poetic justice project

Poetic Justice Project’s

Off The Hook

an original musicalwith a 15-member cast

of formerly incarcerated actors

Poetic Justice Project

presents original plays examining crime, punishment and redemption

A way back from prison

Formerly incarcerated actors help create groundbreaking theatre to challenge and transform our culture.

2010 Prison Town Tour

Cities toured: Sacramento, Fresno, Redding, Bakersfield,Tehachapi, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and SanLuis Obispo.

Audience Response • Great talent–great message.

• We are so glad you came!

• The actors were all terrific—from the heart, chilling, poignant.

• This show put a human face on prisoners.

• This play should be in schools, before at-risk children.

• U.S. Department of Justice needs to see this.

• My heart is open . . . it was excellent!

Audience Response

• I see you performing in the White House!

• So, so healing for all of us!

• Just loved it! Please don’t stop the music.

• Tour–Broadway!

• This can’t stop–keep it going. The world is listening.

History of Poetic Justice Project

Poetic Justice Project,located on California’s Central Coast, is a programof the William James Association, based in Santa Cruz. Poetic Justice Projectwas founded in January, 2009 by Deborah Tobola.

History of Poetic Justice Project

Ms. Tobola workedas a creative writing teacher and artist facilitator in California prisonsfor more than 12 years, producingoriginal plays at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.

Accomplishments

In its first year, Poetic Justice Project was named best newtheatre company on the Central Coast by Brickyard Theatrein Atascadero. Its first play, Blue Train, sold out three showsat the San Luis Obispo Little Theater the during thetraditionally “dead week” of Christmas.

In 2010, Poetic Justice Project received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council and the LEFFoundation to help fund the Poetic Justice Project Prison Town Tour.

Awarded to Poetic Justice Project for Outstanding Public Service to the Community

Letter fromLt. Governor

Abel Maldonado

Theatre With a Purpose

In California, more than 70% of paroled inmates return to jail or prison.

For Poetic Justice Project participants, the recidivism rate is under 1%.

Coming Up . . .

Next summer,Poetic JusticeProject will presentOf Mice and Men atthe International Steinbeck Festival.In the fall, PoeticJustice Project willproduce theoriginal playWomen BehindWalls.

For more information, visit us on the web . . .

www.poeticjusticeproject.org