https://simplecast.com See Me: Prison Theater Workshops and Love explores how the intimacy that podcast host Jan Cohen-Cruz and so many others have experienced in prison theatre workshops is possible in such a dehumanizing environment. The throughline is a deep dive into the workshop that she co-led in the early 1970s, cowritten with Finn K., a core participant, interspersed with reflections from five other pairs of people who were part of other prison theatre workshops together. They reflect on why people joined the workshops, how they got started and developed, building trust and affection, creating performances, learning lessons, facing obstacles, and what happened after the workshops. en Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:11:52 +0000 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:54:16 +0000 https://see-me-prison-theatre-workshops-and-love.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/5187348e-6ea4-4818-b609-7cba85c6c541/d725f70c-2444-45b1-9469-0bd069324f58/3000x3000/see-20me-20prison-20theater-3000x3000.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://see-me-prison-theatre-workshops-and-love.simplecast.com episodic See Me: Prison Theater Workshops and Love explores how the intimacy that podcast host Jan Cohen-Cruz and so many others have experienced in prison theatre workshops is possible in such a dehumanizing environment. The throughline is a deep dive into the workshop that she co-led in the early 1970s, cowritten with Finn K., a core participant, interspersed with reflections from five other pairs of people who were part of other prison theatre workshops together. They reflect on why people joined the workshops, how they got started and developed, building trust and affection, creating performances, learning lessons, facing obstacles, and what happened after the workshops. Jan Cohen-Cruz false https://feeds.simplecast.com/jSiU29jB HowlRound Theatre Commons Webmaster@HowlRound.com dc633460-ebc9-47da-a135-4750bdba2153 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:11:52 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/reflection Reflection Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:41:04 Contributors share final reflections on the attraction of prison theatre workshops. They explore the importance of being seen in all one’s complexities and discuss how imagining the world on stage manifests a vision for the real world. Finn and Jan affirm their workshop experience together. Contributors share final reflections on the attraction of prison theatre workshops. They explore the importance of being seen in all one’s complexities and discuss how imagining the world on stage manifests a vision for the real world. Finn and Jan affirm their workshop experience together. howlround theatre commons, applied theatre, community-engaged theatre, prison theatre false full 10 1 2ef77e26-d4c7-4643-bf12-0710294f3daf Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:36:52 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/collapse Aftermath Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:30:36 This episode covers what happens to Jan after she is banned from the workshop and Finn when he is released. Ausettua and Kathy create the Graduates for women to continue theatre when they get out, and the Free Mama Glo campaign launches. Jess supports of returning citizens. Rand discusses the challenges of reentry. This episode covers what happens to Jan after she is banned from the workshop and Finn when he is released. Ausettua and Kathy create the Graduates for women to continue theatre when they get out, and the Free Mama Glo campaign launches. Jess supports of returning citizens. Rand discusses the challenges of reentry. howlround theatre commons, applied theatre, theatre, prison, howlround, prison theatre false full 9 1 5bd30171-cf5f-48b1-bfdd-0fde9d511e1e Thu, 5 Mar 2026 17:10:36 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/collapse Collapse Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:25:30 In this episode, personal relationships between Finn and Jan and Alex and Kevin fall apart. Collective efforts like the Trenton workshop and the street theatre house, which took great care to build, collapse. How long it takes to build something; how quickly it can tumble. In this episode, personal relationships between Finn and Jan and Alex and Kevin fall apart. Collective efforts like the Trenton workshop and the street theatre house, which took great care to build, collapse. How long it takes to build something; how quickly it can tumble. howlround theatre commons, performance, theatre, prison, howlround, prison theatre false full 8 1 3a852f05-235f-4df3-8d25-4f6b5d90e266 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:57:23 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/name-love In the Name of Love Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:43:43 In this episode, wonderful and terrible things are done while in the thrall of love. Jan and Finn go beyond their comfort level in trying to provide what the other needs. Alex and Kevin’s loving friendship is undercut by racial tension. Jess is unfairly accused of romantic ties in her prison workshops. In this episode, wonderful and terrible things are done while in the thrall of love. Jan and Finn go beyond their comfort level in trying to provide what the other needs. Alex and Kevin’s loving friendship is undercut by racial tension. Jess is unfairly accused of romantic ties