Actors’ Gang

Tim Robbins and his theater troupe teach acting and improvisation during an eight-week workshop at the rehab center in Norco.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Inmates, who use stage names (Capitano, foreground, and Captain Pantelone) get the final touches of makeup before their improv session. The Actors’ Gang workshop chose commedia dell’arte, an ancient Italian theater genre featuring face paint and multicolored masks, as a method to get prisoners to create characters and scenarios.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Inmates perform skits wearing full face paint and makeup at the rehab center. The Actors’ Gang works directly with the inmates while they develop characters and have fun improvising.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

An inmate using the character name Papa Pina practices his facial expressions in a mirror backstage during the workshop.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Oscar-winner Robbins likes what he sees.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Actors’ Gang prison project director Sabra Williams gives some direction to inmates.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Tim Robbins lays down a beat on a snare drum while an inmate performs during the workdshop session.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

An inmate with the stage name Capitano laughs while improvising.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Tim Robbins shakes hands with the inmates enrolled in an eight-week acting workshop on Sept. 7, 2010, at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco. He and the Actors’ Gang teach stagecraft, improvisation and acting technique to inmates.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)