CHICAGO – There is no better time to take in a stage play that is based in U.S. history, depicting the battle between fact and religion. The old theater chestnut – first mounted in 1955 – is “Inherit the Wind,” now at the Goodman Theatre, completing it’s short run through October 20th. For tickets and more information, click INHERIT.
Podtalk: Paul Raci, Divine Eye Maclin & Dino Johnson of ‘Sing Sing’
CHICAGO – The power of performance is on unique display in “Sing Sing,” expanding in theaters this August. It’s directed/co-adapted by Greg Kwedar and features the consummate Colman Domingo. The film is set in the infamous prison, as the incarcerated become a troupe of actors, and how it changes their lives.
Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
Divine G (Colman Domingo) is doing time in New York State’s Sing Sing prison, and finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other men who are also incarcerated. Their acting coach/play director (Paul Raci) is a patient mentor, but some troupe members – like “Divine Eye” (Clarence Maclin) – are going to have a rockier path towards interpreting this variation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
Colman Domingo (left) and Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin of ‘Sing Sing’
Photo credit: A24
The story uses actual formerly incarcerated actors alongside Domingo Colman and the other professionals, but all are equally present. The redemptive power of pretending to be something else is on display, filtered through the intense experiences of both society’s law breakers and rejected persons (including the majority as people of color). Frustrations, revelations and a calming influence follow the troupe to their stage play, where all the men in this case are merely players, in a fascinating journey.
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed Paul Raci, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and Sean “Dino” Johnson (as another incarcerated actor). Raci is a veteran character actor, nominated in 2019 for “Sound of Metal.” Maclin is portraying a variation on himself, formerly incarcerated, who went through the program depicted on screen. Johnson is a formerly incarcerated board member of RTA, the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program which puts the inmates on stage, and the Executive Director of a non-profit violence reduction initiative, the Council for Unity.
L to R: Paul Raci, ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin and ‘Dino’ Johnson of ‘Sing Sing’
Photo credit: A24
In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Actor Paul Raci of “Sing Sing” on inspirations and Joaquin Phoenix …
Actors Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin (speaks first) and Sean “Dino” Johnson (a Philosopher King, listen to his reflections), the formerly incarcerated actors in “Sing Sing” …
Divine Eye and Dino answer an acting question …
Trailer, “Sing Sing” …
By PATRICK McDONALD |