Rehabilitation Through The Arts (RTA) was founded by Katherine Vockins in 1996 in Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York and now operates in five men's and women's, maximum and medium security New York State prisons: Sing Sing, Bedford Hills, Woodbourne, Green Haven and Fishkill. RTA is the lead program of Prison Communities International, a registered tax-exempt non-profit organization.
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Background
RTA began in Sing Sing with a group of men who wanted help writing and presenting a play, and has since expanded to include dance, movement, visual arts, voice, music, literature and creative writing.
Mission
To use the transformative power of the arts to build character and develop social and cognitive skills that men and women in prison need for successful re-integration into community.
The Program
RTA runs innovative creative arts workshops in various aspects of theatre - improvisation, playwriting, devised, physical and technical theatre, Shakespeare studies - along with dance, movement, visual arts, voice, music and creative writing. Incarcerated men and women perform in workshop and full-scale productions of both original and published works. RTA also operates a successful modern dance program for men - the only program of its kind in the nation- (and perhaps the world).
Through creative arts, incarcerated men and women develop their ability to communicate, collaborate, set goals, express themselves and imagine alternate scenarios. Even in the harsh environment of prison, trust and community can build. Incarcerated men and women undergo a profound transformation; on release, many RTA alumni express remorse for their crimes by working in gang prevention, substance abuse and educational programs that help others make better choices in life.
Two research studies have clearly demonstrated the positive effects of the RTA program. John Jay College of Criminal Justice's 2003 study with the NYS Department of Correctional Services showed that RTA participants had fewer infractions and spent fewer days in keeplock than a control group. A 2010 study conducted by SUNY Purchase and the NYS Department of Correctional Services concluded that RTA participants complete the GED earlier in their incarceration, more RTA participants complete educational programs beyond the GED, and that after joining RTA, participants spent an almost three-fold increase in time enrolled in post-GED courses than those who did not participate.
RTA invites over 250 community guests to its full-scale productions in Sing Sing Correctional Facility each year. These are extraordinary opportunities for the public to peak behind prison walls; they are amazed at the intelligence, talent and humanity they find there.
RTA's classes and productions are facilitated by over 30 volunteers who fan out to remote prisons across three state counties. These volunteers are professional artists and experienced teachers - most have advanced degrees and many teach in prestigious academic institutions such as NYU's graduate program in Educational Theatre, Bard College, Catholic University, Drew University and Wesleyan University. RTA counts among its facilitators Kim Breden, Connie Grappo, Richard Hamburger, John Lloyd, Kate Powers [1] and Gary Sloan.
To learn more or to support RTA, go to www.rta-arts.org.
Theatrical Productions
The following plays were produced as a part of Rehabilitation Through The Arts at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ossining, NY:
Twelfth Night
The Wizard of Oz
Golden Boy
Our Town
A Few Good Men
Superior Donuts
Starting Over
Macbeth
Of Mice and Men
West Side Story
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
Productions Outside of Sing Sing Prison:
The Bull Pen
Two Trains Running
Back House Productions
The "Nigger" Trial
Voices From the Inside
Benefits and Events
RTA held its first New York City Benefit performance From Sing Sing to Broadway – An Evening Without Walls in June 2006 at Playwrights Horizons Theatre, with special guest performance by Charles Dutton.
RTA's November 2010 benefit "The Inside Story", directed by Connie Grappo, featured Broadway actors Lee Wilkoff and Anne Twomey, performances by RTA alumni and an exciting auction of artwork created by RTA participants behind prison walls.
Board Members
Board members of Prison Communities International are: Katherine Vockins; Suzanne Kessler; William Hanauer; Robin Melen; Richard Waksman; Hans Hallundbaek; Sean Dino Johnson; Janet Farnham, PhD; Jill Becker, MD; Lorraine Moller; Karin Yound Shiel; Allison Chernow; Mary Ann Carr; Greg Taylor, PhD and Jabbar Collins.
Funding
RTA is funded through foundations such as The Kalliopeia Foundation, The Tow Foundation, EILEEN FISHER, The Speranza Foundation, The Patrina Foundation, some church groups and many individuals.