September 24 & 26, 2024 SIP Blog

September 24, 2024

Everyone was excited to see the Much Ado About Nothing books. One ensemble member mentioned she had seen the end of the movie version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Another shared that her wedding had been postponed due to a birth certificate issue, but she now had the certificate. We all engaged in conversation about music, sampling, and copyright before the facilitator returned.

The check-in began with an update about the program callout. It was mentioned that several participants were removed and new ones would be added. The group also discussed various personal updates, such as one participant having her first family visit in two years, while another had exciting wedding plans. Everyone expressed enthusiasm about continuing with the season.

We lowered the ring, with members contributing words like “peace,” “laughter,” and “unity.” The group was eager to dive into the new books, so we started by reading the character list. Each participant read a character description, and we began Act 1, Scene 1. After reading a few pages, we paused to discuss the events. As the scene unfolded, the group became fond of the witty character Beatrice. They commented on the dialogue, noting how it was reminiscent of conversations in their own lives—quick-witted banter, humor, and "talking shit" with friends.

We discussed the racial connotation of Benedick calling Hero “not fair” and explored historical beauty standards. The group appreciated the dialogue, recognizing the humor and sassiness, and comparing it to everyday interactions. One participant mentioned how Benedick reminded her of someone who avoids heartbreak by staying unattached. Others agreed, drawing parallels between the characters and people they knew. There was much laughter as we continued reading the scene, with participants engaging in the banter between the characters.

Before wrapping up, we reflected on the themes of the play, and participants shared how much they enjoyed the witty exchanges and humor of the characters, especially Beatrice and Benedick. The session ended about ten minutes early after raising the ring again and adjourning for the night.

September 26, 2024

We arrived a bit late and had to wait until exactly 6:00 pm to enter. Once inside, we immediately began check-in. One ensemble member started by discussing personal issues, but after a private conversation, the focus shifted back to the group.

Several ensemble members checked in, sharing personal updates, including changes in release dates, family visits, and general excitement for the program. There were also jokes and light-hearted moments during the check-in, fostering camaraderie within the group. ensemble members requested that books and journals be distributed before the official callout, and after some discussion, we agreed to hand them out.

During the session, one ensemble member suggested reading the "No Fear" side of the script, but others cautioned against it, emphasizing the importance of forming an emotional connection to the original Shakespearean text. The group then began discussing the dynamics between Beatrice and Benedick, comparing them to characters from Martin!, saying that they were like Martin and Pam. This led to a deeper exploration of their relationship, with ensemble members expressing their excitement to play the roles and embody the characters.

We decided to get Act 1, Scene 1 up on its feet, and everyone took a role. While some struggled with the reading, others fully embraced their characters, moving through the space and getting into the flow of the scene. We paused at the Beatrice and Benedick exchange, encouraging participants to act as though they were watching a roast battle. This exercise led to a lot of laughter and energy, with the ensemble fully engaging in the characters’ witty back-and-forth.

The group talked more about the meaning behind certain lines, with participants identifying with Benedick’s sassiness and quick wit. One participant was particularly excited to play Benedick, mentioning how much the character reminded her of herself. There was general agreement that the dynamic between Benedick and Beatrice was one of the highlights of the play, and participants enjoyed relating the characters to people they knew in real life.

We ended the session by issuing two challenges: to focus on having just one conversation as a group during the next meeting and to write in the journals. Participants were also encouraged to rewrite, update, or extend the Beatrice and Benedick scene for the next session.

September 17 & 19, 2024 SIP Blog

September 17, 2024

Arriving at the facility just before the start of the session, the team set up in the theater, ready to dig into Shakespeare’s works. One of the night’s biggest hits came in the form of a game introduced by an enthusiastic ensemble member. She was thrilled to share "Pass the Remote," a game she had recently learned and fallen in love with. Splitting the group into two teams, one with a figurative remote control and the other acting out whatever channel was “flipped” to, the game showcased the creativity and spontaneity within the group. Laughter erupted when channels like The Real Housewives of Atlanta were mimicked with exaggerated flair. It’s clear that while the group takes their work seriously, they never lose sight of the importance of fun in the creative process.

