Poetic Justice Project’s Off The Hook an original musical with a 15-member cast of formerly incarcerated actors

Poetic Justice Project presents original plays examining crime, punishment and redemption

A way back from prison Formerly incarcerated actors help create groundbreaking theatre to challenge and transform our culture.

2010 Prison Town Tour Cities toured: Sacramento, Fresno, Redding, Bakersfield, Tehachapi, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo.

Audience Response Great talent–great message. We are so glad you came! The actors were all terrific—from the heart, chilling, poignant. This show put a human face on prisoners. This play should be in schools, before at-risk children. U.S. Department of Justice needs to see this. My heart is open... it was excellent!

Audience Response I see you performing in the White House! So, so healing for all of us! Just loved it! Please don’t stop the music. Tour–Broadway! This can’t stop–keep it going. The world is listening.

History of Poetic Justice Project Poetic Justice Project, located on California’s Central Coast, is a program of the William James Association, based in Santa Cruz. Poetic Justice Project was founded in January, 2009 by Deborah Tobola.

History of Poetic Justice Project Ms. Tobola worked as a creative writing teacher and artist facilitator in California prisons for more than 12 years, producing original plays at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.

Accomplishments In its first year, Poetic Justice Project was named best new theatre company on the Central Coast by Brickyard Theatre in Atascadero. Its first play, Blue Train, sold out three shows at the San Luis Obispo Little Theater the during the traditionally “dead week” of Christmas.

In 2010, Poetic Justice Project received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council and the LEF Foundation to help fund the Poetic Justice Project Prison Town Tour.

Awarded to Poetic Justice Project for Outstanding Public Service to the Community

Letter from Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado

Theatre With a Purpose In California, more than 70% of paroled inmates return to jail or prison. For Poetic Justice Project participants, the recidivism rate is under 1%.

Coming Up... Next summer, Poetic Justice Project will present Of Mice and Men at the International Steinbeck Festival. In the fall, Poetic Justice Project will produce the original play Women Behind Walls.

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