A.R.C. is a theatre-behind-bars effort out of NERC, the women’s prison in Cleveland. A.R.C. was established in 2016 by local actress Lara Mielcarek. The goals for the future of A.R.C. are lofty and include the expansion of the program to reach returned citizens that have gone through the program (or one like it) while incarcerated. This would provide much needed programming such as acting classes, scene study and playwriting to returned citizens. Future plans may or may not involve becoming a non-profit organization, or finding a fiscal sponsor.

A.R.C. is in need of donations at this time and welcomes financial support of any amount. Those dollars go toward: scripts, highlighters, notebooks, tee shirts, hats, gloves, donuts, coffee. Donations may also go to the needs of returned citizens at Ms. Mielcarek’s discretion. Past examples of use for those dollars are: kitchen/chef nonslip shoes, grocery store gift cards, Visa gift cards for kid’s presents, housewarming baskets. A small list of dream items includes: storage space for costumes and props, small stipends for visiting artists’ master classes, funding for one production annually where graduates of the program can work alongside professional theatre artists in every area- acting, directing, stage management, and technical theatre support.