Prison Passion Play

This spring I spent two days at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The prison, one of the largest in the United States, is known for its inmate rodeo and the fact that more than 90 percent of the prisoners, many serving life sentences, will die there. The prison may soon be known for putting on a large production of the Life of Christ complete with camels and horses. The play, two years in the making, was staged, directed and played completely by prisoners. Women playing roles like Mary were bussed in for rehearsals from a nearby women's prison.