Rta sing sing inmates This is a quiet but beautiful film that anyone who is Sing Sing photo courtesy of A24. That triggered an exploration of the ways prisons were doing things differently. Besides Domingo (whose real-life counterpart cameos as a fan of Divine G’s work) and San Jose, the rest of the RTA players reprise their real-life roles as inmates. Prisoners auditioned for a production of Julius Caesar that the Taviani brothers directed for the film. These inmates are part of what’s called the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program. There are 1. ” This sentiment resonates deeply, echoing the experiences of founding member Sean Dino Johnson. For almost 200 years, a grim monument to the theory that Bladescomposed by Bryce Dessner. Why? Mainly because the cast are playing themselves; former inmates who underwent the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) programme in the titular New York prison. The segment dives into the transformative power of the arts in breaking the cycle of incarceration, with a spotlight on SING SING, the critically acclaimed A24 film inspired by As a former DJ, writer and actor, Divine used his expertise in the arts to launch the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program in 1996. Divine G was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and is part of a group of inmates that participate in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Domingo, whose work in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor The entire movie is about RTA and real things that happened at Sing Sing. More than 1,000 inmates have since passed through RTA, which is now in eight prison facilities. Prisoners incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York partake in theatrical productions and actor workshops. Rarely will you see prison life depicted in a way as devoid of cliche as in Sing Sing, a new movie by A24 that began a quiet release earlier this summer, and is already generating Oscar chatter. Divine G told Christian Post that arts can help rehabilitate inmates and transform their Sing Sing is the name of a nearly 200-year-old prison in upstate New York. Over the past decade, the 54-year-old Philadelphia-born actor has been consistently excellent in everything from Selma to If Beale Street Could Talk, Zola to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Candyman to The Color Purple, not to mention his Emmy-winning turn in Euphoria and recent Oscar-nominated work in Rustin. There, 1500 maximum security prisoners see out their sentences. Directed by Greg Kwedar, from a script based on the real-life account of inmates auditioning for Sing Sing’s RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) theater program, “Sing Sing”—made independently on a shoestring budget of $1. Dialogue includes description of violent Based on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program that began at New York’s maximum-security Sing Sing Correctional Facility, in which inmates stage theatre productions for their fellow Based on the real-life story of the maximum security prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, founded in 1996, the film follows inmates who form a theater troupe while serving The film stars Colman Domingo and Paul Raci in a deeply felt story of creating art behind bars. Through RTA, inmates have the opportunity to express themselves creatively by participating in workshops for dance, music, writing, and theater. Specifically, Sing Sing follows Divine G (played Divine G’s story is the subject of a new A24 film titled “Sing Sing,” starring Colman Domingo as Divine G, Paul Raci as the RTA program director and formerly incarcerated actors and RTA alumni. Under the direction of Greg Kwedar, the film follows John Whitfield, AKA Divine [] Sing Sing happily finds a perfect balance. A true story developed by co-writers and producers Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (who also directed) and RTA alumni Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and John Divine G, incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for a crime he did not commit, discovers a sense of purpose through participation in a theater group made up of fellow inmates. John “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo) Many scenes in “Sing Sing” were shot at the decommissioned Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill. Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts This initiative, spearheaded by Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), aims to provide inmates with a creative outlet and a sense of purpose. Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” takes place in a maximum-security prison and depicts the real Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program. Language is strong, with uses of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "bulls--t," the "N" word, "f--got," "goddamn," and more. The infamous Directed by Greg Kwedar, from a script based on the real-life account of inmates auditioning for the prison’s RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) theater program, Sing Sing — made Heading up the group in Sing Sing, as a self-touting “founding member,” is “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo). Credit: RTA. . Sing Sing is of several recent movies that focus on prison, art, and rehabilitation. A24 will re-release the film in 500 theaters and screen it in 46 states’ correctional facilities, allowing nearly one million incarcerated individuals to So, in the mid-1990s, he got involved in some crime for which he was sent to Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where he served his term. ". 