SALT closes a dramatic season

The Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre and The Conciliation Project are
presenting “The P.I.C.: The Prison Industrial Complex,” their final productions
of the season.

On a mission to “repair the damaging legacy of racism in America,” The
Conciliation has had a very successful year collaborating with SALT by putting
out five thought-provoking works, each addressing a different type of prejudice.
From racism to sexism to institutionalized segregation, no issue has been left
unaddressed.

Founder and artistic director for The Conciliation Project Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-
Wates has been teaching a class in the theater department, titled, “Use
of Ritual Poetic Drama.” In this class, Pettiford-Wates and her students weave
together song, narrative, poetry, live music and dance to tell their story.

A great deal of discovery was made through discussion and letters from guest
speakers, scholars, prisoners, wardens and journalists. After extensive research,
discussion, sharing and writing, “The P.I.C.” was born from individual stories
the theater students wrote.

Told from the perspective of family members, lawyers, prisoners, guards,
police officers, judges and politicians, the play seeks to promote “revelation,
not resolution,” said Joe Carlson, member of both SALT and The Conciliation
Project.

The “P.I.C.: The Prison Industrial Complex” runs Friday through Monday
at 8 p.m. at the Shafer Street Playhouse’s Newdick Theatre. Admission is free
to the public. A discussion will follow each show.