Before ‘Sing Sing’ the movie: The untold story of King and C-Note’s prison theater journey

by Darealprisonart: Before “Sing Sing” the movie brought the transformative power of prison theater to the big screen, an equally compelling, yet largely overlooked story was unfolding within California’s prison system. This story centers on two remarkable individuals – Minister King X (aka Pyeface) and Donald “C-Note” Hooker – whose artistic collaboration behind bars revolutionized prison theater in the 2010s. Under the tutelage of Juilliard-trained theater veteran Leah Joki, King and C-Note not only found their creative voices but also empowered countless others through their groundbreaking work. This is the story of their journey, a story that predates the narrative showcased in “Sing Sing” and one that offers a profound testament to the power of art to transform lives in the darkest of places. Leah Joki’s name is synonymous with the world of prison theater. She spent over 30 years cultivating programs that offer incarcerated individuals an outlet for expression and personal transformation. Author of “Juilliard to Jail,” Joki had a profound impact on those she worked with, particularly King and C-Note. Her vision was clear: Give incarcerated individuals the tools to tell their stories and the platform to share them with the world. Joki’s mentorship laid the foundation for...