7 Overall, a powerful movie that shows how inmates are still humans despite their mistakes as the movie uses alumni from Sing Sing’s RTA program to deliver this strong message on redemption, all led by a great performance from Colman Domingo. According to a release, it'll open on February 22. For an instant, a group of male inmates at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility are no longer restrained by prison walls. The film centres around the production of an original play written by John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield (played by Colman Domingo), one of the inmates who is a founding member of the program and stars in several of the program’s productions who also Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing is a heartfelt and intimate drama that brings the transformative power of art and the human spirit to center stage. Alongside Oscar nominees Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, most of the cast is made up of Related: Inmates Rally Together to Pay For Student's $32K Tuition: 'They Genuinely Do Care About Me' Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, who onscreen recreates his own participation in RTA’s RTA’s music program began at Sing Sing with a vocal workshop for a production of West Side Story, and then took on a life of its own. As the title suggests, Sing Sing takes place at the famous prison in New York. Filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley make films about human connection in impossible places as seen in their movies Transpecos and Jockey. Since then, he says, RTA has been approached about many film and TV projects Sing Sing is able to strike a realistic balance between the brutal infrastructure of incarceration and the promise of programs like RTA. Rated R for language, the That documentary was filmed in Italy’s Rebibbia Prison, one the county’s top facilities for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of inmates. A24 will re-release the film in 500 theaters and screen it in 46 states’ correctional facilities, allowing nearly one million incarcerated individuals to Directed by Greg Kwedar and based on John H. Founded at Sing Sing in 1996, RTA works with professional teaching artists to lead year-round workshops in theater, dance, music, creative writing, and visual arts. It’s been filmed as a pseudo-documentary, with the majority of the running time focusing on the The film dramatises a non-profit programme that genuinely occurred at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility – Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) – which used theatre as rehab. It’s a tender portrait of the creative capabilities and emotional lives of a group In ‘Sing Sing,’ the formerly incarcerated actor Clarence Maclin transports back in time, honoring a past version of himself and reliving his time in prison. A24 will re-release the film in 500 theaters and screen it in 46 states’ correctional facilities, allowing nearly one million incarcerated individuals to Sing Sing (2024) Maximum security prison Sing Sing offers the theater program RTA -- Rehabilitation Through the Arts -- to its inmates. Director Greg Kwedar (“Transpecos”) takes in his drama “Sing Sing (“Cafe Blue Eyes”), who is far too rarely seen in films, the main cast consists almost entirely of former Sing Sing inmates , who participated in the RTA program and are free today. From the outset, practitioners from Rehabilitation through the Arts (RTA), a prison theatre program at Sing Sing, observed signs of positive behavior in prisoners who participated in the But this year, Maclin and 13 of the formerly incarcerated men who once found brotherhood and self-expression on a prison stage received breakthrough roles in A24’s new movie “Sing Sing,” based on The film follows the story of John “Divine G” Whitfield, portrayed by Domingo, a wrongfully incarcerated man at Sing Sing and co-founder of the RTA theater program, as the group decides what Including Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code, the play featured in the Sing Sing film, RTA has produced over a dozen original plays and more well-known, published plays such as 12 Angry Men, Macbeth, The Wizard of Oz, Of Mice The film "Sing Sing" is based on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program implemented inside Sing Sing Prison, New York State's highest-security prison. Enter Sing Sing. It’s a powerful, absorbing drama, explores themes of the power of artistic expression, the healing power of collaboration, and the flaws of the criminal justice system with How many men who are incarcerated find this kind of healing thru acting? Can we truly be reformed/ redeemed without encountering a Higher Power? The directors should get credit for authenticity: they spent alot of time with RTA directors and taught filmmaking to inmates at Sing Sing. Following a group of inmates in Sing Sing prison in New York state, it delves into the emotional bonds developed among the men of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program as they try to bring light to the darkest of places. One of the more reluctant 2. He helped found the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at Sing Sing. No comments. The film follows the inspiring story of RTA alum John “Divine G” Whitfield (played by Colman Domingo), as he finds purpose by acting in RTA’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility theater group alongside RTA alum Clarence Maclin, who plays himself. In the interest of protecting the cast and crew’s mental wellbeing, Shiel and Walton had cannily planned the shoot to end in this more hospitable environment. RTA employs theater, music, dance and visual arts techniques to encourage positive change in the lives of inmates. John “Divine G” Whitfield (Colman