Savannah Rep's latest production, 'Prisontown,' explores the toll of incarceration on local economies

The Savannah Repertory Theater continues its tradition of delivering bold and unconventional plays to the Savannah stage. On Thursday, the theater's latest production invites audiences to delve deep into complex themes of justice and redemption when Lee Osorio's "Prisontown" makes its world premiere.

"Prisontown" is a gripping exploration of a community shadowed by the impacts of its local prison industry. Osorio, known for weaving compelling narratives that challenge societal norms, uses "Prisontown" to cast a critical eye on the relationships and economic dependencies that form around incarceration facilities. As the curtain rises on this evocative production, theatergoers are promised a journey that not only entertains but also compels introspection.

Several years ago, while driving on a dark road outside Atlanta, actor and playwright Lee Osorio received a text from his brother, an immigration attorney, asking “How much of an activist are you?” Osorio's brother then asked if he would take one for the team and be willing to marry one of his clients to prevent her deportation to Latin America. Although the marriage did not occur and the legal situation was eventually resolved, the message deeply affected Osorio.

This incident prompted Osorio to revisit his hometown of Lumpkin, Georgia, a dying town struggling to survive primarily through its federal immigration detention centers. This return sparked the creation of the 90-minute, one-man play that explores Osorio's renewed perspective on his hometown while also addressing the broader themes of poverty in the small-town South, the harsh realities of the migrant crisis and historical erasure.

“I went down to Lumpkin to visit. Once it did not revolve around the prison. It does now but it did not always. It had a museum there that brought in about 50,000 visitors a year, back in the late-'80s. But then that moved away to Columbus, and the prison there opened in 2004. And that is really what is keeping the town and the county alive at this point," said Osorio. "The prison system, particularly in Stewart County, exemplifies broader systemic issues. Stewart Detention Center, a private prison operated by CoreCivic, a publicly traded company, exemplifies how profits are prioritized over inmate care, leading to minimal spending on necessities like food, bedding, and medical care to satisfy shareholder demands for increased profits. This focus on profit keeps the prison full and the spending on inmates minimal, resulting in harsh conditions.”

The economic reality of the prison, however, "does not translate into local prosperity," Osorio further explained. "Many residents, particularly in the majority-Black County with struggling public schools and low graduation rates, cannot qualify for jobs at the center, which require a high school diploma. Consequently, most employees commute from outside areas. Local businesses like restaurants also do not see the expected boost since prison employees have limited time for breaks.”

The narrative of "Prisontown," a play inspired by these realities, captures the pervasive impact of the prison system on the town of Lumpkin. It portrays not just the detainees' dire conditions but also the emotional and psychological toll on the guards, highlighting how the harsh work environment contributes to their behavior. This exploration emphasizes that both guards and detainees are trapped in a detrimental system, revealing the broader, often overlooked human impacts of America's prison and immigration detention practices.

If you go >>

What: "Prisontown"

When: May 10-19

Where: Savannah Repertory Theater

Tickets: $45 general admission; $38 senior/military

Info:savannahrep.org/prisontown

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Lee Osorio's 'Prisontown' makes world premiere at Savannah Rep