The men—Gary Goodloe, Justin Boettcher, Ricky Price, and Leonard Martin—are undergoing rehabilitation for nonviolent felonies. They will be accompanied by security guards.
Helen Magers, program director at River City Correctional Center, where the volunteer performers come from, said, "These volunteers are men that will soon rejoin society, and they have been choisen because of their positive behavior and the fact that none of them have ever committed a serious crime." She added, "They have so little experience having fun and enjoying themselves, but they couldn't keep the smiles off their faces after their first rehearsal."
Price, who was released earlier this week but returned to keep his commitment to the company, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that the experience has inspired him to take dance lessons.
A Midsummer Night's Dream runs September 23-25 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.