Domingo), incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, has found purpose through this programme, using it to help other inmates Colman Domingo was only up for a Best Actor Oscar earlier this year but he could be back in the mix next year thanks to Sing Sing. Filmmaker Greg Kwedar, who directs Sing Sing alongside his creative partner Clint Bentley, was shooting a documentary in a maximum-security prison in Wichita, Kansas, when he saw a man in his cell looking after a rescue dog. Sing Sing tells the story of how an arts program for inmates engenders a transformation from brutal toxic masculinity to a PRISON WITHIN A PRISON: A BURKEAN ANALYSIS OF THE SING SING STAGE PRODUCTION OF "SLAM" By Lorraine Moller, Ph. RTA founder Sean “Dino” Johnson and activist Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez are fantastic playing themselves, but Divine Eye was a major highlight. 7 Overall, a powerful movie that shows how inmates are still humans despite their mistakes as the movie uses alumni from Sing Sing's RTA program to deliver this strong message on redemption, all lead by a great performance from Colman Domingo. Their minds are free. Based on the real-life ‘Rehabilitation Through the Arts’ (RTA) program at the Sing Sing maximum security prison in New York, we follow the story of John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield (portrayed by "GMA" also caught up with Maclin, an alumni of the RTA program who plays himself in "Sing Sing," at the 2025 Critics' Choice Awards on Friday. These inmates are part of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA Sing Sing Correctional Facility is operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS). Shiel described one scene with Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin where Maclin is alone in a cell that was below the cell where he actually served The new A24 movie ‘Sing Sing,’ starring Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, tells the real-life story of prison theater program Rehabilitation Through the Arts — with alumni playing themselves . Many former RTA alumni make up the cast of the film, playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Like many prisons, the term 'correctional facility' seems “Sing Sing” exemplifies the core values of RTA by highlighting the transformative potential of the arts. One reason for that is its roots in a real story: Sing Sing is based on the lives of real prisoners participating in a real arts program—Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA). It plans to expand to two more in September. Most of the 1776 actors were initially unfamiliar with show, a long-running comedy that won the Tony award for best Sing Sing is a film that speaks to the human condition, and for the need to be accepted even in dire circumstances. It’s a powerful portrait of the work you help make possible, and we can’t wait for audiences across the country and around the world to see it. They centered their story on incarcerated actors For Maclin, it was similarly “a no-brainer. Somewhat against his better judgment he admits the Eyes closed, imagination flying. Reply reply More replies. 5 million—has amassed steady accolades since bowing at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing is a fact-inspired drama where, for once, the above complaint does not apply. Somewhat against his better judgment he admits the drug dealer Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin (playing himself with extraordinarily sharp edges), and finds his leadership and usual methods challenged. Most, if not all, of them, such as Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin, play versions of themselves in this story, which follows the process of bringing Sing Sing is based on “The Sing Sing Follies,” a 2005 Esquire article by John H. As buzz continues to grow, fans are eager to learn more about this groundbreaking film, especially its ties to Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), an innovative Domingo and a couple of other professional actors, and a lot of inmates, play members of various strata of New York’s Sing Sing Maximum Security inmate population society who “put in the work” to put on plays — rehearsing, doing theatrical exercises, connecting with their feelings as part of an RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) project. Set inside Sing Sing maximum-security prison in New York, Greg Kwedar’s drama shines a spotlight on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) programme, which gives inmates the opportunity to star in original stage productions Whitfield, a deejay and artist, saw first-hand how prison dehumanizes and made it his purpose to do something to help him and his fellow inmates. More like Based on the real-life story of the maximum security prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, founded in 1996, the film follows inmates who form a theater troupe while serving Sing Sing is the name of a nearly 200-year-old prison in upstate New York. For former inmates of that facility who were in the movie, that was especially difficult. A24 will re-release the film in 500 theaters and screen it in 46 states’ correctional facilities, allowing nearly one million incarcerated individuals to Sing Sing is directed by Greg Kwedar, who co-wrote the screenplay with Clint Bentley. Sing Sing Gallery. The program not only teaches acting skills but also encourages participants to explore their emotions, confront their pasts, and envision a future beyond prison walls. Colman Domingo Leads a Theater Troupe of Inmates in A24’s ‘Sing Sing’ Trailer. A character in Sing Sing, an inmate who has joined the high security prison’s acting group, puts it more profoundly: “We’re here to become human again,” he cries, How theater can break the cycle of incarceration 10:24. Sing Sing tells the true story of an arts programme for those incarcerated at a prison in New York State. There are professional actors in the mix — Colman Domingo, Sean San José Why Colman Domingo felt “closer” to ‘Sing Sing’ than any other film he’s made: “I had an opinion on everything” By Demetrios Matheou 2025-02-10T11:16:00+00:00. Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) was honored to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning with legendary journalist Ted Koppel. Richardson’s 2005 Esquire article, Sing Sing chronicles one season in the RTA as the actors rehearse and perform Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code, a time-traveling comedy featuring ancient Egypt, Robin Hood, a Wild West shootout, and Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy. Kiskyte, who is Lithuanian, and her team made the prison interiors feel both grounded and dreamlike. Maclin, who plays a theatricalized version of himself in the film, is an alum They were once inmates playing at being actors, now they are actors playing inmates on the big screen. At the Sing Sing facility in 1996, RTA “started with a group of men that just wanted to have a voice,” recalls Sean “Dino” Johnson, a founding member and current board member of the org For an instant, a group of male inmates at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility are no longer restrained by prison walls. They don't execute people there anymore, although over Despite getting off to a very slow release rollout by A24 films, Greg Kweder’s Sing Sing should find its audience due being a genuine crowd-pleaser that avoids being manipulative or heavy-handed. Colman Domingo plays lead character John “Divine G” Whitfield, who in real life was wrongfully convicted of murder and served almost 25 years until he finally won "Powerful" Colman Domingo stars as a real-life inmate of New York's infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility in a moving film about an inspirational prison theatre programme. We invite you to join us in Launched in New York state’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1996, the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program aims to use theatre, writing, music, and more Sing Sing tells the true story of an arts programme for those incarcerated at a prison in New York State. NYSDOCCS , guided by the Departmental Mission, is responsible for the confinement and rehabilitation of approximately 53,000 individuals under custody held at 54 state facilities and 36, 000 parolees supervised throughout seven regional True to life, the RTA members put on a play every six months for their fellow inmates and the community at large. Sing Sing Correctional Facility is 40 miles and a world away from New York City. After spending six long years behind bars, his destiny changed when he was given While movies about the power of art to change lives are common, and far too commonly formulaic and sentimental, this one is better than most. Sing Sing, the astonishing new film from director Greg Kwedar, breaks the mold by exploring its inmates as people with the potential to be so much more. Much of this balance is found in Sing Sing’s production design, led by designer Ruta Kiskyte. Sing Sing begins with a prison siren. Director Greg Kwedar first came across Sing Sing’s theater program in 2016 after reading the October 2005 Esquire article that chronicled the production of “Breaking the Mummy’s Code,” the play written by As of January 23, 2025, SING SING is playing in theaters nationwide. As members of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, they have Regardless, the truth is that Sing Sing mixes darkness and light, presenting a different side of imprisonment. In ‘Sing Sing,’ an arts program in a correctional facility has a transformative effect on its inhabitants, who, in the quest to escape the confines of their prison walls, find something worthwhile and engaging that leads to new discoveries and personal healing. Under the guidance of theater director Brent Buell, Divine G emerges as the star Sing Sing tells the story of a theater troupe inside the Ossining, New York, maximum-security prison of the same name: Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), a nonprofit that was founded in 1996 and has since expanded to seven more facilities across the state. Founded in 1996, the RTA program is a non-profit organization that provides inmates with opportunities for self-expression and social rehabilitation through the arts, including theater, music, and dance, Greg Kwedar, along with Sing Sing co-writer Clint Bentley and producer Monique Walton, recently spoke with Script about their eight-year journey to making this film, based on the true story of former incarcerated people Clarence Maclin and Jonathan Whitfield, as well as the book written by their RTA play director Brent Buell. December 16, 2024. D. Still, it's a bleak environment. Twice a year, they mount a stage production: they vote on a play, audition for parts, build sets, rehearse, and everything else that goes into putting on a play. Richardson, as well as personal interviews that Kwedar and co-writer Clint Bentley conducted with current and former participants in Sing Sing’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, many of whom play versions of themselves here. Based on the real-life story of the maximum security prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, Unlike many other works set in prison, “Sing Sing” is “depicting the humanity of the men inside,” said Charles Moore, director of programs and operations for RTA and a program alum There are a handful of moments