Pulitzer Foundation Presents Performances by Former Prisoners

The St. Louis-based Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts in partnership with Prison Performing Arts, St. Patrick Center, and Employment Connection will present "Staging Old Masters," a theater program enabling former prisoners and homeless veterans to transcend social barriers by performing live for audiences. Beginning February 23, the participants, now trained actors, will guide attendees through the Foundation's current exhibition, "Reflection of the Buddha." "The highly personal relationship that one has with art and the profound impact that it can have on a person's life can be no better demonstrated than with the Staging project," Emily Rauh Pulitzer, founder and chair of the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, said in a statement.Each performance of theater vignettes is designed to heighten the audience's connection with the 25 works on viewa selection of Buddhist masterworks from the 2nd to 18th centuries, along with two related works of contemporary art. The mini-productions' goal is to stimulate dialogue with the viewers about the exhibition, its historical significance, and its resonance for a contemporary world. It will also serve as a morale booster for the actors.The performance represents the culmination of a collaborative and multi-disciplinary initiative, requiring the actors to participate in five months of weekly workshops that include art instruction, meditation, theater exercises, and rehearsals. Employment counseling and assistance was provided at the same time.Samantha Thomas, an actor who participated in the Pulitzer's "Staging Old Masters" program two years ago and is a participant in the current endeavor, says her experience in the program, helped her through recovery and spurred her on to become a drug treatment counselor. She is now in college and on the honor's list."We have found it both meaningful and highly impactful for all involved," Lisa Harper Chang, the Pulitzer's community projects director, said in the release.Prison Performing Arts (PPA) is a 21-year-old program that serves incarcerated juveniles and adults throughout Missouri. Its mission is to employ the performing arts to nurture discipline, teamwork, and communication skills that are essential for re-entering the society. In addition, it offers ongoing programs for participants who have been released.Watch video interviews with some former participants below. Staging Old Masters, Spring 2009: Interviews with the Actors 1 from The Pulitzer on Vimeo. Staging Old Masters, Spring 2009: Interviews with the Actors 2 from The Pulitzer on Vimeo.