OFF THE HOOK

The original musical drama OFF THE HOOK, set in a California prison and featuring a 15-member cast of formerly incarcerated people, debuts in San Luis Obispo Friday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at Unity Church, 1490 Southwood Drive.

Produced by Poetic Justice Project, OFF THE HOOK has played in Sacramento, Redding, Fresno, Bakersfield, Tehachapi, San Diego and Los Angeles, with powerful audience responses. Poetic Justice Project received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California State Arts Council and the LEF Foundation to help fund its 2010 Prison Town Tour.

OFF THE HOOK examines the ever-present threat of violence and racial segregation in prison. Separation from family, the danger of becoming too close to others and, finally, the triumph of the human spirit come to life in OFF THE HOOK. Each performance is followed by a talk-back with the audience.

The play was written by Deborah Tobola, artistic director of the Poetic Justice Project and directed by Bill McLaughlin, a professional actor and director with more than 30 years' experience in stage and film. Original music is by Shawn Collins. OFF THE HOOK stars Alaska Native film actor Pius Savage, whose films include SPIRIT OF THE WIND and WHITE FANG. Most of the cast members live on the Central Coast.

A program of the William James Association, based in Santa Cruz, Poetic Justice Project produces original theatre on the Central Coast that examines crime, punishment and redemption. For more information visit: http://poeticjusticeproject.org/.

Tickets for OFF THE HOOK range from $10 to $20 and are available at brownpapertickets.com, or by calling the 24/7 ticket hotline at 1-800-838-3006, or at the door. There are seven performance between Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 10, including evenpng shows and matinees.