I Wrote That! Author Talk: Chris Belden
Chris Belden edited the anthology Closer to Freedom: Prose & Poetry from Maximum Security, which collects prose and poetry composed in the prison workshop he ran for ten years.
For two-plus years, author Chris Belden ran a writing workshop at Garner Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Newtown CT. At the same time, Mark Aldrich and Beth Young led a theater workshop at Garner, producing original plays written by the men incarcerated there. Belden, Aldrich and Young will present an evening of story, poetry, theater, and music written and performed by several now-released members of these workshops.
Chris Belden is the author of Shriver (the basis for the film A Little White Lie), Carry-on, The Floating Lady of Lake Tawaba, and Who Am I to Judge? Chris is currently an instructor at the Westport Writers Workshop and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Fairfield University.
Also appearing with Chris:
Mark Aldrich
Mark Aldrich was the librarian at The Garner Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison in Newtown, Connecticut, from 1996-2016. While there, he created a prisoner theater group, The Garner Players, and produced plays written and performed by prisoners for visiting audiences.
In April, 2023, Mark co-produced and co-directed with WULFLYNX Studios a theatrical production of his illustrated book series Shards of Time at The Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. The cast included singers, actors, dancers, and fencers in a multimedia presentation. Smaller performances were also given at the Ridgefield and Danbury Public Libraries.
Elizabeth Young
Elizabeth Young has been engaged in theater arts for most of her life. She is an actor, playwright, and director. Teaching the art of theater to others is her passion - she has previously taught in various correctional facilities and currently teaches in several assisted living homes and senior centers. She has served as the reviewer for The Newtown Bee for over six years; produced a long-standing local access TV show with Matt Austin featuring community theaters in the area. She was formerly the Artistic Committee chair at The Ridgefield Theater Barn. Elizabeth believes theater holds a home for everyone, everywhere. It is a team on which all can play.