Arts in Pelican Bay State Prison

Dell’Arte’s Janessa Johnsrude & Zuzka Sabata, in partnership with the William James Association, founded the first theatre program offered at Pelican Bay State Prison in 2016 through Arts in Corrections.
In 2013, the California Arts Council was able to refund a seminal program, founded by the non-profit William James Association in the late 1970s, called Arts in Corrections. This program brings professional artists into prisons to teach their art form to incarcerated people in support of their rehabilitation. Dell’Arte faculty gathered in the spring of 2015 with a desire to work at Pelican Bay State Prison, California’s only Maximum Security facility located just 80 miles north of Blue lake, in Crescent City, and subsequently applied to contract with the William James Association to provide theatre classes for the inmates there. In March 2016, faculty members Zuzka Sabata and Janessa Johnsrude began engagement inside the prison by establishing one class on the Level 1, or Minimum Security. Today they offer 5 classes on all General Population yards, security Levels 1-4, on a weekly basis throughout the year. They work alongside several other local artists including Julie McNeil who teaches visual art, Cecelia Holland who teaches creative writing and Dale Morgan who teaches guitar.
Students in the Arts in Corrections Theatre Classes at Pelican Bay work in ensemble to explore the creative act of generating theatre through the study of Commedia dell’Arte, storytelling, character, improvisation, voice work, writing for the stage, and original play development.

[@kevinmarrero642]

i was on that yard when this program started... i can tell you that it is a gp active yard and i know these men in this video personally- most of them and they are great men and human beings.. they were a part of my transformation from just a convict to someone who wants to better myself for my family and do better ... they partake in these programs for self help and ive partaked in similar programs and im glad to say ive been free for almost two years ... ps ; we used to clown on them fools about joining theatre lmao

[@MrHiawatha08]

💯

[@user-du1xj7px6i]

Did you know a homie triste from OC he was their too

[@joseph2456]

This is the only thing and I only watch the video for a few seconds but it already makes sense the only way to rehab a person soul for the better especially if you're planning to release them back into the public when you manage to put a smile on a prisoner's face you have accomplished your mission

[@squrd7726]

i need to get the rc to the bk in each place from all four yrs in all yrs

[@WeepingWidowSueAna]

That's a beautiful thing you guys are doing for these prisoners. God bless you!!

[@DylanMacDonald-zm6lg]

these dudes are straight poets. so much to say

[@richtorre101]

Homie you do what you have to do too come home much love carnal, canyon city always

[@steveazusa]

Pelican bay where your life expectancy is 20%

[@user-nq8tr1hw3w]

Not true at all. I was there from 2004-2008. You spend most of your time in a cell. It was safer than kern, folsom, and high desert.

[@compactgirl]

I think it's beautiful poetic....

[@alizeverduzco2127]

I watch these in luck of seeing my dad

[@RoyPearsonVue1313]

This was very well done. Keep up the great work!!!

[@veronicamartinez2575]

This is beautiful! Coming from a person who’s husband just completed 25 years straight In CDCR... this is our dream to one day be home and have that opportunity to give back to society. Thanks for what you do to these individuals 🤍

[@DylanMacDonald-zm6lg]

proud of you man.

[@averyortiz9493]

Is this program still going?

[@PawgSlayer]

Keep in mind going to the bay is like going to Harvard for criminals. They have to make conscious decisions to end up ther. Alot feel happy once they land. Like " ive made it" .l dont let this hippy shit fool you.

[@raymondlucero4999]

Glad to see this happening in the bay. Its just that with these programs these men have to go back to reality on the yard. They need to offer incentives to the whole population. Maybe more would get involved and change the mentality of the prison.

[@davidpech5766]

Hardcore Gangsters.AB

[@troyelliott390]

👊

[@bigetvsonestopshop5671]

Man they trying to play on people’s hearts with this nonsense making it seem like it’s not that bad in prison they need to show how bad it can be not people smiling and jumping around. What about when the cameras shut off and they gotta go back to that cell 23 and 1... eating the same food 11 yrs straight. 3 10minute phone calls a day.

[@marcustuuhetoka1340]

Those women have their dream job. All eyes on them. 👀