“We’re More Than Just Our Worst Mistake”
The first week of the new season opened with warmth, laughter, and a powerful sense of community. The ensemble began by reflecting on the summer’s project—what it meant to create, to perform, and to be seen. “Thank you so much for this,” one participant said. “This is the only part of my week where I don’t feel like I’m in prison.” Another added, “It unlocked creativity in people they didn’t even know they had.” For others, it was about self-recognition: “We brought laughter, hope, and tears to this place,” someone shared. “We got to give back to the community within these walls.”
As people spoke, the air filled with laughter and appreciation. Several reflected on how the work had changed them. “I learned that I don’t hate writing,” one said, to cheers from the group. Another confessed, “I have a new addiction—to the stage!” Someone else said simply, “This program helps us change. Some people didn’t have this in their life at home.” The ensemble’s reflections weren’t only about what they’d accomplished—they were about rediscovering who they could be when given space, trust, and creative purpose.
By Thursday, that same spirit of play returned in full. The group leapt into monologues from Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and As You Like It, experimenting with accents, volume, and humor. The room erupted when someone compared dramatic irony to a horror movie, shouting, “Bitch, don’t go upstairs—he’s in the bathroom!” to everyone’s laughter.
Before closing, the ensemble talked through what was coming next: The Comedy of Errors, one of Shakespeare’s earliest and wildest plays. With two sets of identical twins, separated by shipwreck and chaos, the story’s misunderstandings spiral into slapstick before ending in reunion.