This Civic Liberal Arts (CLA) course is an advanced scene study. Students will continue to refine their ability to portray a variety of characters and enhance the actor's knowledge of their body as an acting instrument. In this interactive scene study class, students will collaborate with the innovative outreach program, THE FORTUNE SOCIETY and explore the prison plays by August Wilson, Kwame Kwei- Armah, Bola Agbaje, Roy Williams, Kia Corthron, John Herbert, Athol Fugard, Rona Munro, Miguel Pinero and Edward Bond. The class will meet with formerly incarcerated individuals and guest lecturers as we foster a space for truthful dialogue and real exchange between the students and formerly incarcerated individuals. The Fortune Society’s website reads “…[Our] mission is to support successful reentry from prison and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. We do this by believing in the power of individuals to change… Building lives by service programs shaped by the needs and experience of our clients… And changing minds through education and advocacy to promote the creation of a fair, humane and truly rehabilitative correctional system…” No prerequisite. This course fulfills an elective requirement for Theater majors and minors.