The performance was to raise funds for RTA (Rehabilitation
Through the Arts) program. The fund-raising goal was reached at this
occasion, though they never received any public funds despite repeated
requests. Mentioning of word “inmates”
deters most of public funding, according to the show's director Brent Buell.
RTA
There are RTA members who have gone on to become actors. Most of them work in
social services such as helping troubled kids.
Rehabilitation
through the Arts
He
then performed a marvelous monologue from Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward, as the white mayor of a southern town,
deprived if manual labor on which the town depends – janitors, housemaids, etc
–after all the African Americans who've vanished from the town begs them to
please return so that life can get back to normal.
Other scenes follow concerned with discipline, regret and finally the former
inmates join Dutton onstage to perform last scene from King Lear.
RORY ANDERSON (Company) appeared in numerous RTA
productions at Sing Sing including Reality in Motion and The Sacrifice. Early on in his
childhood, Rory was bitten by the acting bug, performing as a cast member in
his public school's production of South
Pacific. As a member of RTA, he
wrote an adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's The
Sniper, which was produced at the Provincetown Playhouse. He is author of The Homecoming, an original play
produced at the Newman Theater. He also
co-wrote and directed a stage adaptation of the film Slam, by Richard Stratton and Marc Levin. Since his release, Rory has been an advocate
and a model for change. His work with The Osborne Association, Fortune Society,
and the Exodus Transitional Committee has given him a forum to express his
views on transition for the formerly incarcerated as well as policies governing
parole. Rory bows to his family and
friends who have been supportive of his endeavors.
CHRISTOPHER "ZUBAIR" BRADFORD (Company) is a bassist, music producer, and songwriter who has
performed with many talented musicians, singers, actors, and poets.
Christopher is moving from the back of the RTA sound booth to the front of the stage for the first time. With love and peace, be
conscious!
DAVID WAYNE BRITTON (Company) is one
of the founding members of RTA at Sing Sing
Correctional Facility. He recently
starred in the M&N production of The
Exonerated. At Sing Sing, David played feature roles in the stage versions of One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest, A Few Good Men, Slam, and Stratford's Decision, which he also wrote. He is currently appearing in the Alzheimer's Monologues, and he most
recently made his television debut on May 10th in Law and Order. With his friend and business partner, Vince
Warren, he is the founder of Why I
Learned the Hard Way, an after school program for at-risk youth.
CHARLES DUTTON (Guest Performer) is
an honored veteran of stage and screen, as well as an accomplished producer and
director. He has two Emmy Awards: in 2002 for his guest-starring role on The Practice, and in 2003 for his
guest-starring role on Without a Trace.
On stage, Dutton has received Tony nominations for his work in August Wilson's The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Other Broadway
credits include
ALONZO GREGORY (Company) is making his stage debut, however he has always possessed a love for theatrics.
He joined RTA in its first year and quickly established himself as the resident
set decorator (painting backdrops on sheets).
Alonzo's experience in prison fuels his passion for life today. He is currently writing a book chronicling
his journey during his life inside. The
Fortune Society selected his short story, I
Remember When, for publication in
Fortune News Winter/Spring 2004 issue, and Poetry.com awarded him the Editor's Choice Award in 2004 for a poem about the heroin
addiction which led him to prison. Alonzo has recently launched his own
photography business, Angelonzo Images. He dedicates his performance to
his mother Diana and hopes that his art and his message inspire others into
their peace. “Thank you, my love, my one and only Satya
for the undying love and support you've given me thus far. And to many and much more! I love you.”
SEAN DINO JOHNSON (Company) is currently a Coordinator of School Based Initiatives and
Cultural Outreach with the Council for
Unity working to rescue youth from gang involvement. During his 15 years of incarceration, Sean
received considerable training in non-violent conflict resolution with the
Youth Awareness Program. A founding member
of RTA, he appeared in 11 productions, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Slam,
CARLOS SANTIAGO (Company) last performed
for RTA in the role of Lieutenant Judge Advocate General Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good
Men; other RTA work includes The
Sacrifice and The Border. On the “outside,” Carlos has participated in
many poetry readings, the majority of which occurred after the showing of Getting Out, a documentary by George Stoney and David Bagnall, where
he was featured. Carlos is currently a
New York City Technical Assistance Manager for the AIDS Community Research
Initiative of America, where he is responsible for integrating HIV Health
Education into currently existing programs.
His most admirable credit is love and enjoyment of life with his fiancée
Maritza Soto and their precious two-ear-old daughter,
Skye Santiago.
