Tuesday / January 24 / 2023
Written by Kyle Fisher-Grant

We are back! Tonight we had six participants, and all six were ready and eager to participate. While going through the orientation packet, one member already said she wanted to play Hamlet if and when the time came to perform the play. One of the returning members played a real leadership role in explaining the program to the new members. “I’ve seen a lot of girls come in in September and they’re in their shell. By the time March rolls around, they’re in it! On their feet, having fun, and then you see them bloom” I told her that was beautiful, and to slow down so I could get the exact quote. She replied, “Oh yeah, BLOG THAT!”

There were two returning members and three new members, and you would not have been able to tell who was who. We did our traditional exercise in which we raise an imaginary ring of light and positive energy, and then the newbies jumped into improv games with real abandon. We played a few games, and there was so much laughing and smiling that we reached the end of the session before we knew it. As we put the ring back up, one of the new members asked if she could take part of the ring back with her to the unit, and we all smiled. It was good to be back!

Friday / January 27 / 2023
Written by Kyle Fisher-Grant

Tonight, as on Tuesday, there was one hundred percent participation from ensemble members. We began with our usual check in and ring exercise. Then we asked the three questions we ask at the start of every season:

1. What brings you to Shakespeare in Prison?

2. What do you hope to get out of SIP?

3. What is your gift to the ensemble?

I let them know that they would likely have to answer again when we have more ensemble members present. Just like every season, the answers were wonderful and surprising. One member didn’t know anything about the program, and just thought she would try and challenge herself with something new. My favorite response was from a new member who said she had a bunkie who was part of the Twelfth Night season. “She always came back so happy and full of energy, I just had to see what made her so happy.” At the end of the three questions, the door opened and one of the program’s veterans came to rejoin the ensemble. She has been with us for a number of years, and has played a pivotal role in every season of which she’s been a part.

I asked if the group wanted to do improv games or read Shakespeare, and they unanimously agreed on Shakespeare. We read and discussed Act 1 Scene 1 of Hamlet. We talked about a few different staging ideas for the ghost and went back and forth a couple of times building on each other's ideas. We then got the scene up on its feet and were able to get through the whole thing just before the session ended.