in her prison workshops. howlround theatre commons, performance, theatre, prison, prison theatre false full 7 1 d30e1767-92f9-4173-a454-1a309f48e0e7 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:45:46 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/experiential-education Experiential Education Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:37:52 In this episode, looking at the world from each other’s perspectives stretches participants personally and artistically. This can be sobering, like dealing with white privilege; inspiring, like seeing the value of self-agency for all; or both, like Jan and Finn’s different ideas about love and community. In this episode, looking at the world from each other’s perspectives stretches participants personally and artistically. This can be sobering, like dealing with white privilege; inspiring, like seeing the value of self-agency for all; or both, like Jan and Finn’s different ideas about love and community. howlround theatre commons, applied theatre, theater, theatre, prison, howlround, prison theatre false full 6 1 01799612-c7f4-462f-a88b-45c6ba9e7edd Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:11:29 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/prison-shows Prison Shows Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:45:04 In this episode, shows develop in the various workshops. The impact of making, performing, and being seen in multiple dimensions deepens interpersonal relationships and a sense of purpose. Jan and Finn’s relationship thrives through the meaningfulness of collectively creating with each other and the group. In this episode, shows develop in the various workshops. The impact of making, performing, and being seen in multiple dimensions deepens interpersonal relationships and a sense of purpose. Jan and Finn’s relationship thrives through the meaningfulness of collectively creating with each other and the group. howlround theatre commons, applied theatre, theater, theatre, performance art, prison, prison theatre false full 5 1 a0057341-6410-4af1-8553-bda7b0b7c876 Thu, 5 Feb 2026 15:26:49 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/building-trust-and-affection Building Trust and Affection Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:39:53 In this episode, the intimacy of self and group expression brings loving relationships of all kinds into being-–deep friendships, Jan and Finn’s romance, familial feelings, and ancestral bonds–with joys, like unexpected connections, and complications, including the challenge of racial difference. In this episode, the intimacy of self and group expression brings loving relationships of all kinds into being-–deep friendships, Jan and Finn’s romance, familial feelings, and ancestral bonds–with joys, like unexpected connections, and complications, including the challenge of racial difference. howlround theatre commons, applied theatre, theatre, prison, arts, howlround, performing arts false full 4 1 edef35d2-4417-4835-8e17-292753ceb8cd Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:40:44 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/individual-and-collective The Individual and the Collective Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:36:43 This episode takes a closer look at the interplay of particular participants and group dynamics in the workshops. They get to know each other by making theatre together and empathize with people from radically different circumstances. Jan and Finn begin a slow courtship. The drama club becomes a safe space for Mama Glo. This episode takes a closer look at the interplay of particular participants and group dynamics in the workshops. They get to know each other by making theatre together and empathize with people from radically different circumstances. Jan and Finn begin a slow courtship. The drama club becomes a safe space for Mama Glo. education, native theatre, theatre, prison, prison theatre false full 3 1 a5230330-be36-4ba4-965a-df4c19df1c7f Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:38:53 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/workshop-beginnings Workshop Beginnings Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:31:42 The different prison theatre workshops get started. This episode explores their diverse atmospheres, why people join and who they are, early exercises, initial challenges, first impressions, hopes, and expectations. Finn and Jan meet on Day One, her twenty-first birthday. The different prison theatre workshops get started. This episode explores their diverse atmospheres, why people join and who they are, early exercises, initial challenges, first impressions, hopes, and expectations. Finn and Jan meet on Day One, her twenty-first birthday. false full 2 1 306910e4-d5dd-478d-9553-e9a304c3e99f Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:27:09 +0000 Webmaster@HowlRound.com (Jan Cohen-Cruz) https://howlround.com/it-started-calling It Started with a Calling Jan Cohen-Cruz 00:25:37 What leads people to prison theater workshops? This episode begins six intertwined, first-person tales of these workshops, framed by a love story between Finn, who was incarcerated, and Jan, who cofacilitated. What leads people to prison theater workshops? This episode begins six intertwined, first-person tales of these workshops, framed by a love story between Finn, who was incarcerated, and Jan, who cofacilitated. howlround theatre commons, theatre, prison false full 1 1