PPA NEWS
2017-2019
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Prison Performing Arts: The Voice Within, Cinema St. Louis, July 2019. “The Voice Within,” inmates at the women’s prison in Vandalia, Mo., participate in a two-week Prison Performing Arts (PPA) workshop and take an unforgettable journey into the depths of each other’s lives.
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THE PRISON PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM PUTS INMATES ON CENTER STAGE, Missouri Life, March 2019. “In prison, Chris says, “Rules and authority dominate the human interaction.”
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In 'Hip Hop Hamlet,' women prisoners express their humanity: 'I didn't feel like I was incarcerated', St. Louis Public Radio, October 2018. STLPR reviews the 2018 performance of Hip Hop Hamlet at WERDCC Vandalia.
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Escape Behind Bars, American Theatre, January 2019. St. Louis’s Prison Performing Arts helps young inmates discover and rediscover their creative and interactive selves.
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New drama unfolds in Vandalia women's facility thanks to expanded Prison Performing Arts, KBIA, June 2017. A St. Louis-based organization called Prison Performing Arts (PPA) is taking a fresh approach in its 27-year-old effort to turn inmates into actors.
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Run-On Sentence, Talkin’ Broadway, 2018. Professional review of Run-On Sentence —”…it’s not a musical, but it would make for a very gritty modern opera.”
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Remarkable “Run-On Sentence” At SATE Developed In Conjunction With PPA, Stage Door STL, August 2018. Review of SATE’s performance of “Run-On Sentence.”
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ARTS AND EDUCATION COUNCIL GRANTEES AND CENTENE CENTER FOR THE ARTS TENANTS GARNER LOCAL AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION, Arts & Education Council, Feb. 2019. "Recently, several Arts and Education Council grantees and tenants in our arts incubator, the Centene Center for the Arts, have garnered local and national recognition for their artistic work and community impact.”
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'Run-On Sentence' Is Taut, Affecting Drama Set in Women's Prison: Theater Review, Ladue News, June 2018.
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CONTENT TO COVER: THE DESIGN OF BOOKS WITH PRISON PERFORMING ARTS, Sam Fox School, 2018.
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“Cut & Paste: Prison Performing Arts alums credit the late Agnes Wilcox for success on and off stage,” Stlpublicradio.org, September -PPA Alumni, Robert Morgan and Lyn O'Brien, reflect on the impact PPA and the late Agnes Wilcox had on their lives.
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“Remembering Prison Performing Arts founder Agnes Wilcox, who died unexpectedly while vacationing,” Stlpublicradio.org, September -Members of the local art community of St. Louis remember Agnes Wilcox.
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“Prison Performing Arts founder Agnes Wilcox has died,” Stlmag.com, August -The arts pioneer passed away while vacationing in Canada with her husband, theater critic Bob Wilcox.
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“Prison Performing Arts founder Agnes Wilcox dies in Canada,” Stltoday.com, August –Founder Agnes Wilcox passed way.
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“When Caged Birds Sing,” Ladue News, July -An overview of the benefits and impact of PPA in the prison system.
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“New drama unfolds in Vandalia women's facility thanks to expanded Prison Performing Arts,” Stlpublicradio.org, June -PPA creates new work from the persobal experiences of incarcerated women.
2016
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“RAC Artist Fellowship Profiles: Christopher Limber & Travis Mossotti,” Ladue News, February - Ladue News profiles Chris Limber, director of PPA adult programs.
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“Arts & Education Council honors Agnes Wilcox, Eberleins, Bach Society,” Stltoday.com, January- Agnes Wilcox receives The Lifetime Achievement Award from the A & E Council of St. Louis.
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“‘St. Louis is full of adventurous artists:' Prison Performing Arts founder Agnes Wilcox looks back,” Stlpublicradio.org, January- During an interview on St. Louis On the Air, Agnes Wilcox looks back on her career as founder and director at PPA.
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STL TV LIVE- Prison Performing Arts, 2016. Director of Adult Prison Programs for Prison Performing Arts, Christopher Limber, joins STL TV LIVE host, Raynah Rey, in studio.
2015
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“'I cry during sentimental movies' — prisoners use personal stories to reflect on mass incarceration,” Stlpublicradio.org, November- PPA gives inmates an opportunity to write and perform works based on personal experiences.
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"Prison Theater & the Transformative Power of the Performing Arts, " Playscripts.com, September – Christopher Limber shares his experience producing Quick Brewed Macbeth at the Northeast Correctional Center.
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“A & E Council honors Prison Performing Arts founder, 8 others,” stlpublicradio.org, June - Agnes Wilcox is among those to receive a St. Louis Arts Award from Art and Education Council.
2014
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“Changes come to Prison Performing Arts,” Stltoday.com, November –Founder and Artistic Director, Agnes Wilcox will be retiring and Chris Limber will take over as director of adult programs.
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“Founder of Prison Performing Arts Speaks at UNC Asheville,” News.unca.edu, September- Agnes Wilcox gives talk at University of North Carolina in Asheville.
2013
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"Shakespeare in Chains," The Utah Statesman, October — Agnes Wilcox and Margot Sempreora discuss the importance of artistic expression for inmates.
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"Performing Arts for Prisoners on Tuesday's Access Utah," Utah Public Radio, October — Agnes Wilcox interviewed by Utah Public Radio during a visit to Utah State University.
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"Women of Vision," ALIVE Magazine, May — On PPA Director Agnes Wilcox receiving a Grand Center Arts Award
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"Prison Performing Arts Receives Award," Missouri Department of Corrections, January — About the National Coalition of Community-Based Correctional and Community Re-Entry Service Organizations presenting PPA with the 2012 Organizational Member of the Year Award
2012
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"Theater Opens Our Eyes," The New York Times, December — PPA Artistic Director Agnes Wilcox offers an opinion piece for the paper of record
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"New Prison Performing Arts Workshop Helps Inmates Prepare for Life Beyond Bars," Riverfront Times, November, by Leah Greenbaum
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"Ex-cons, homeless vets aim at enlightenment through Buddhist art in St. Louis," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February — About "Staging Reflections of the Buddha" at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
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Sunday Platform (mp3) by PPA Director Agnes Wilcox, October, Ethical Society of St. Louis
2009
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"Old masters inspire those needing a hand," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April — About "Staging Old Masters" at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
2008
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"A Conversation With Agnes Wilcox," St. Louis Magazine, August — A Q&A with SLM's Jeannette Cooperman
2004
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"Best Arts Organization," Riverfront Times, Best of St. Louis, September
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"All the Jail's a Stage," Riverfront Times, May — An in-depth profile written by Shelley Smithson
2003
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"Mostly Greek: Two productions successfully plumb for meaning in the classics," Riverfront Times, July — About "The Gospel at Colonus," performed by the Oedipus Project and Prison Performing Arts
2002
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"Captive Audience: The Prison Arts Project helps local inmates present a mesmerizing Hamlet," February — About PPA's performance of the famous play at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center
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"Act V," a one-hour documentary on "This American Life," August — This program about PPA's Hamlet Project at MECC continues to provide us with national attention and has been re-run annually on NPR stations across the country.