Maine Inside Out presents “Love is Alternatives to Incarceration”

Maine Inside Out (MIO) initiates dialogue, develops leadership, and builds community across boundaries with collaborative original theater, inside and outside correctional facilities. MIO youth inside of Long Creek Youth Development Center and in Maine communities of Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland, and Waterville create original theater as a tool for social change.

MIO’s outside community group, comprised of members from our Biddeford, Lewiston, and Portland groups, is currently touring “Love Is Alternatives to Incarceration” (Love Is). Love Is premiered as a collaboration with Portland Outright on November 8th, 2017 to a sold-out crowd at USM’s Hannaford Hall. The performance includes a short film, live performance, and audio recordings of poetry by currently incarcerated member of MIO and Portland Outright.

“Love Is Alternatives to Incarceration” interweaves multiple narratives of young people outcast from their home, school, and community and placed into systems designed to separate them. The play documents how, despite these boundaries, they create connection and community with each other. It is a call to action to love and care for each other more boldly. Themes addressed include: youth incarceration, homelessness, school discipline and school to prison pipeline, racism, substance use, family separation, social stigma, trauma, support, resilience, and love.