Founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars to give Iben Lecture

Curt L. Tofteland, producing director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars, will give the Iben Lecture at Bradley on Wednesday, November 30, in the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts.

As an introduction, Philomath Films' award-winning documentary focused on Shakespeare Behind Bars, Tofteland's nationally acclaimed prison rehabilitation program, will be given its regional premiere at 7 p.m. Following a brief intermission, Tofteland will deliver his lecture. The event is free and open to the public.

Shakespeare Behind Bars (program participants shown above) holds the distinction of being the first North American Shakespeare Company contained within the walls of a medium security adult male prison performing exclusively the works of William Shakespeare. The program was created to offer the adult prison population the opportunity to examine relevant personal and social issues within the structure of an aesthetic experience. This drama-in-education approach offers participants the opportunity for safe encounters with complex issues.

"Shakespeare Behind Bars has the power to change an inmate's life through a journey of understanding and accountability for past actions, present, and future behaviors," says Tofteland. "This approach encourages the development of the interpersonal life skills that will contribute to the inmates successful reintegration into society."

Curt L. Tofteland has been the producing director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival since 1989 and founded Shakespeare Behind Bars in 1995. His 22 years in professional theater include experience as an Equity actor, director, playwright, arts educator, and teacher. He has held leadership roles in professional theater service organizations at both the international and the state levels. He was a founding member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America, has served as its president, and continues on the executive board.

The documentary, which followed the nine-month long process of bringing Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, to performance, was one of 16 films selected for the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary has been screened at 24 film festivals around the world and has won 10 awards.

The Richard and Gretchen Iben Endowed Lectureship was established by Gretchen Iben in memory or her husband to provide Bradley with a series of master classes, lectures, demonstrations, and performances by highly acclaimed individuals in the field of theatre arts.

For information, call the Bradley Department of Theatre Arts at (309) 677-2660.