FREE SCREENING
Featuring a live Q&A with Johnny Stallings, moderated by Peter Holland
In 2010, Johnny Stallings directed a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Two Rivers prison in Umatilla, Oregon. Iraqi-born filmmaker Bushra Azzouz interviewed each of the actors, and filmed group dialogues, rehearsals and performances of the play. A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Prison provides a window into a world that most people don’t know exists—the world of prison theater. We get to meet the actors and watch them bring Shakespeare’s comedy to life, changing their lives in the process. Bushra’s poetic vision takes us on a dreamlike journey into the heart of our common humanity.
- WHEN: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (film runs approx. 75 minutes)
- WHERE: Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame
- TICKETS: FREE screening and Q&A in the Browning Cinema -- no ticket required.
Johnny Stallings is Executive Director of The Open Road, which is a learning community (openroadpdx.org). From 2006 to 20019, he went to Oregon prisons every week, where he facilitated meaning of life dialogues and directed eight plays -- seven of which were by Shakespeare. Open Hearts Open Minds, the nonprofit organization Johnny started in 2006, continues to do arts and education programs in three Oregon prisons, under the leadership of Carla Grant (openheartsopenminds.net). Johnny has lots of prison pen pals and continues to help returning citizens to make successful transitions back to society. The Open Road mails a weekly journal, "peace, love, happiness & understanding" to prison residents and has a Meditation & Mindfulness Community for people who live inside and outside of prison walls.