From games to Shakespeare, the session smoothly transitioned into a study of Twelfth Night, specifically focusing on Viola’s monologue. The group broke down the monologue line by line, reflecting on the emotions and motivations of the character. One participant’s observation, “Women are lovers,” sparked a deeper conversation about love and its complexities in Shakespeare’s works. The ability of the ensemble to unpack these themes together, with each member contributing their unique perspectives, reflects the power of collective interpretation.

September 19, 2024

Just two days later, the ensemble gathered once again, although this time under slightly different circumstances. With a smaller group in attendance, the evening began late after a long wait in the lobby. Despite the slow start, the session quickly gained momentum, largely due to one member’s emotional check-in. The ensemble offered their full support, listening with empathy as she expressed her frustration and sadness. However, in true theatrical fashion, she lightened the mood by reciting her wedding vows, which included lines from Romeo and Juliet—a nod to her love of Shakespeare and her personal journey through love and commitment.

From there, the group shifted focus back to Shakespeare, exploring The Tempest. The scene between Ferdinand and Miranda sparked a lively discussion about love, first impressions, and whether Ferdinand truly felt love for Miranda. As the group debated the depth of Ferdinand’s feelings, the conversation shifted toward participants’ own experiences with love, humorously drifting into a brief discussion on “first loves.” This blend of Shakespearean text and real-life stories made for a night that felt both personal and universal—an exploration of love through the lens of literature and lived experience.

One participant’s spirited reading of Caliban’s monologue was a standout moment. Performing in a “monster voice,” she drew laughter and intrigue from the group, who weren’t sure what to make of her unique interpretation until she explained her reasoning afterward. This approach, both playful and thought-provoking, reflects the ensemble’s willingness to experiment and find new layers in the text.

As the night continued, the ensemble read through key monologues from The Tempest and Othello, exploring themes of power, love, and betrayal. One participant shared that she saw parallels between Prospero’s struggle to relinquish his power and the process of overcoming addiction. These moments of personal connection to the material are a testament to the transformative nature of Shakespeare’s works—they continue to resonate, centuries after they were written, offering insight into the human condition.

The evening wrapped up with the group reading the famous Emilia monologue from Othello, which struck a chord with everyone. One participant felt so energized by the piece that she immediately stood up, performing it with passion and clarity. As she worked the circle, speaking directly to her fellow ensemble members, the power of the text became palpable. Her determination to refine the piece over the weekend underscored the group’s collective dedication to their craft.

With the callout opening next week for new members, the ensemble is ready to welcome fresh faces into the fold. Despite challenges with absenteeism and occasional conflicts among members, the group remains focused on the task at hand: preparing for the season and deepening their understanding of Shakespeare. As one participant said, “I really like this one!” It’s clear that the love for Shakespeare—and for the work they are doing together—runs deep within the ensemble. And as they continue to grow and evolve, so too does their connection to each other and to the timeless stories they bring to life.

September 10 & 12, 2024 SIP Blog

September 10, 2024

We arrived at the facility around 5:15 pm, set up our table, and began check-in. Ensemble members trickled in with stories to share: one participant was excited about her reduced sentence after a successful appeal, and another announced her upcoming wedding. There was excitement about our approval to start Much Ado About Nothing in two weeks, and the group hoped for "good vibes" as we started our session.

The group chose to read monologues from Romeo and Juliet. We started with Romeo’s monologue (But soft what light through yonder window breaks…) , with two participants sharing the reading. The romantic energy of the piece had everyone reacting with “Dreamy!” and “I love it.”

We then moved on to Juliet’s monologue (Gallop apace you fiery footed steeds…), which had mixed reactions—some found it "slow," while others connected emotionally, relating it to their own experiences of waiting for love. One participant even mentioned wanting a quote from the play in her wedding vows.

Next, we tackled Benvolio’s monologue, with participants trying out different roles. One participant asked, "What’s a monologue?" sparking a discussion on the difference between monologues and dialogue. Several participants embraced the exercise, expressing how they enjoyed feeling the energy of the scene.

Toward the end, we returned to Romeo’s monologue and incorporated some staging, which brought more enthusiasm. The ensemble shared how it felt "liberating" and "fun" to act out the scenes, with one member exclaiming, “I love love!” before we wrapped up for the evening.

