Some years ago my friend and colleague, Curt Tofteland, founded a Shakespeare company behind bars. This was at the same time, ironically that I published my first book. And when we discovered we had coincidentally chosen the same name for our projects– "Shakespeare Behind Bars," we could not help but be connected. The mission of Toftland's company was always "to offer theatrical encounters with personal and social issues to the incarcerated, allowing them to develop life skills that will ensure their successful reintegration into society."
After five years of planning, Tofteland has worked out a terrific Shakespeare in Prisons Conference hosted by the University of Notre Dame on Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16, 2013. The conference,for starters, will feature keynote addresses and screenings by Toftland about Shakespeare Behind Bars.
Sammie, Demond and Big D work on an entrance. Courtesy of ShakespeareBehindBars.org
Tom Magill, the founder of the Educational Shakespeare Company and director of the Irish film Mickey B, an amazing rendition of Shakespeare's Macbeth, will also be a conference highlight.
Photo from Micky B posted on Changing Lives, Changing Minds
The conference aims to bring together artists and educators engaged in transformational arts programs. There are many of us who use or have used Shakespeare in prisons across the United States (and the world) with incarcerated populations. The goal of the conference is to promote a collaborative learning forum, explore craft and allow networking time for practitioners.
See the site here to find out more about registration and housing but it is all incredibly reasonable.
In honor of the work, I give you Shylock and Portia from my production of The Merchant of Venice at Framingham's Women's Prison in Massachusetts.
Photo from 1988 production of Merchant
These photos give a glimpse into how deeply Shakespeare can penetrate the performer. I applaud all of the practitioners who defy the doubters. Hopefully this conference will pack the house!