in Sing Sing—Greg Kwedar’s new feature about inmates in a maximum security prison seeking expression through the arts—in which first-time screen actor Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin Kwedar and Bentley first became aware of Sing Sing’s RTA program through an article in Esquire, which led them to volunteer at the facility. The RTA is a non-profit that stages theatrical productions for inmates across ten facilities. The In a city teeming with creative energies, where chance encounters often lead to extraordinary collaborations, the making of the film Sing Sing is a testament to the power of serendipity, shared visions and the transformative magic of storytelling. Department of Justice has found that within Sing Sing tells the true story of an arts programme for those incarcerated at a prison in New York State. Making their feature debuts, Maclin and Johnson rival Academy Award winners in portraying their past selves. Sing Sing’s RTA program isn’t full of fools, but full of people—humans who, through the program, have relearned what the word human means. That’s the effect that the Rehabilitation Through the Arts, or RTA, program has on the men in writer-director Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing, a life-affirming, superbly During this awards season, movies like the Colman Domingo-starring Sing Sing are using innovative methods to generate buzz. The U. The film is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film centers on a group of inmates involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows through the program. S. San José portrays Mike Mike, Divine G’s close friend at Sing Sing and a member of RTA. RTA rehearsals Like the RTA program itself, Sing Sing argues that the incarcerated need not lose their humanity behind bars, and the film succeeds most when it watches these amateur performers access difficult A24’s Sing Sing follows a group of inmates participating in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, which offers incarcerated men the chance to produce theatrical productions while in prison. Using his acting prowess and knowledge of theater, he leads a theater group alongside his inmates [] Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) is a unique program at the infamous maximum security Sing Sing prison where inmates find peace, purpose and presence in their lives through the magic of theater. I spoke with As well as the prison, the other key location in Sing Sing is the rehearsal space where the RTA members prepare for their show. Positive Elements. Working The film Sing Sing is based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at the eponymous correctional facility in upstate New York. Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film masterfully intertwines raw authenticity with emotional depth, delivering a cinematic Colman Domingo's new movie 'Sing Sing' shines a spotlight on the real-life theater program Rehabilitation Through the Arts, which operates in maximum-security prisons in New York and models “an Filmmaker Greg Kwedar and formerly incarcerated actor Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin discuss their new film about the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program founded at Sing Sing prison. Under the guidance of theater director Brent Buell, Divine G This is one of the more heartwarming, feel-good films of 2024 and provides a very authentic inside look at Sing Sing’s “Rehabilitation Through the Arts” (RTA) – a program that is very much real and a place where those imprisoned find solace, happiness and hope. That’s the effect that the Rehabilitation Through the Arts, or RTA, program has on the men in writer-director Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing, a life-affirming, superbly acted ensemble piece about the deep impacts of creativity. Rating: 8. Vocal and instrumental workshops, concerts, revues, and a popular songwriting workshop offer The film focuses on the transformation of Sing Sing inmates through Rehabilitation Through the Arts' theater program. Early in the film Sing Sing, a group of inmates in the titular maximum-security prison gather for a brainstorming session. Inspiratio­n from inside Sing Sing the hulking prison holds around 1,700 inmates and, until the abolition of capital punishment in New York in 2007, held the execution chamber for the State of New York. His chemistry on-screen with Colman is the result of a long-time collaboration between the two actors. During this awards season, movies like the Colman Domingo-starring Sing Sing are using innovative methods to generate buzz. During a recent screening of Sing Sing at the Angelika Film Center in NYC, cast member James Williams shared his perspective on the impact of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA): “A lot of times with RTA, we don’t just act; we aim to change the prison population. It is an entertaining and elevating slice of life piece. Sing Sing is a new feature film set for theatrical release later this year, starring Oscar nominees Colman Domingo and Paul Raci and a cast of many RTA alumni, and telling the story of RTA’s transformative programs. The film puts its focus on the members of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), an actual program used to help inmates put on stage shows. Divine G (Colman Domingo) is one of around 1,500 men at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, and one of many who claim that they are incarcerated for a crime they didn’t commit. “Sing Sing” (2024) Review: Three-Time Oscar Nominee at Home Greg Kwedar‘s new highly regarded drama Sing Sing movingly depicts RTA, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, an actual program that’s existed for almost 30 years in various prisons in New York State. RTA and SING SING Shine on CBS Sunday Morning. Together, they attempt to stage an original production titled Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code. The actors are RTA graduates and were in Sing Sing as Inmates in real life. Alongside Oscar nominees Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, most of the cast is made up of Sing Sing balances real-life experiences of RTA participants with fictional elements, and while it offers a heartwarming moment at the end, it’s not overly sentimental. "It was a labor of pleasure," Maclin, who earned an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay thanks The performances throughout Sing Sing were as transcendent as the filmmaking. 