September 12, 2024

We reunited with the ensemble around 6 pm. Check-in was heartfelt, with one member sharing some of the difficulties they were having that day.We offered support through "whooshes"—a gesture of collective encouragement.

The ensemble continued working on monologues and scenes from Shakespeare, starting with the Iago/Othello scene. We read through it in a round-robin style, freezing after each line to pass the reading to the next person. The group delved into discussions about jealousy, ownership, and the manipulation in Iago and Othello’s relationship. One participant passionately related the dynamics to her own past experiences, sparking reflections on themes of power and violence.

Next, we shifted to a Macbeth monologue. One member took on the challenge of performing the "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" speech. She initially read without context, expressing how she enjoyed interpreting the words without prior knowledge. After gaining more understanding of the scene, she performed it again with Macbeth’s emotional depth, incorporating sobbing. The group encouraged her performance, with one ensemble member affirming her talent and urging her to continue acting beyond WHV.

Discussion followed, focusing on Macbeth’s emotional state and Lady Macbeth’s reasons for taking her own life. The participants offered differing interpretations—some saw Macbeth as detached from his wife’s death, while others pointed to lines like “out, out brief candle” as signs of his mourning. The group also debated Lady Macbeth’s motivations, with some arguing she acted out of fear for her life, adding layers of complexity to her character.

As the energy started to wane, we ended the session with a final Macbeth monologue, performed by an ensemble member who reflected on her past experiences in the role. We wrapped up, eager to dive into Much Ado next session.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Season Wrap Up

We are about a month out from the end of the season. It has been a wonderful whirlwind so this update is overdue and I want to send a special shout out and apology to all those with a loved one in the ensemble who have been looking out for the update. We’re so sorry for the wait!

We are excited to finally share all the news! First - the show was a huge success! We performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream three different times at Huron Valley and it was greeted with standing ovations at the end of each performance (One of the DPT Producing Artistic Directors would also gleefully share that some of the performances even included spontaneous MID-SHOW standing ovations!). It has been 5 long years since our last fully realized performance and this experience did not disappoint. It also required a lot of ramping up and re-learning to get ready for a show. We had to re-discover how to get the lights working, find the flats made in years past, re-establish how we accounted for all the costumes and props each night (the list goes on…). All in all, the ensemble was thrilled with the show that we worked so hard to create together. Everyone was quite sad that we had to take a break, but “parting is such sweet sorrow” because we know we get to start up again with a new play very soon. Here are some quotes from the ensemble about what the show meant to them:

• “It took me out of prison each and every time”

• “I feel like I’ve made memories forever. I was so welcomed back into the group.”

• “I came in because of a friend and then they didn’t stick with it. It feels so good to see it through. Everyone who knows me thought I looked like a different person. I used to have my own band, and it connected me to a lof of joyful memories. It was the kick in the ass to jumpstart getting out of my shell … it’s healing and helped heal old wounds''

• “Thanks to Aupperlee– it was great to have you and he hit the ground running!”

• “[At the start of the show] I was shaking but it felt good. I was dragging my feet [for a while during practice] when the performance came it was go time!”

• “I’ve been in a real slump the last month and a half and definitely worried I wouldn’t put forth the energy needed. As soon as I walked out [on stage] it was game over!”

• “The more we did, the more I opened up and just had fun with it!”

• “I am incredibly proud of all of the hard work, excitement, and joy everyone put into this show. Not only am I happy and excited to perform this show, but I am proud of the performances we all came up with.” 

Every show I have ever worked on, in any capacity, inevitably there comes the “crunch time” phase. This is the phase where it constantly feels as though there is more work to do than time will allow AND there is the crushing realization that not every great idea we have will make it into the final production. Part of the process is letting go of getting it all in, being proud of all the good ideas that we had, and knowing that anything that didn't make it in this time could be there for us next time. This can be HARD (more on this below here)...

