Broken Clock Tour Continues, and Upcoming Open Mic Night!
Photos by Natalie Conn Photography at the Beyond the Bars Conference
MIO recently held back-to-back performances of “Broken Clock” at the Rockport Opera House and the Beyond the Bars Maine Conference at University of Southern Maine in Portland. The original play about incarceration, gun violence, grief, family, trust, hope, and time is drawing out powerful dialogue that continues to build through each performance.
“Broken Clock” was performed at the Rockport Opera House as part of a collaboration with Conscious Revolution’s Tapestry project, a space for White women to explore how their identities have intersected with power structures that sustain patriarchy and racism. The house was filled with a diverse audience including folks from the area and those representing family members of currently incarcerated people. The many voices in the post show dialogue wove together multiple truths about how mass incarceration impacts all of us and our dreams to transform it. MIO’s Creative Ensemble also had the opportunity to deepen engagement during a post-event meal and mini workshop with members of White Men for Racial Justice and the Conscious Revolution team.
Beyond the Bars Maine was a three-day conference designed to uplift the voices of people directly impacted by incarceration to inspire change through workshops, discussions, and performances. Participants joined in person at USM and on zoom from inside Maine prisons. After the MIO creative ensemble’s performance of “Broken Clock,” audience and cast members engaged in a vulnerable and connected dialogue:
“My little brother’s dealing with these things right now - trying to hide his feelings, be tough.”
“We’re working with Lewiston youth and the clock is always ticking - we only have so long to work with these young people. Too many are experiencing the things in this play every day.”
“It’s hard to watch that nobody had time to help, even when asked.”
“Thank you for giving kids a safe space to express themselves. I grew up in Kennedy Park in Portland - mentorship is so important.”
“I sincerely needed someone who had gone through what I was going through.”
“After multiple times in Long Creek, mentorship is the only thing that got me where I am today.”
Audience members asked what’s challenging for the cast about doing this performance, and one cast member shared:
“We’re taking deep, dark pieces of ourselves, getting comfortable to share, and then developing those experiences into a play that’s not just our own story anymore - it’s both really challenging and very healing.”
Audience members were dreaming for:
Housing for everyone
A world that’s not so angry
Compassionate systems
Community accountability
Bold love
More of this
Open Mic Night
Join us on Tuesday, October 21, at 7pm for “Home Bound,” a community Open Mic at the First Universalist Church of Auburn: Unitarian Universalist. The event is hosted by Maine Inside Out’s Lewiston Community Group members Bashir Matan, Hassan Hassan, and Isha Abdullahi and will feature beloved MIO performer and poet Donkell Bolton. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to sign up to perform.
This open mic is a collaboration with the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations and Haven: Stories of Finding Home in Maine.
“Broken Clock” in Bangor
Join us on Tuesday, October 28th, in Bangor for a “Broken Clock" performance and community dialogue at Penobscot Theater Company.
Hosted by Maine Inside Out, Penquis Community Action Program, and The Maine Youth Action Network.
New Online Merch Store!
Maine Inside Out has collaborated with Bonfire to offer merchandise for sale. Original and "Broken Clock" apparel are currently available for purchase.
