Dead Man Walking Play Project Show

The production of the play Dead Man Walking has impacted people's opinion about the death penalty in the rural community of Alamosa, Colorado. The play project was designed by Sister Helen Prejean (who wrote the book) and Tim Robbins (who adapted the movie and play) to "widen the circle of public discourse on the death penalty and to get young people involved through theater and the arts." What they learn from these community productions will be used to produce the definitive Broadway version of the play. Sister Prejean attended the opening night performance of the play (April 21st, 2006) put on by Adams State College (ASC) in Alamosa, where a week of activities (art show, debate, symposium, etc.) engaged students and community members. Sister Prejean was excited about the response, she told Tim Robbins saying, "This was the dream! They're doing it!? No other community has participated in the play project as fully as Alamosa. This in depth coverage of the Dead Man Walking Play Project in Alamosa covers the impact of the project on the play?s cast, author Sister Helen Prejean, as well reactions from community members affected by current death row murders. News summary available at http://www.prx.org/pieces/11436. Six part series available upon request. Original Art by Kathy Park, Jaroso, Colorado. EXCERPTS LEAD ACTRESS PLAYING SISTER PREJEAN: "Those were real tears, absolutely! It?s incredible to see her out there and to get to know her and to know the woman that I am play and know that this is a real person? and real conflict and a real life." SISTER PREJEAN REACTION DURING INTERMISSION: "For me to see it? I remember those people, I remember those words, I remember that very scene." RELATIVE OF MURDER VICTIM: "It's one thing to say the words that you forgive somebody? [it's been since] meeting sister Helen Prejean that I can fully say that, or feel that I have forgiven Nathan Dunlap for the murders that he has caused and I don't want him to be on death row."