Since 2011, Theaterlab has been a creative partner with Voices Inside, presenting readings of award-winning short plays by men incarcerated at Northpoint, a medium-security prison in Kentucky. If you’ve attended one of those sold-out evenings, you know how special they are.
As the pandemic unfolded, our thoughts turned to people currently incarcerated without appropriate social distancing measures, protective gear or the ability to shelter-in-place.
To celebrate National Poetry Month (April) and shine a light on the conditions faced by people who are incarcerated, we present Voices Inside: Poetry, an extension of our long-running program.
From April 30 – May 30, Theaterlab’s YouTube Channel presented readings to engage with poetry and short stories by writers who are currently or formerly incarcerated and performed by actors and poets.
Poets include Brandon Amos, Brian Batchelor, Dwayne Betts, Steven Bond, Crash, Bartholomew J. Crawford, Sterling Cunio, Drew, William Gallagher, Jonathan Ryan Harris, MAK, John Mudd, Santonio D. Murff, Raphael Nyack, Andrew Phillips, Nathaniel (Red), Cindell Rock, Robin Tichenor, Derek R. Trumbo Sr., Joe Vanderford, Velez AKA ‘Pef’ and Louise K. Waakaa’igan.
The wonderful artists who brought these poems to life are Anabelle Acosta, Noelia Antweiler, Dwayne Betts, McCaleb Burnett, Zack Calhoon, Gil Charleston, Mark Coffin, Donna Couteau, Trey Cruz, Rob Daughenbaugh, Susan Ferrara, William Gallagher, Riley Galt, Maurice Geddie, Benjamin Hake, Brian Karim, Julie Kline, Logan Kovach, Keegan Lester, Dominic Marcus, Ivan Moore, Mel Nieves, DeMone Seraphin, Tarantino Smith, and Julian Wolfe.
Special thanks to the Pen America Prison & Justice Writing Program, CURA, Stella Adler Outreach Field Programs, and Voices Inside for their great work, support and collaboration. Shout outs to Andi Lee Carter, Robby Henson, Caits Meissner, Suzy PetchEam, Ryan Opalanietet Pierce, Madeline Sayet, Elise Thoron and Nia Witherspoon.