The primary motor for the editing process is staring face-to-face with the clock and adjusting the show to meet our runtime. We have just 90 minutes to perform the play each night, and there is not a lot of room for error; Huron Valley is a very gracious host to the performances, they support SIP strongly and allow the program to to bring in costumes, props, and sound effects. Fidelity to the guidelines and structure of the facility is paramount to us and so we make sure we NEVER run over on performance time. Our motto for crunchtime this year was “A well executed good idea is better than a poorly executed great idea.” So we start looking at all the parts that are not working yet and we start removing anything that isn’t working. Lines we’ve struggled with, comedy bits that are confusing, and anything that we don’t absolutely need to tell our story. It can be difficult, especially when someone has worked hard on a passage to make it work only to let it go in the final weeks of production. In most productions, be it professional, student, or otherwise, this is stressful. It is when the most heartbreak and bickering happens, the most feelings get hurt, and the most toes get stepped on. The ensemble was remarkably cohesive during this phase and were really wonderful at navigating this period. SIP can be frustratingly collaborative, and this season was no different. We made decisions entirely as a group and tried to keep a sense of democracy and a sense of humor throughout. It pays off as everyone owns the full production and everyone experiences both give and take.

This season, as in season past, several participants had to leave the group before the production. So and we opened up the callout to the waitlist and welcomed a few new ensemble members who were able to fill some key roles. Welcoming new ensemble members can be challenging - learning to gel with the existing ensemble, especially when you are essentially thrown in the deep end of a Shakespearean production as a new ensemble member just a month or two before show time. But the new participants did great, and were enthusiastic from the second they arrived! Likewise, they were enthusiastically welcomed by the existing ensemble who got to mentor newbies! We had one member rejoin from the Hamlet season, and then three brand new ensemble members. This group took on roles immediately and at their first night dove right into the show. We were also excited to add several wonderful new facilitators to the mix right at the same time. It was an intense time to hop into the process, but our ensemble and facilitator team needed more help and these new facilitators are wonderful and are now right in the swing of things for next season. 

So those last few weeks before show time, there were a lot of moving parts and a lot to get used to– between the working costumes, props, sound, new ensemble members, new facilitators, and new edits to the script, there was a lot to keep track straight. AND WE DID IT! And we did it well! And we did it with care for each other and minimal conflict and evident JOY. I’m so proud of this season and could not be happier with what this ensemble built together and shared with the community!

Some of the SIP facilitators and the Producing Artistic Directors have written pieces about their experiences seeing the show and participating in those last couple of weeks:


Courtney Burkett, Producing Artistic Director of DPT

I had the pleasure of attending the first post covid SIP performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Huron Valley Correctional Facility. Before the performance started - during set up and load in, I had the privilege of witnessing the ensemble working beautifully together. I witnessed them getting into costume and transforming their physical appearance to inhabit the world of the play. Nerves were high - but the palpable excitement and support of the ensemble was strong. 

Then - the performance began and the production was beautiful - and FUNNY! So funny and joyful! The performances were strong and clear - and the rather complicated plot (and subplots) were easy to follow. It was a privilege to watch and it was thrilling to see the support that the performers received - not just from the SIP ensemble, but from the entire community and audience.

Samuel Aupperlee, one of our new facilitators:

 As a brand new SIP hire, I have done theatre workshops within correctional facilities before, but I have never had the chance to put on a full-length production with the talented folks inside. I was incredibly excited to see how a longer-form project with a more distinct goal could encourage growth and community in a different way. 

I attended my first rehearsal in early May which happened to be a pretty demanding time for the ensemble; the performance was only a little over a month away and serious script cuts had yet to be made in order to keep the performance within the allotted time. These first few rehearsals in May were spent pretty intensely analyzing and rehearsing our existing script in order to find portions we could do without. But despite the first few weeks being busy, I felt eagerly welcomed with open arms by this wonderful group of women. Immediately, I was intentionally included as a part of the ensemble and struck by the way the members worked so well together despite the emerging challenges. 

But this is not to say our period of script restructuring went completely without conflict. While some members willingly offered up cuts within their own lines, more than one debate was still had with members who were hesitant to give up any more of their lines. Further stress also followed when putting these new text changes up on their feet. After a tougher week of rehearsals, Kyle reminded the group that this level of conflict was normal for any sort of production - that it was a sign of passion and care. 

