Our Mission

Mud Theatre Project uses the power of storytelling to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced and to illuminate the concerns of our shared communities.

Our Vision

Mud Theatre Project engages in the arts to achieve social change on behalf of overlooked communities.

Our Story

The Mud Theatre Project: Transforming Communities Through the Arts

Mud Theatre Project was born within the writing community of the Illinois Department of Corrections, where we harnessed the power of the arts to shed light on the journey through the classroom to prison pipeline. During this transformative process, members of our team evolved into national award-winning playwrights, journalists, and artists.

Now, as we reintegrate into our communities, our primary goal is to breathe life into neglected spaces through our guiding motto: Transformational Therapeutic Rehabilitation Through the Arts. We believe in the inherent ability of artistic expression to spark change, foster healing, and cultivate hope in even the most overlooked corners of society.

Meet the Team

  • Brian Beals

    DIRECTOR

    Brian Beals is an accomplished activist, organizer and award-winning playwright, who was exonerated in 2023 after spending 35 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. A Chicago native, Brian works in nonprofit and artistic spaces to create programming and support for communities impacted by injustice.

  • King Moosa

    PROJECT MANAGER

    King Moosa is a rising artist with a passion for using his music and Fine art to bring awareness to social injustices particularly in the area of juvenile justice. With his unique sound and captivating lyrics, he has already made a name for himself in the music industry and in the art community. Moosa's art has been displayed in various cities across the United States, including Chicago, New York, and Miami.

  • Darius Franklin

    PROJECT MANAGER

    Darius Utilizes his unique high energy filled positive spirit in creative ways to amplify the voice of the voiceless via art by way of co-creating programs to spark social change. Darius has earned the nickname “FIX” as he continues to embark on his mission to FIX some of the broken pieces in our world one village at a time.

  • Tekamia “Queen” Cannon

    OUTREACH ORGANIZER

    My name is Tekamia “Queen” Cannon. I grew up on the Chicago’s West Side, raised with three brothers. At the age of 16, I was indirectly system impacted by way of my older brother’s incarceration. That tragic event proved to be bittersweet; because through the loss of my brother, I learned that I am a resilient person. I believe that sharing stories matters and the Mud Theatre Project is a way I can help heal my sisters and brothers.

  • Darrion Benson

    PROJECT MANAGER

    Darrion Benson was born in Chicago where he was raised in a home with siblings, Mother and Step-Father. A wrong turn led him into the Illinois Department of Corrections where he is currently serving 17 years. During his incarceration, he has published a book of poems 325 miles away. He is also an aspiring playwright. He confounded a nationally respected prison theatre program (Dixon Theatre Workshop), led creative writing workshops, and is a certified civics peer educator inside while currently active in a civics program that engages Chicago communities.

  • Toussaint Daniels

    PROJECT MANAGER

  • INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS

    NICKOLAS HASELRIG

    JASON FOSTER

    JESSE MARTINEZ

    DELANDIS ADAMS

  • INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS

    MARVIN ALEXIS

    APILINAR J. SERNAS

    LIONEL BARRY

    YOEL DAVIS

  • 100’s of other members of our writing community

    Description goes here