Molière Behind Bars — Prison arts programs fading in California

This article is all kinds of bittersweet. Men playing Tartuffe in the joint experience positive emotional freedom/empowerment — for the first time ever, perhaps — by giving reign to the very feelings of anger and fear that put them in prison. Though everyone seems to be saying the program really works — prisoners, teachers in the Actors Gang and prison administrators — their improv work is shadowed by budget cuts that bringing an end to arts and theater programs in correctional institutions in California and other states.

Props to actor Tim Robbins, shown in the article working directly with the prisoner-actors). Robbins, known for his role as a prisoner in The Shawshank Redemption), heads up the Actors Gang, which is run exclusively on volunteer work and donations. A worthy cause, if you have any money to give.