Theater Workers Project

Shanley has participated in a number of projects as a contributing artist for TheatreWorkers Project (TWP), a not-for-profit collaborative that provides opportunities for members of underserved and unheard communities to tell their stories through a combination of physical theatre, improvisation, writing, and movement. TWP works with the participants to create original performance pieces based on participant-generated poetry and prose reflecting their personal stories.

Shanley has worked alongside TWP to create visuals to accompany and amplify the stories told by those in the program who have experienced or are currently experiencing incarceration.

RITUALS

theater workers participant meditates through music and playing his guitar

theatre workers project participant has found self love and acceptance

theatre workers project participant found faith in god

theater workers project participant finds calm when riding his motorcyle

theatre workers project participant prays and meditates

theatre workers project participant conducts a tobacco ceremony

RITUALS was created during the LIFER: Stories from the Inside/Out, a 14-week collaborative theatre and writing workshop with TWP for formerly incarcerated individuals previously sentenced to life but who had been recently released. The participants were also residents of The Francisco Homes at the time, a housing community for persons on parole from serving life sentences - it is the place where they begin to navigate their re-entry into society. The RITUALS piece explores the different ways that each participant connects with something larger than themselves as they move into this new era of their lives. The RITUALS project was funded by the California Arts Council Reentry Through the Arts Grant.