Scripts
The Phoenix Players Theater Group has produced five full-length performances. The first, Inside/Out was based on autobiographical memories surrounding childhood and growing up and was performed in April of 2011.
The second piece, Maximum Will, combined soliloquies, sonnets and short scenes from Shakespeare with original reflective pieces written by the men in response to the Shakespeare texts being used in the piece. Maximum Will was performed in April of 2012.
PPTG’s third presentation again returned to autobiographical pieces culled from stories and improvisations that occurred in the weekly workshop. The major stories that emerged centered on the theme of incarceration and its effect on the individual and families. Titled An Indeterminate Life, it was performed in May of 2014.
PPTG’s fourth performance took place at Auburn Correctional Facility on May 12, 2016 with several new members performing for the first time. Titled This Incarcerated Life: The Foundation of a Pipe Dream, it was also performed several weeks later for the men of the Cornell Prison Education Program–the first time PPTG had presented its work for others in the Auburn population.
On May 24th, 2018, PPTG performed its fifth original piece, The Strength of Our Conviction: The Auburn Redemption.
What are represented in this section are excerpts from each of the five pieces. After Inside/Out, The Department of Corrections and Auburn Correctional Facility permitted a three-camera recoding of the latest four performances. Those videos can be accessed on the Performance Videos page under the Performances tab at the top of the page.
Doc jelly | ADam Roberts
In this piece, written and performed by Adam Roberts, Doc Jelly is played by a large photo of a Golden Lab Retriever complete with mustache, eye glasses and hat. …
Growing Old | Mark Thompson
In this piece, performed in The Strength of Our Convictions: The Auburn Redemption, Mark “AZ” Thompson, who has been incarcerated for thirty-eight years, explores growing old in prison. …
Father | Jim Ryant
It is not uncommon for men at Auburn to never have known their fathers. Jayare (pronounced like J.R.) explores the consequences of growing up “fatherless”…
Suffering Separation | Demetrius Molina
This conversation between Demetrius (AKA: Meat) and his son, who he nicknames “Pop”, captures the concern and anguish some incarcerated men …
Sister Sandra | Sandra Oyeneyin and Leory Lebron taylor
In this second duet that they performed together in An Indeterminate Life, Leroy played Sandra’s little brother. …
Story of Words | Blaize Kliest Mendez and Demetrius Molina
This piece combines two stories—”Home School” by Blaize and “This is a story about Life, this is a story about Love and this is a story about Loss” by Demetrius “Meat” Molina. …
The Judgement | Efraim Diaz
Efraim “DE” Diaz wrote this piece in response to Hermione’s soliloquy in The Winter’s Tale. …
Behold the Monster is Born | Michael Shane Hale
In this piece, Shane responds to the Caliban/Prospero scene from THE TEMPST that was performed in MAXIMUM WILL by David and Kenny. …
When I Saw God | Efraim Diaz
This is a monologue by Efraim “DE” Diaz from the performance of Inside/Out. …
Nostalgia | Sheldon Johnson
Performed in The strength of Our Convictions: The Auburn Redemption, Sheldon “Superb” Johnson uses this piece to elaborate on one way he breaks up the monotony of incarceration. …
Soundscape in the Joint | Robert Lawrence
This piece by Robert “Bam” Lawrence personifies some of the elements that make up the “sound” environment near his cell. …
License to Drift Off | Nathan Powell
Nate explore three “occupations” at Auburn: making license plates, battling roaches, and “drifting off.” …
Dear PPTG | David Bendezou
David knew that he could be transferred to “medium” at any moment so he wrote and performed this selection…
Na’cir’s Google Search | Leroy Lebron Taylor and Sandra Oyeneyin
Leroy performed with Sandra, who worked with PPTG during the 2013-14 academic year. …
Window Onto Pain | Nathan Powell
Nate wrote and performed this piece with the assistance of the ensemble during An Indeterminate Life. …
Reflection on Hamlet | David Bendezou
David wrote this contemporary reflection on life in prison in response to the “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy. …
My Last Day at Toy’s R Us | David Bendezou
In this piece from “INSIDE/OUT” David played both characters. …
July Fourth’s Fireworks | Efraim Diaz
This piece from INSIDE/OUT was written and performed by Efraim,”De” Diaz. …
“Blame”/Conspiracy Theory | Demetrius Molina
In this piece, performed in The Strength of Our Convictions: The Auburn Redemption, Demetrius “Meat” Molina explores the complex issues surrounding mass incarceration….
Civil Disobedience | Sheldon Johnson
This piece, by Sheldon (aka “Superb”) is his response to the police and cultural violence toward black men. …
The Truth | Raymond Vanclief
In this piece Ray excavates the truths that he has learned about himself. …
Ghost Bus | David Bendezou
David wrote and performed this piece–the stanzas titled “song” were sung A Capella. …
Zoo | Michael Rhynes
Michael imitated the actions of the animals described during the performance of this piece. …
Paradoxical Trek/Macbeth | Michael Rhynes
Michael selected for one of his pieces the “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” speech. …
Inside the Wall | David Bendezou
Performed by David and Kenny, this piece, was inspired by Claudio’s imprisonment in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. …
The First Time I Found Out I was Black & Was Checking the White Box | Michael Rhynes and Juliana Kliest-Mendez
This duet from INSIDE/OUT is a composite of “The first time I found out I was black” and “Checking the white box”. …