By the beginning of June, we added our set, props, and costumes to prepare for our production, now only a couple of weeks away. After being given permission to bring in the beautifully designed costumes tailored to fit the women, we were able to do our first run through in full dress! This process proved to be incredibly joyous for some and challenging for others. More than one member remarked at how the costume seemed perfect for the role they were taking on, one member calling her costume “the exact image I had in my head!” For others, there was a bit of discomfort with the fit of certain costume pieces, or parts that had already broken after the first run. 

Despite this, I was in awe of the ensemble's ingenuity and drive in the process of making these costumes their own. More than one ensemble member painted additional decor, sewed entirely new costume parts, or fixed torn parts of their outfit. Members also traded interchangeable costume pieces with each other until each person had found a piece that fit them well. To me, this was once again a testament to the women’s sense of community and care for each other. It was clear that the ensemble does what they can to have each other’s backs. 

The addition of the set also proved to be a big change for the group. 

More than one ensemble member mentioned how the entire space felt different or more professional with this new look. 

These last minute changes, along with the realization that our performance is getting closer every day, seems to be shaking the nerves of quite a few ensemble members. Most recently, each of our rehearsals has been dedicated to running the performance from start to finish while implementing our new props and costumes. We still struggle with keeping our production within the allotted time, so of course we still experience minor conflicts, but I am continually impressed by this group’s sense of professionalism and pride in their work. The unifying power of group performance is incredibly evident in the way this ensemble truly roots for each others’ successes; each rehearsal the ensemble seems to trust each other more and more. 

Further, it is a blessing to see this passion for theatre bleed into the work itself. As the stakes are raised, actors are rising to the occasion and coming out of their shells more and more. Members who have had a tough time speaking out have been thriving with the newfound performance mindset. Still other members still are finding real connection with their characters and the text, one person even mentioning to me that she had now journaled over 70 pages about her character alone! And of course, we continue to find lots of good laughter every single rehearsal. 

This passion for the show continues to band this ensemble together as we head into our upcoming week of three performances. Almost every member has admitted to being quite nervous, but likewise almost everyone has spoken to how important this rehearsal space had become in their life. As one member put it; “Shakespeare is the only thing keeping me calm right now!” I can’t wait to see what this week of performances holds for our ensemble as they continue to encourage and hold each other up, and I can’t wait to continue learning about community, hard work, and theatre from this incredibly talented group.

Lulu Fall, a new SIP Facilitator:

I had a stellar experience as a facilitator at Detroit Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in Prison. Although I have always been intrigued by the program, my imagination would always get the best of me, discouraging me from pursuing volunteering. Thankfully, my time as a facilitator was not only fruitful, but truly exceeded my expectations. I began my volunteering experience fairly late in the SIP process. Having started within the final 6 weeks of the program, the ensemble members were already on their feet, with some blocking and memorization under their belt. My job as facilitator at this point was to fill in the blanks and go where I was needed: filling in small parts here and there, cuing up background music, helping to distribute and collect costumes and set pieces. Even though I arrived during the tail end of the overall process, it was wonderful to see the clear bonds that were forming between both ensemble members and SIP facilitators. Smiles, jokes and side conversations filled the room. I watched in awe!

I was surprised to see how enthusiastic the ensemble members at Women’s Huron Valley Facility were. Tackling the complex Shakespearean text was no feat for them - they took the material, internalized it and truly made it their own! While some ensemble members were quiet and soft-spoken, most were boisterous, bold and full of lively energy! As an experienced actor, I was pleasantly surprised by the consistent commitment displayed by the ensemble members. Their willingness to dive deep, remain in the moment and be unafraid to look silly are aspects that even professional actors struggle with! My biggest takeaways: enjoy the ultimate freedom of being onstage, and do not take yourself too seriously!

December 2023 SIP Blog

Written by KFG

This December has been a really productive and cohesive phase for our ensemble. The group made great strides to come together as an ensemble, and we finished reading Midsummerin its entirety. Finishing the play and early analysis of the script always feels like a big exhale and there is a shift in the group to start thinking in terms of production. We now start dreaming about and talking about the parts we want to play, and we start thinking about exactly how we are going to start telling this story to our audience. 

