Jillian Barron

Ok, so to start: No, I didn't get arrested. No, I wasn't incarcerated. No, this isn't a Memphis version of Orange is the New Black. This is my week at the Shelby County Penal Farm, Jail East, C-Block as an improvisation instructor for Tennessee Shakespeare Company. All names have been changed for protection. These are the notes I took each day: Day 1 - Monday -No one was told that I would be coming to teach a class this week. The captain had to call the chief to confirm who I

Last week I had the rare opportunity to perform for my favorite people on earth: Teachers. And not just any teachers. Teachers of the Arts. The Tennessee Arts Academy held their annual week-long conference at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and Tennessee Shakespeare Company was invited as guest performers preceding a talk given by Christopher Durang. After reading that last sentence, some of you may understand why I was so freaking excited to go to this conference.

I'm not sure what else to say. It's crazy to think that only 10 years ago, I was in the students' shoes. Here's what I learned: 1) The young people I worked with were more compassionate and enthusiastic than Hollywood led me to believe. 2) "In The Manner of The Word" is the greatest game. (Thank you Joey Shaw). 3) Shakespeare is more accessible to young minds than educators would have them believe.

Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. June flashed by and now I have just enough time to come up for air before diving right back into work! Here are photos of Tennessee Shakespeare Company's performance of Comedy of Errors in partnership with the University of Memphis Department of Theatre and Dance. This was, to date, the most amazing show experience I've had. From the director to the cast to the crew, everyone was top-notch, and the abundance of laughter kept me looking forwa