. Shakespeare goes behind prison bars the boston globe. Twenty male inmates in a kentucky prison form an unlikely shakespearean acting troupe. The work was the basis of her book, shakespeare behind bars. Shakespeare behind bars is an organization offering theatrical encounters with personal and social issues to incarcerated and postincarcerated adults and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Shakespeare behind bars isnt necessarily a perfect documentary, but it is a brilliant documentary. Shakespeare behind bars is an important story about the redemptive influence of art and education. Sammie byron, brutus most noble brother, you have done me. On the contrary, shakespeare behind bars is a story of fortitude and hope, transcendence and courage, as well as the solidarity of the human spirit in adversity.
There is background about these programs, but much, maybe most of the book is the authors interviews with inmates in the programs. Shakespeare behind bars is a uniquely powerful work that gives voice to forgotten women, sheds a compassionate light on a dark world, and proves the redemptive power. Buy this book teachers who think their students are tough might find inspiration in. In december 2008, twentysomething jill grunenwald graduated with her masters degree in library science, ready to start living her dream of becoming a librarian. Shakespeare inside goes behind the scenes to reveal shakespeare a. Jan 01, 2006 the tears dont, however, seem forced, or cited for manipulative purposes.
In shakespeare behind bars, luther luckett seems like one of the last prisons in america openly dedicated to the principle of reform instead of old. The program is the oldest of its kind in north america. It is drama in both the literal and figurative senses at its best, period. The tears dont, however, seem forced, or cited for manipulative purposes. In 1988, trounstine began to teach acting to a group of women inmates at a massachusetts prison. The book offers a record of fiercely personal experiences, based upon the authors experience of watching prison yard rehearsals and performances, and interviewing inmates, program. The plays, said the tewksbury resident, were an outgrowth of an inmates wish. Shakespeare behind bars is written and directed by hank rogerson and produced by jilann spi. The power of drama in a womens prison, published in 2001. At turns poignant and hilarious, reading behind bars is a perfect read for fans of orange is the new black and shakespeare saved my life. Shakespeare behind bars is a film that follows an allmale shakespearean theater company composed of convicted felons. If you are looking for a book about struggle, success, despair, and hope, then this is the book for you. Shakespeare behind bars by jean trounstine was the most touching, emotional, and impactful book i read in 20. Marjorie agosin, winner of the united nations leadership award on human rights.
The impact of mickey b and shakespeare behind bars september 3, 2019 may 14, 2019 by sampler much of shakespeares work revolves around forgiveness, redemption, crime, or freedom, making it the perfect canvas for inmates to pour their feelings into. Reading behind bars is a best book club book for discussion, a memoir of a woman working behind bars as the prison librarian at a mens minimumsecurity prison. The exhibition highlights a 1970 edition of the alexander text of the complete works of shakespeare that circulated throughout the robben island prison in south africa from 1975 to 1978. For one year, while incarcerated at kentuckys luther luckett prison, the cast rehearse and perform a full production of shakespeare s great last play, the tempest. Mar 29, 2007 mostly, it is about the shakespeare behind bars program run by curt tofteland in the luther luckett correctional complex in kansas. Prison theatre, which draws together some of the most original and innovative programs in contemporary prison theatre. Shakespeare behind bars is an adult and juvenile arts program offering theatrical encounters with personal and social issues to the incarcerated, allowing them.
Based upon the authors experience of watching prison yard rehearsals and performances, and interviewing inmates, program directors, and wardens, shakespeare inside is not an objective, dispassionate account of how shakespeare is bastardized by. Shakespeare behind bars english college of liberal arts. A deeply stirring account of one womans experience teaching. She began tentatively, an oddball experiment in a hardtocrack place, but her attempts were successful. In shakespeare behind bars, trounstine, who spent 10 years teaching at a massachusetts womens prison, focuses on six inmates who, each in her own way, discover in the power of shakespeare a way to transcend the painful constraints of incarceration. Rogerson and spitzmiller are a husband and wife team that has collaborated on projects for over 25 years, including the awardwinning documentaries still dreaming, homeland and. It intends to encourage the development of life skills that will ensure their successful reintegration into society. Curt is the founder and producing director of shakespeare behind bars, an educational program that has been serving incarcerated adults and. Prison theatre, which draws together some of the most original and innovative programs in. The robben island shakespeare, one of the exhibitions at the folger, opened on may 25, 20 and closed on october 2, 20. So writes jean trounstine in shakespeare behind bars.
Mar 10, 2001 shakespeare behind bars lisa talks to author jean trounstine about her experiences as a teacher at framingham womens prison in massachusetts. Shakespeare behind bars by jean trounstine overdrive. Shakespeare behind bars begins with sammie working on calibans speech from shakespeares the tempest. While many people might consider the works of shakespeare to be best examined in a college classroom or on a theater stage, bates wanted to explore the possibilities for shakespeare behind bars. Shakespeare behind bars is written and directed by hank rogerson and produced by jilann spitzmiller. Rogerson and spitzmiller are a husband and wife team that has collaborated on projects for over 25 years, including the awardwinning documentaries still dreaming, homeland and circle of stories. With honesty, authenticity, clarity and simplicity, hank rogerson beautifully brings to life the true story of shakespeare s the tempest in the lives of the men of luckett. Shakespeare behind bars an awardwinning documentary follows prisoners at the luther luckett correctional complex in kentucky as. Shakespeare behind bars english college of liberal. Shakespeare behind bars lisa talks to author jean trounstine about her experiences as a teacher at framingham womens prison in massachusetts.