Just like in years past, not everyone who joined in November was able to stay with the group. Some ensemble members are going home and they have required classes to take as they prepare for release, others  join and really enjoy the sense of community and safety we cultivate, but don’t always stick around when they realize how much time and work this next phase of rehearsal and performance might be. This year was a typical year in terms of attrition and also in terms of the  its two major effects, 1) the group members who remain become very tight-knit, and 2) participation goes way up, in part because the group gets really comfortable with each other, but mainly because there are lots of parts and fewer ensemble members to fill them for any given scene. This is especially true for A Midsummer Night's Dream (MND) with its large cast of characters! Right now, most of the ensemble are playing a part in just about every scene we get up on its feet! 

One important step that that ensemble took together this month was starting to work in the proscenium (what most people think of when they think of doing a play– think the set up of a high school auditorium!). Typically to get going with scene work, we start by working in the round with everyone on the stage. We, more or less, ignore the seats in the house and put the scene on its feet in a big circle on the stage. We do this for a couple of reasons, 1) the proscenium can be intimidating, 2) there are a lot of rules and/or technique to working in proscenium that are difficult to teach while everyone is getting used to getting connected to each other and to the language (some of those rules include cheating out, getting used large distances between actors in private scenes, etc.), and 3) it can make us think about staging before we are ready. We first need to get used to playing with and performing Shakespeare instead of simply reading Shakespeare aloud for a class, which is, most people’s experience with Shakespeare whether in prison or not. Performance is a full-body experience and it can be difficult for many people to get used to fully engaging their whole selves in a character; combine that with the fact that Shakespeare is a such a heavy emotional and linguistic lift, it can be a stretch to inhabit your whole body, voice, and brain on the first go. So we try to cut back and make it a bit easier by performing in the round first. Then, when the time is right, we up the ante and switch to working in the proscenium. The time was right this past December, and after a few sessions that it seemed almost, dare I say, boring, to the ensemble to still be in the round; one of the emerging leaders in the group suggested we make the switch almost immediately after I thought it. It was exciting to know we were on the exact same page! Leaving behind this work in the round had an immediate effect on the group. Suddenly they were taking their roles a bit more seriously and taking their roles as constructive audience members much more seriously as well. It may seem so small to someone looking in, but it marks a huge leap and dividing line in the course of a season.

The ensemble, as a whole, has now fully turned their attention to performance. There are constant ideas for staging and how they envision the final piece. The biggest jumpstart to this headspace is the distribution of the rehearsal scripts. With the heavy edits needed for a ninety-minute run time, it quickly becomes  cumbersome to use the published script in rehearsals; so every year we make a rehearsal script with some initial slam-dunk edits and cuts we know the group will approve.  Then the ensemble begins working together to cut the piece and edit it down as we go. The ensemble was absolutely thrilled to get their own copies of the rehearsal script and asked about them several weeks in a row before distribution.  The ensemble has also been greatly inspired to think about performance after seeing the U of M Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) performance. They speak about it regularly and start frequent sentences with “Ya know what PCAP did was…” or “We should do what they did in PCAP…” It’s great to hear– unsolicited– the profound impact and influence of our long-time partners at PCAP!  The PCAP and SIP participants are lucky to have this program in our lives!

 The ensemble members have really started to come into themselves in the group and come out of their shells. We have had so many quotes from them saying how much they love SIP; that it is the “highlight of their week,” and that “SIP gives you dignity– it makes you feel respected, like you’re a normal person for those two hours.” Another said that she doesn’t have to be “tough” here, she can just “be myself here.” And for these couple hours I “feel like I’m not in prison.” They are sentiments we have heard for years from many different participants, but they always stop me cold when I hear another ensemble member reiterating the same sentiment even though they have never heard it before. There is so much silliness in our work– it's the theatre, it has to be silly– but underneath is a gravity and importance that never fades too far to the background.

As we approached the holiday break we talked about the roles the ensemble wanted to play and recognized that we did not have enough members to cover all the roles. While the group has bonded so strongly, we all agree that we will have to open the waitlist after the holidays in order to do a full length version of the play. So the current members have picked out parts (with lots of happy surprises for me in their choices!), and we will open up the waitlist to let new ensemble members in early January. Everyone, facilitators included, are eager to get working on the play in earnest. It is a very exciting time for the group and we are all looking forward to January!