Sister Helen Prejean » Play Project

Join me in Cambridge for a movie showing

Sister Helen Prejean — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:18:13 +0000

It’s a long while since I last saw the movie of Dead Man Walking, so I’m looking forward to watching the movie with a group of people getting together at a special showing in Cambridge, Massachusetts in September.

This is a special event. It’s being organized jointly by the Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty (MCADP) and the Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project, aka the Play Project. All the proceeds from the night will go towards the Play Project.

The MCADP has become a major sponsor of the Play Project, enabling it to reach more students, more colleges and more communities across the country. Harvard, Yale, Marshall and a bunch of smaller colleges and high schools will be participating in the coming year, using the power of art to open up deep thought and discourse on the death penalty.

If it’s been a while since you saw Dead Man Walking or if you’ve never seen it or if you’d simply like to come along and join the discussion, here are the details:

Where: Brattle Street Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA
When: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7pm

(Click the image on the right to get a copy of the event brochure.)

After the screening, we’ll have a talk back session where I’ll be joined by the Play Project’s director, Steven Crimaldi. I’ll also be signing copies of Dead Man Walking and The Death of Innocents.

Won’t you join me?

New Play Project website

Sister Helen Prejean — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:01:03 +0000

Steven Crimaldi, the new coordinator for the Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project (around the office we call it the Play Project), has been working on beefing up the Project’s online presence. As part of that, he’s enlisted the help of a fine web designer who has given the Play Project’s website a whole new look. There’s still a bit of work to do to iron out the bugs, but so far I think it’s looking great.

The Play Project is entering its sixth year. Participating in the Project is a wonderful way for young people to reflect on a deeply moral issue and at the same time to experience the power of the arts to illuminate the big questions of our day. Participating schools are required to involve more than simply the drama department, and are encouraged to get their broader community involved as well. If you’d like to see your local college or school involved in this transforming project, you’ll find plenty of information about it on the website. So take a look at www.dmwplay.org and see what you think.

The Dead Man Walking play project gets a new director

Sister Helen Prejean — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:14:48 +0000

Just talked to Tim Robbins and I’m excited. We have a new Executive Director – Steven Crimaldi – for the Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project. He’ll be based in Boston, while the rest of the staff is in New Orleans. Boston has so many resources to offer us.

Steven officially begins July 1, but already he’s started working, meeting today with folks at Boston College about possible office space and he’ll be meeting with the rest of our staff this weekend.

Sister Maureen Fenlon, OP, the Play Project’s director for five years, is moving on to Spirit Mountain, a retreat center in Southern California. Maureen did great work with the play project, bringing it to 174 universities, colleges, and high schools. I will always be grateful to her. As well as directing the Play Project, Maureen – who has extensive experience with social justice organizations – helped us organize our collection of projects into the Death Penalty Discourse Network and to function as a cohesive team.