ROBERT SANCHEZ (Company). While incarcerated,
Robert
pursued his education earning a GED, an A.A, a B.A in
Behavioral Science and a Master's degree in Professional Studies and Urban
Theology. Robert was a founding member of RTA. In December 2000,
after 15 years in prison, Robert was approved to participate in New York
State's work release program where he immediately found employment as a case
manager at STRIVE - East Harlem Employment services. At present, he is the
program manager for their social service and fatherhood departments. Robert
also worked as a youth counselor for Uth Turn, a
program geared to working with youth at risk of entering the criminal justice
system. Robert is a published poet and
is one of the men featured in the George Stoney/David
Bagnall documentary Getting Out. He sits on the Public
Private Ventures Ready 4 Work's National Advisory Committee and is a board
member of In Arms Reach, a program
geared to keeping children in touch with incarcerated parents. Robert is also
part of a project aimed at bringing a spiritual center to
ELIZABETH SPECK (Company) is a member
of Village Playback Theatre, most recently involved with RTA's
Stories from the Inside at Sing Sing. She is a
registered drama therapist and NYS Licensed Creative Arts Therapist. Her most
meaningful appearances as an actor in New York City have been in corrections
facilities, hospitals, schools, shelters, and the street, with such companies
as Hospital Audiences, the Creative Arts Team, Mass Transit Street Theater, La
Mama, and Theater for the New City. “It
is a true honor to be on stage with RTA alumni and Mr. Dutton.”
GEORGE VILLANUEVA (Company) last
performed with RTA in the Sing Sing performance of Slam. He is currently a
resident of Park Slope Brooklyn. He is a full-time student planning
a career in the construction industry. George has an 8-year-old son
named Adam, and he wishes to dedicate tonight's performance to him as well
as to his parents.
M.GREGORY FREDERICK, MFA, MPS (Writer,
currently incarcerated at Fishkill Correctional Facility) is an
award-winning painter, professional musician, published writer, fledgling
actor, and dedicated educator. He has spent the bulk of his almost six decades
on the planet in pursuit of excellence in these fields, but describes himself
as first, " ... a man, a Black man, a father, a grandfather, brother and
uncle who is consistently working to learn how to be a better human being. I have been blessed to touch and be touched
by the best of humanity from every social, spiritual and professional arena.
They have all become my family and they inspire me to understand that change is
inevitable, but growth is my option.”
PHILIP HALL (Writer, currently
incarcerated at Otisville Correctional Facility) was born
CARLISLE P. “SINCERE” RIVERA (Writer, currently
incarcerated at Fishkill Correctional Facility) has been in prison since he was
18. During a 5-year stay in solitary
confinement, he learned to tap into his inner self and find a means of
expression via poetry. Shortly thereafter, he was introduced to theater via RTA
and now loves theater and acting. Having completed two manuscripts and a degree
in Business,
FRANK RIVERA (Writer, currently incarcerated at Fishkill Correctional Facility) was
born and raised in
BRENT BUELL (Director) has been a
volunteer with RTA for five years and has directed Reality in Motion and Stratford's
Decision. He wrote and directed Breakin' the Mummy's
Code, the Spring 2005 RTA production. A veteran
stage actor, Brent has appeared in dozens of leading roles in works by Ibsen, Moliere, Strindberg, Sheridan, and Shakespeare. His critically praised play, The Gem Exchange, will be moving to a
LORRAINE MOLLER (Performance Coach)
includes among her most memorable theatre experiences two productions at Sing Sing: directing One
Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and co-directing Slam with Rory Anderson, a cast member in tonight's performance.
Other directing credits include: In the
Blood, The Crucible, David and Lisa, Playground, Actor's
Nightmare, Dracula, Luv, Electra, Voir
Dire and Our Town.
LINDA ATKINSON
(Acting Coach) has performed with the
Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, New York
Shakespeare Theatre and in two Neil Simon plays on Broadway. She has
acted around the country, performing with the Old Globe in
Katherine Vockins, RTA Producer and PCI Executive
Director, founded the RTA program at Sing Sing in
1996, and has collaborated with NYU to bring theatre programs to the Woodbourne
and Fishkill Correctional facilities.
Brent Buell,
Director and volunteer with RTA for the past 5 years, has done a fine job of
letting these actors find their own truth through performing, and it must be
very rewarding to see the amazing effect of this work through the blossoming of
the program participants' lives.
Bravo, RTA! Which, by the way, receives no public funding and
is solely supported by volunteers and individual donors. What a better
society we might be if programs like this were encouraged and supported by our
federal, state and local governments. Perhaps the wider acknowledgment and
government support of Rehabilitation Through The Arts
could lead us to a more compassionate and forgiving place on the world stage.
Monday June 5, at Playwrights Horizons
Rehabilitation
Through The Arts receives no public funding and is
supported by the generosity of the RTA volunteers, individual donors, community
groups and churches and some foundations.
RTA is a program of
Katherine Vockins,
RTA Producer and PCI Executive Director 914 232 7566
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