St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page A007

he becomes its rst alumnus to move on to the professional stage. am in said Norman, already lined up his next part. play one of suitors in Mary stage adaptation of a drama that St. Louis Shakespeare opens in July. had no thought about the theater at all until I met Agnes Wilcox, founder of Prison Performing Arts.

this is my Norman said. quite a change in direction for a man who spent 10 years behind bars at Northeastern Correctional Center in Bowling Green. Norman like to go into detail about his past. did a lot of bad things, a lot of bad things except hurt a he says, grimacing. I went in, I was 17 years When he was a senior at Hazelwood Central High School, Norman and another teenager committed a series of armed robberies at fast-food restaurants and an auto parts store.

A few years after he began serving his sentence at Bowling Green, Prison Performing Arts started working with inmates there. Prison Performing Arts grew out of programs that Wilcox started through The New Theater, a St. Louis theater company that she headed for years. Since the theater dissolved in 1999, Wilcox has devoted herself to performing arts programs for incarcerated men, women and children. Today, the organization runs programs at the St.

Louis City Juvenile Detention Center, City Workhouse, City Justice Center, St. Louis County Jail, Hogan Street Regional Youth Center, Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia and Northeastern Correctional Its next big fundraiser, a Birthday Bash for the Bard with a special game, will be April 28 at Restaurant. No one at any institution has to participate in Prison Performing programs; strictly voluntary. are a stealth literacy Wilcox said, we provide creative opportunities for people who have no other creative The theater, she said, develops a wide range of life skills, including communication, self-control, cooperation and individual and group responsibility. After Norman joined in, Wilcox cast him as Brutus in a production of always spoke beautifully, and he learns quickly.

extremely she said. also has the self-discipline to carry a major Still, she is both surprised and delighted to see that he has taken his newfound passion for theater to another level. Prison Performing Arts never was intended to turn former offenders into actors. The theater is a poor career choice if you need steady employment. When it comes to day jobs, Norman has the same one that many other actors do: He works at a restaurant.

Sweetie at the Mangrove, a Southern and soul food restaurant is owned by his mother, Robbie Montgomery. She is a veteran vocalist who has sung with everybody from Frank Sinatra to Ike and Tina Turner. Norman says lucky because, thanks to his history in show business, his is willing to arrange his work schedule around rehearsals and performances. Since he was paroled last year, Norman has stayed in touch with Wilcox, who runs a support group for alumni. They get together to read plays, and they perform at Prison Performing Arts fundraisers.

When Deanna Jent, the artistic director of Mustard Seed Theatre, met him at one of those ts, she suggested that he audition for for is a blessing to Norman said of Jent, who directed the production. He also learned a lot from the other members of the large cast. was like a on the wall, listening to Richard (Strelinger) and Jim (Butz) and Jason Some members of the cast did not know about past until they saw the extremely unusual biographical note that he wrote for the for program. In program notes, actors usually describe their training, list favorite roles or cite awards won. bio reads, in part, is my rst play and rst steps onto a stage since been free.

My steps may seem small to all who see but they are huge to all who leave with Jason Cannon, who stars as the Duke, found out about history one night at rehearsal when a few actors chatted during a break. if we had heard something going into rehearsal, it might have ipped me out a Cannon said. by the time Tim brought it up, already known him a good three weeks, and an absolute sweetheart. It just Cannon and his wife, Sarah, another actor in the for cast, said they never felt a anxiety about working with Norman. They think that any of the actors did.

he did, clearly not who he is Cannon said. just thrilled for Tim. a great example of the power of theater and 314-340-8243 WE OFFER A MONEY-BACK WARRANTY IF YOUR GUTTERS EVER CLOG! Stainless Steel Microscreen Your Gutters Will Never Clog Again that what expect from gutter protection? Save up to OFF on complete home installation Offer valid at first offer per customer.Minimum 100ft. Not to be combined with other offers.Offer expires Mastershield Protection.All Rights Reserved. CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE Special Condo Pricing Available! Call for details.

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Allergy Tested. Fragrance Free. Remember to recycle this newspaper. From A1 1 WEDNESDAY APRIL 16, 2008 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH STLTODAY.COM A7 From prison to theater and now playing a cop Actor Tim Norman (center standing), waits in the green room with the other actors Sunday for the start of the play for at the Mustard Seed Theatre at Fontbonne University.

J.B. Forbes Post-Dispatch for Mustard Seed Theatre When: Performances 2 p.m. Sunday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Through April 27.

Where: Fontbonne University Fine Arts Theatre, Big Bend and Wydown boulevards. How much: $20; $15 for students and older adults. More information: 314-7198060; mustardseedtheatre.com In Metro Read Post-Dispatch theater critic Judith review of for B2 is my rst play and rst steps onto a stage since been free. My steps may seem small to all who see but they are huge to all who leave with Actor Tim Norman in the program notes ACTOR FROM A1.