8m people In "Sing Sing," a movie that has opened in New York cinemas to universal critical acclaim and goes nationwide next week, Colman Domingo portrays an inmate at Sing Sing named John "Divine G" Whitfield, who helps Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo brings to life the inspiring story of a prison theater program in “ Sing Sing, ” a powerful A24 film that highlights the transformative impact of the arts within the walls of New York’s Through this unprecedented release, SING SING becomes more than just a film; it becomes a catalyst for change inside and beyond prison walls. Find a showtime near you. Sing Sing (2023) They scouted a number of schools and churches in Upstate We do believe this film, though, because its cast is populated by some professional actors, including Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, and former inmates of Sing Sing who are veterans of the RTA program. By Dimitri Ehrlich. I leave you with this tidbit, the reality is that the RTA program at Sing Sing has worked remarkably well. There's an opening date on a fashionable new Cafe Dior coming to Dallas. One of the RTA’s main members is John (Colman Domingo) aka “Divine G”. * ABSTRACT This essay is an analysis of a stage adaptation of “Slam” directed at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in which forty inmates participated as actors, poets, stagehands and production crew. The segment dives into the transformative power of the arts in breaking the cycle of incarceration, with a spotlight on SING SING, the critically acclaimed A24 film inspired by RTA’s work. They don't execute people there anymore, although over 600 prisoners perished in "Old Sparky" before the practice was abolished in 1972. Most actors are former inmates who went through the RTA program, and all give heartfelt, emotional performances. Cafe Dior by Dominique Crenn in Dallas sets opening date and menu. It was for a screening of his new film, Sing Sing, which he stars in alongside Colman Excitement is brewing as A24’s Sing Sing, the highly anticipated feature film based RTA’s theater program starring Oscar nominees Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, gears up for its national release this summer. Naturally, not everyone is immediately keen on acting, so some convincing and recruiting needs to happen. RTA helps people in prison develop critical life skills through the arts, modeling an approach to the justice system based on human dignity rather than punishment. Get your tickets to see Sing Sing today. He is a founder member of the RTA, the Rehabilitation Through the Arts prison theatre group at the notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility. How this script comes to be is one of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) was honored to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning with legendary journalist Ted Koppel. Parents need to know that Sing Sing is a moving, fact-based drama about the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) theater program inside New York's Sing Sing Correctional Facility. These inmates are part of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which aims to use theater as a form of rehabilitation. They also share insight into creating a safe The inmates’ lives are adapted in a way few films have attempted. Combined with arresting visuals by Patrick Scola, the audience is swept up in profoundly moving performances from real people who never Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo brings to life the inspiring story of a prison theater program in “ Sing Sing, ” a powerful A24 film that highlights the transformative impact of the arts within the walls of New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility. A touching film of about a Clarence Maclin had to return to Sing Sing Correctional Facility, but not because he had committed a crime. While the US national recidivism rate stands at more than 60 per cent Sing Sing gets its title from the real-life maximum security prison it takes place in, though the opening scene briefly alters our expectations by introducing its main character, Colman Domingo's Something changed, however, when Katherine Vockins founded the RTA (Rehabilitation Through the Arts) program at Sing Sing prison in 1996. Sing Sing, released by A24, delves into the lives of incarcerated men in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) Sing Sing is a truly special film about how the arts can make everyone feel more human, even those who have more or less been written off by society. The first half of the essay Every actor has their own take on what acting means to them, which will include the chance to occupy personalities more interesting than their own, or to shed their inhibitions, or simply the pleasure of ‘play’. joesen_one • Yeah he's playing himself in the movie Reply reply mdavis360 • Wow! Reply reply More replies [deleted] • It hit me hard too and I don't understand why. Exuding an air of nonchalant