“”What you will see tonight is entertainment, but what I see is rehabilitation.”  Brian Fischer, Commissioner, NYS Department of Correctional Services

Theatre is central to RTA’s program. It allows us to put ourselves in another’s shoes, try out new emotions, choices and ways of communicating. It develops empathy and deepens understanding.

Performances focus on collaborative projects, where each person shares responsibility for the group’s success.

RTA’s theatre program includes full-scale productions, play reading and writing, improvisation, Shakespeare, scene and character study and offstage training.

“When I act out someone else’s experiences I touch on their emotions. I’ve connected to another human, another family, another community.”Clarence, Prisoner-Participant

Plays produced by RTA at Sing Sing and other New York State correctional facilities include: 

Starting Over, written by prisoners in RTA’s program in Woodbourne Correctional Facility

Macbeth

Of Mice and Men

West Side Story

Oedipus Rex

Stories From The Inside Out

The N_____ Trial

Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code

Jitney

Fine Print

12 Angry Men

Stratford’s Decision

Reality in Motion

SLAM

Voices from Within

A Few Good Men

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

The Sacrifice

An Evening of Theatre, Four Original One-Act Plays

When We’re Home

Reality in Motion