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* I think I may go to this if I decide to submit myself to the mandatory background check…

Inmates at Decatur Correctional Center are starring in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” The stage play opens Wednesday, April 22nd and runs through Sunday, April 26th. The media is invited to attend the Saturday showing at 1:00p.m., when the inmates will perform in front of their family and friends.

Millikin University Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Alex Miller is directing the play and has been rehearsing with the women for several months. Miller brought the “Shakespeare Connected” program to Decatur Correctional Center in 2011, hoping to help inmates tap into their acting abilities and teach them lessons about their own lives. This is the fourth Shakespeare production at the facility. The inmates starred in “Othello” in 2012, “The Tempest” in 2013, and “The Taming of the Shrew” in 2014.

* Today is Shakespeare’s birthday, by the way…

Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the City of Chicago celebrate William Shakespeare’s 451st Birthday on April 23, 2015 with an official proclamation from Mayor Rahm Emanuel declaring the day Talk Like Shakespeare Day. The annual holiday is an occasion for citizens from Chicago and across the globe to bring the spoken words of the playwright into their daily lives.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:32 am

Comments

The production of Macbeth I saw on OZ didn’t go so well.

Comment by Nicholas Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:36 am
You never know, some of these folks could end up being a TV/Movie Star (instead of going to jail after being in TV). P.S. Old Willie doesn’t look a day over 430!

Comment by Choose the blue pill, Neo Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:42 am
Today is the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death as well.

Random fact for the day.

Comment by Romeo Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:51 am
You mean if you PASS the background check?

Comment by Get a Job! Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 11:53 am
“By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes”

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 12:51 pm
On the subject of the Obama Library being in Chicago, Rahm & Rauner are saying today: “Illinoisans doth protest too much, methinks.”

Comment by Gone, but not forgotten Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 12:57 pm
God’s benison go with you; and with those that would make good of bad, and friends of foes! (Macbeth, Act II.iv)

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 12:59 pm
very encouraged to see a college taking this sort of initiative because I think this is the type of activity that empowers and educates inmates. This definitely qualifies as rehabilitation. If our prisons had more activities that focused on positive futures for the inmates, less of them would be repeat visitors.

No, I don’t think careers in acting are legitimate expectations - but the participation and the experience is one that can help uplift and change the life perspective of criminals.

Comment by siriusly Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Demetrius: Villain, what hast thou done?
Aaron: Villain, I have done thy mother.

-Titus Andronichus IV.ii

Comment by Educated in the Suburbs Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 1:45 pm
the Decatur prison also has this great program where they bath and groom the dogs from the pound, to try and help get them adopted. It teaches the inmates a useful job skill and helps with the pound.

I whish the local Springfield juvenile facility would offer this kind of stuff to the kids who behave as well.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 2:13 pm
we can only hope that schools across the state are being as responsible as the prison is in sharing the words of Willie S. a most interesting writer and humorist, his drama is interesting, but it’s those nuggets of flash and the reelection of the times that I find really interesting. boy could he poke at the rulers in subtle ways.

perhaps someone will be inspired to write something that can also reflect the culture of Springfield. I don’t believe that David Ellis has done that, though I know many who really value his skills as a mystery writer.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 2:19 pm
This is pretty cool.

It interests me enough to wonder how the production would be.

Shakespeare, done well, is tough. Congratulations to all involved.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 3:25 pm
That says a lot - both about the inmates of that facility and the professor who would take the gamble.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 4:04 pm
Anonymous @ 4:04pm was me.

Also - Rich, could you post a link to the article on this? Thanks!

Comment by Name Withheld Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Rich, did you really just do that? Is it too late to refer to it as The Scottish Play?

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 4:39 pm
To Soccermom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPpTR1hXekQ

Comment by Hari Seldon Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 4:41 pm
Fair is foul, and foul is fair - Should be the motto of the Rauner folks. Watch yourself in the big house you might get shanked by a pro Rauner Union hatin bad girl from Winnetka!

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Thursday, Apr 23, 15 @ 4:56 pm