Fernandez, Miller Lead NORTHPOINT: VOICES FROM A KENTUCKY PRISON

Theaterlab in association with AMZ Creative, LLC presents Northpoint: Voices from a Kentucky Prison, a one-night only benefit reading of short plays written by inmates at the Northpoint Training Center, a medium security prison in Burgin, Kentucky. The benefit includes the reading, live music by singer-songwriter Doug Wamble, and a post-show reception. Northpoint: Voices from a Kentucky Prison will take place Monday, May 23rd at 7:00 pm at Baruch Performing Arts Center (25th between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue).

In the summer of 2010, Curt L. Tofteland, Shakespeare Behind Bars Producing Director, partnered with producer/playwright Robby Henson, Robby's sister Holly Henson, (Artistic Director, Pioneer Playhouse), and playwright Elizabeth Orndorff to begin a new 10-minute playwriting program funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at the Northpoint Training Center.

The inmates read Ms. Orndorff's play The Dillinger's Dilemma, and then, through a series of classes and workshops, wrote their own plays. The inaugural program produced 10 plays by six prisoner-playwrights. Six of the short plays will be featured in the benefit reading. They are Reflections from Behind the Wire by Rick Cavins, Lunker by Jack Cook, Convictions by Rob Daughenbaugh, Screen Warriors by Denny Holder, The Lie and the Cover by Nicklaus Murrell, and The Innocent Man by Calvin Sturgill.

Prisoner-playwright Denny Holder praised the playwriting program for opening up a whole new world to him. He said, "This opportunity encourages us to learn about subjects that can benefit us not only while we are incarcerated, but when we rejoin society. Many of us only have what we have learned prior to prison, or in prison. So any opportunity to learn and grow is tremendously beneficial and appreciated."

Carlo Altomare (Theaterlab Co-Artistic Director), Jeremy Dobrish (Signs of Life), Erma Duricko (Artistic Director, Blue Roses Productions), Padraic Lillis (Sweet Storm), Melanie Sutherland (7 Sins in 60 Minutes) and Daniel Talbott (Artistic Director, Rising Phoenix Rep) will direct the short plays. The cast features Broadway veteran Peter Jay Fernandez (Julius Caesar, Jelly's Last Jam), Ashlie Atkinson (Theatre World Award, Fat Pig), Kwaku Driskell (P.O.V., Milk Can Theatre Company), Kyle Knauf (Tartuffe and Scapin, Classic Stage Company's Young Company), Michael Markham (Hamlet, Arkansas Rep), Eric T. Miller (Sweet Storm), David Sedgwick (Hamlet, Pearl Theatre) and Rick Zahn (Antoine Fuqua's Brooklyn's Finest).

The production team includes Synge Maher (Benefit Artistic Director), Lanie Zipoy (Producer), Montserrat Mendez (Producer), Steven Cunningham (Associate Producer), Orietta Crispino (Associate Producer), Destiny Lilly (Casting Director), and Chris Kateff (Graphic Design). Sponsors for the benefit include Lieb Family Cellars and Lush.

Proceeds from Northpoint: Voices from a Kentucky Prison will support this year's playwriting program and seed a two-week playwriting residency for Mac Rogers (Universal Robots, Viral) at Northpoint. During the fortnight, Rogers will lead the prisoner-playwrights through writing exercises and workshops, helping them to develop new short plays about their experiences.

Tickets to Northpoint: Voices from a Kentucky Prison are $30 at www.theaterlabnyc.com or 866.811.4111. Tax-deductible donations may also be made at www.theaterlabnyc.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.