Monday night marked a special moment for the RTA community when the original cast of Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code performed the show onstage at New York Theater workshop.
The play at the heart of the hit film SING SING was originally staged at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 2005 — and this performance two decades later marked the first time the play has been performed outside of prison walls.
See photos from the performance below:
The story of RTA’s journey to the big screen began after Greg Kwedar read a profile of the program and the production of Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code in Esquire. Kwedar eventually directed the film and co-wrote it with Clint Bentley, and cast several RTA alumni in the film.
Brent Buell, who wrote and directed the original performance as an RTA teaching artist, directed Monday’s performance at New York Theater Workshop. The performance was sponsored by A24 and The Just Trust.
The film Sing Sing has collected honors and acclaim from critics worldwide and is nominated for three Academy Awards, including:
- Best Actor in a Leading Role — Colman Domingo
- Best Adapted Screenplay — Screenplay by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John “Divine G” Whitfield
- Best Original Song — “Like A Bird” by Abraham Alexander & Adrian Quesada
The film is playing in theaters nationwide and is also available for purchase or rent on streaming platforms everywhere—including Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Prime Video, and Plex.
