Flipping the Script: How Unscripted Improv Performance Promotes Prosocial Behavior Among Justice-Involved Young People

Background and Purpose: The existing literature suggests that offering arts programming (e.g., visual or theater arts, music, literature) to justice-involved individuals in detention or prison can lead to positive outcomes, such as improved emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and prosocial behavior. However, little literature exists on the impact of arts programming on individuals – specifically young people – who are re-integrating into society after release. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining the experiences of formerly justice-involved young people participating in Drama Club, the only organization in New York City providing theater programming within non-secure and secure detention sites (including Rikers) as well as in communities most impacted by mass incarceration, with the goal of teaching violence mitigation and prosocial living skills to young people through theater (specifically, improv).

Methods: Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with former or current Drama Club apprentices, who had previously participated in Drama Club themselves (typically while in prison or juvenile detention) and who, upon release, had the opportunity to act as an apprentice in the community – a paid position wherein they helped teach improv skills to others. Each interview was conducted one-on-one and lasted approximately sixty minutes. Participants were recruited via email and text, and asked if they would be willing to volunteer to confidentially participate. Interviews covered topics such as participants’ motivation to become involved in the program, their perceptions of the program, and perceived impacts of the program on themselves and their future. Interviews were audio-recorded and verbatim transcripts were completed using artificial intelligence at Rev.com. The interviews were coded thematically, using reflective thematic analysis and guided by an inductive approach. Memoing and ongoing reflexive journaling were also used to maintain data trustworthiness.

Findings: The five participants described how the foundational “five rules” of improv they were taught in Drama Club -- specifically the “no violence” rule but also others, like “make your scene partner look good” -- became ingrained in them as they practiced them over and over. Participants described being less impulsive and reactive, and therefore less violent and aggressive, than they used to be, often reflecting on how their experience with Drama Club came into their minds and bodies when faced with a situation that could have easily escalated into violence. Participants also described making other positive behavior changes and choices, such as no longer associating with gang members. Participants conveyed a sense of pride in how they had changed since becoming part of Drama Club and how they now saw potential in themselves to become more. Finally, they expressed a deep desire to avoid further contact with the justice system and instead continue on a prosocial path.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings suggest that arts programming like Drama Club has the potential to reduce violent and aggressive behavior and increase prosocial behavior among justice-involved young people, including those released into the community after incarceration or detention.