Play goes inside criminals’ minds

A mug shot can evoke two reactions in a person: fear and intrigue. When staring into the face of the arrested, one wonders what crimes were committed and what could be running through the mind of the person peering out from the photo. Cellmate Confessions, an original play at the Straz Center, may hold the answers.

Cellmate Confessions, inspired by local mug shots from tabloids and websites, is a kaleidoscope of startling stories behind the mug shots of 10 people. Humorous, heart breaking, frightening and even disturbing, each character’s fast-paced monologue is a window into their thoughts at the time of their arrest. Cellmate Confessions is an avant-garde theatrical event that weaves a vivid tapestry of crime and punishment.

The play, produced by Francine Wolf ’s ZaZu Productions, is the work of actor and playwright Joseph Alan Johnson of St. Petersburg. Johnson is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. The show premiered to sold-out crowds last August at Studio@620 in St. Petersburg.

The cast of Cellmate Confessions includes Wolf and Johnson along with Tracy Borgatti, Jean Collins, Joshua Groff, Elaine Cloud Goller, Daniel Harris, Jamie Sanders, Dorothy Hershman, and David Hershman, a Jewish Press graphic artist.

There will be eight performances of Cellmate Confessions in the Shimberg Playhouse between Thursday, June 30 and Sunday, July 10. A sign language interpreter will be provided at the Sunday, July 3 matinee performance.

Tickets are $25 with group and last-minute discounts available. The show contains explicit language and adult themes. For more information/ tickets, call the Straz Center for Performing Arts at (813) 229-STAR or go online at www.strazcenter.org.