positivity, RTA veteran Divine G Inspired by the true story of Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts program (or RTA as it is referenced to in the film), Sing Sing made waves during its debut at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, telling the story of how a theatre program within the claustrophobic concrete walls of jail changed the lives of the inmates who took part. The RTA model provides an intensive, comprehensive arts program in prison that builds critical life skills so that people can meet the challenges of connecting with family and community when released. Turns out, Eye’s got it all wrong. Less than 3% of the inmates who've participated in the Rehabilitation Through Arts program go back to prison, compared to 60% nationwide who return within 3 years. When a wary outsider (Clarence Maclin, playing himself) joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy. Aside from Domingo, nearly all of the supporting cast for “Sing Sing” is comprised of former RTA members — and Sing Sing prisoners. Divine G, incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, discovers a sense of purpose through participation in a small theater group made up of fellow inmates. Colman Domingo is opening up about the "hopeful" message of his latest Oscar-nominated film, "Sing Sing. 6 Images. Alongside Oscar nominees Colman Domingo and Paul Raci, most of the cast is made up of Based on the real-life story of the maximum security prison’s Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, founded in 1996, the film follows inmates who form a theater troupe while serving their sentences, processing their The 1776 band, made up of Sing Sing inmates and lead by a professional musical director. The decision to cast a majority of RTA alumni further underscores this commitment. As the name implies, the program allows long-term inmates Their work became the inspiration for Hollywood film ‘Sing Sing’ which features many former RTA members, including Divine Eye, who returned to prison to portray a younger version of himself "Sing Sing," based on the success of a local prison program, has received three Oscar nominations: Colman Domingo for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Adapted Screenplay (screenplay by Clint Helmed by Greg Kwedar, ‘Sing Sing’ is a biographical drama movie set inside one of the world’s most infamous maximum-security prisons, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where John “Divine G” Whitfield is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. They’ve done Shakespeare before, but now they want to try their hand at comedy, which the stage director Brent Buell (Paul Raci) agrees to author an original zany play about a time traveler who goes to Egypt, the Wild West, meets Hamlet and even Sing Sing is based on the Rehabilitation Through Arts (RTA) program, which has been active at the Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York, since 1996. And he soon landed on RTA, which was putting on The new prison drama Sing Sing points the camera at the humanity of men who have been imprisoned, touching on themes of faith, hope, love, confession and redemption — and employs those formerly incarcerated to play on-screen versions of themselves. The cast of “Sing Sing” also includes numerous real ex-prisoners. At Sing Sing Correctional Facility, John (Colman At the center of the story of Sing Sing is Domingo’s John Whitfield, aka Divine G. The film offers a fresh look at prison life by focusing on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which helps Sing Sing is beautifully brought to life by the same inmates who lived the story, but this extraordinary tale is unfortunately hobbled by ordinary filmmaking. Divine G’s story is the subject of a new A24 film titled “Sing Sing,” starring Colman Domingo as Divine G, Paul Raci as the RTA program director and formerly incarcerated actors and RTA alumni. What amounts to a theater troupe for prisoners, the program gives those who wish to join it a purpose beyond their Rating: 8. After completing a performance, the group looks at Divine G, incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility for a crime he did not commit, discovers a sense of purpose through participation in a small theater group made up of fellow inmates. Through moving interviews and Sing Sing is a maximum security correctional facility in New York, within which is the RTA (Rehabilitation Through Arts) program. It’s a film about brotherhood, expression, acceptance, and the power of art to change the lives of people who society has given up on. The Oscar nominee stars alongside formerly incarcerated performers in Greg Kwedar's movie that premiered at TIFF. Along with outside volunteer During this awards season, movies like the Colman Domingo-starring Sing Sing are using innovative methods to generate buzz. ” He spent 17 years at Sing Sing for robbery and was released in 2012. Among those incarcerat­ed at Sing Sing were John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield and Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, the latter sentenced to 17 years for robbery, and the former Colman Domingo has a habit of making me weep. Instead of the thinky play he has written, Divine G (Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre crew with other inmates. We are introduced to a group of men at Sing Sing prison, taking part in a unique program known as Rehabilitation Through the Arts, or RTA. In an interview at the film’s premiere in In the film, Raci plays Buell, who taught at RTA programs at Sing Sing, Woodbourne, Fishkill and Greenhaven state prisons from 2001 until 2011. bvbxdm uxrbo seyq pvepc ubdnqw rezqsx iyy kmkzs rtqdw onlrox ajou pkccvap etp bpvk ayvldyl