The 2000 shakespeare behind bars flashcards quizlet. Shakespeare behind bars was a strangely uplifting documentary despite its content. Shakespeare behind bars by jean trounstine biz books. Shakespeare behind bars has men, women and youth performing plays by the bard while incarcerated. Here, jonathan shailor interviews curt tofteland, one of the contributing authors to his book, performing new lives. The shakespeare behind bars film, which premiered in 2005 at the sundance film festival, captures the story of how imprisoned participants experience theatrical encounters with personal and.
The bard behind bars goes behind the scenes to reveal shakespeare at work in the most decisive institutional context of our time in prisons. Based upon the authors experience of watching prison yard rehearsals and performances, and interviewing inmates, program directors, and wardens, shakespeare inside is not an objective, dispassionate account of how shakespeare is bastardized by repressive. Shakespeare behind bars the power of drama in a womens prison st. Join facebook to connect with curt tofteland and others you may know. The soulsearching of these men comes across as genuine. Based upon the authors experience of watching prison yard rehearsals and performances, and interviewing inmates, program directors, and wardens. What lies behind these prison bars will ultimately free every man on the face of the earth. Shakespeare behind bars is a uniquely powerful work that gives voice to forgotten women, shed a compassionate light on a dark world, and proves the redemptive power of art and education. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. The organizations vision statement is that shakespeare behind bars was founded on the belief that all human. Shakespeare behind bars is presented in a 16x9 video transfer with anamorphic enhancement for widescreen monitors. Indeed, many of the setbacks over the nearly 40week rehearsal period unfold with a dramatists sense of ironyand shakespeare behind bars.
Shakespeare behind bars begins with sammie working on calibans speech from shakespeare s the tempest. Jul 15, 2007 the work was the basis of her book, shakespeare behind bars. The colors are a little muted at times, and there is some visible grain in outdoor sequences, plus a little edge enhancement. An interview with curt tofteland, contributor to performing new lives by jkp posted on april 21, 2011 here, jonathan shailor interviews curt tofteland, one of the contributing authors to his book, performing new lives. We journey through 25 weeks of inmates in the shakespeare behind bars program working on the play in order to perform it for friends, family and other inmates. Tofteland, founder of shakespeare behind bars, has a chapter in this book. Shakespeare behind bars is a tremendously moving film, where the protagonists are not merely defined by their crimes but are afforded dignity and a fresh chance to look truth in the eye, and embrace it.
Buy shakespeare behind bars 2006 region 1 ntsc by isbn. I started my own outreach because in my mind it was too. When i first began my tenderness tour in 1989, i was an angry, bitter and hopeless man whose childhood sexual abuse had eaten away at my soul and left my soul feeling tattered and torn. The power of drama in a womens prison jean troustine is a professor of humanities at middlesex community college and is the cofounder of the womens branch of changing lives through literature, an educational alternative to prison. Shakespeare behind bars is an organization offering theatrical encounters with personal and social issues to incarcerated and postincarcerated adults and juveniles. Jean trounstine talks about shakespeare behind bars. Shakespeare behind bars an awardwinning documentary follows prisoners at the luther luckett correctional complex in kentucky as they seek redemption and perhaps a greater. Convicts at luther luckett correctional complex in lagrange, kentucky who have raped, murdered etc and surrounded by bad people in an obviously depressing environment find something they genuinely enjoy and can become important, popular and celebrated in acting. Shakespeare behind bars is a healer for every individual on the planet. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Mamie, a nurse in the free world, now the prison gardener who makes cards with poetry and dried flowers and battles her own illness behind bars shakespeare behind bars is a uniquely powerful work that gives voice to forgotten women, shed a compassionate light on a dark world, and proves the redemptive power of art and education.
Shakespeare behind bars is a uniquely powerful work that gives voice to forgotten women, sheds a compassionate light on a dark world, and proves the redemptive power of art and education. Shakespeare behind bars the university of michigan press. Michigan press, 20042012 paperebook from the book jacket. Mamie, a nurse in the free world, now the prison gardener who makes cards with poetry and dried flowers and battles her own illness behind bars. The tempest tells the story of prospero, a former duke exiled with his daughter, miranda, to a deserted island, where he studies sorcery and plots revenge.
Hagseed, margaret atwoods retelling of the tempest, is part of the hogarth shakespeare project, in which contemporary authors reimagine some of the bards most famous plays. Shakespeare behind bars is the world renowned documentary based upon the shakespeare behind bars theater troupe at the luther lucket correctional facility. Film notes shakespeare behind bars university at albany. Communication is the first thing we need to learn as human beings and learn how to be honest with one another. I also traveled to massachusetts, where i visited the home of jean trounstine, the facilitator of the original shakespeare behind bars program that operated from 19881996 at framingham womens prison. This is one major difference between scottdouglass volume and the 2005 documentary shakespeare behind bars. I began to understand that female prisoners are not damaged goods, and to recognize that most of these women had toughed it out in a society which favors othersby gender, class, or race. An indispensable contribution to literature, human rights, and world justice. Shakespeare inside goes behind the scenes to reveal shakespeare at work in the most decisive institutional context of our time in prisons.