Printed Press
Facilitator, Stephen Cole
Phoenix Players Theatre Group: Horizons of Unfreedom: Reflections from Beyond the Wall
January 2019
Multi-chapter print and media piece about PPTG from facilitators and members.
RISING FROM THE ASHES: REDEMPTION THROUGH THEATER AT AUBURN PRISON
August 15, 2018
This story by Linda B. Glaser, appeared in the Cornell Chronicle and the Arts and Sciences web site August 15, 2018. Glaser attended the performance of: The Strength of Our Convictions: The Auburn Redemption on May 24, 2018 and wanted to write about her experience for Cornell publications.
Photo of 2017 prison theater course.
PERSPECTIVES IN PRISON THEATRE: INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE LEVITT AND LORRAINE MOLLER
October 19, 2018
First published by The Theatre Times.
The author, Darnell Epps. After serving 17 years in prison, he is now a full-time student at Cornell. Credit: Shane Lavalette for The New York Times
The Prison ‘Old-Timers’ Who Gave Me Life
In this piece, Darnell Epps discusses how the “old timers” those incarcerated individuals who are serving long sentences, should be released into the community so they can have a positive influence on young people. The “old timer” that started Darnell on his path was Mark Thompson, pictured in the article, who is a PPTG member.
The opening moment of the Phoenix Players Theatre Group 2012 performance Maximum Will.
REHEARSING TRANSFORMATION IN AN AMERICAN PRISON
October 7, 2017
Piece in The Theatre Times, by PPTG facilitators, Nick Fesette and Bruce Levitt.
Musa Ngqungwana and Talise Trevigne performed excerpts from “Porgy and Bess” at Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, N.Y. Photo Credit: Mike Bradley for The New York Times
OPERA IN ATTICA: ARIAS AT A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON
August 2, 2017
PPTG’s founding member, Michael Rhynes, is interviewed in this NYTimes article about Glimmerglass’s performance at Attica.
Where the Walls Contain Everything but the Sky:
The Birth and Growth of the Phoenix Players Theatre Group
Winter 2016
First published by Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences.
Three Sheldons
September 14, 2016
First Published by Albert Samaha on Buzzfeed.
The Phoenix Players Group takes questions from the audience after its performance of This Incarcerated Life: The Foundation of a Pipe Dream Thursday in Auburn Correctional facility. David Wilcox, The Citizen
PHOENIXES RISING: AUBURN PRISON THEATER GROUP PERFORMS FOR RAPT AUDIENCE
May 21, 2016
First published by Auburn Pub.
From left: Joshua Mensa, Ezioma Asonye, and Jeff Guyton rehearse a scene from Human Again Monday at Auburn Public Theater. Sarah Jean Condon, The Citizen.
‘IT HAS TO BE WITNESSED’: AUBURN INMATES’ WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT LOCAL THEATER
April 14, 2016
First published by Auburn Pub.
Demetrius Molina and Nick Fesette in second run-through.
REHEARSE FOR RELEASE: INSIDE THE FIGHT FOR A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON THEATER BEHIND THE WALLS OF NEW YORK’S AUBURN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, MEN LEARN TO PLAY PROTAGONISTS. THE PAYOFF IS VITAL, IF TOO LITTLE CONSOLATION.
January 7, 2016
First published on INVERSE.
COMMUNITY AR IN ACTION: MAKING THE WORLD BIGGER AND BEING A HUMAN SHARING OTHER HUMAN EXPERIENCES
August 13, 2015 by Bruce Levitt
Part of this blog post uses excerpts from an article co-authored by Nick Fesette, a graduate student in my department at Cornell University who has been a co-facilitator with me for PPTG for two years, and myself.
ACTING IN PRISON
January 24, 2015 by
Piece written by Taylor Halcromb for Cornell University.
Bruce Levitt directing at Auburn Correctional Facility.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: BRUCE LEVITT – OUTSIDE, COMING IN
November 25, 2014
First published by The Ithaca Times.
Bruce Levitt (right) leads PPTG rehearsal at Auburn Correctional Facility.
TIME SERVED
August 1, 2014
A prison theatre program is life-changing for inmates—and for the students and faculty who work with them.
ENGAGED CORNELL DISCUSSION USES AUBURN PRISON PROGRAM AS EXAMPLE
October 29, 2012
Mikhail Yakhnis writes about PPTG for a piece in the Cornell Chronicle.
From left, Auburn Correctional Facility inmates Kenneth Brown, Michael Shane Hale and Efraim Diaz respond to questions after their performance at the prison. The inmates performed personal stories with tones of humor and personal hurting as part of the Phoenix Players Theatre Group. Katie Roupe, The Citizen
FIVE AUBURN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY INMATES REACH FOR SALVATION ON THE STAGE
May 6, 2011
First Published by Auburn Pub.