As communities search for more effective ways to support people returning home from prison, one unexpected solution is taking center stage — literally. Theater programs are emerging as powerful tools for reducing recidivism, restoring confidence and helping the formerly incarcerated reconnect with society.
That transformative potential is the focus of Broadway, Bars, and Fortune, an award-winning 40-minute documentary from director and producer Shuvendu Sen. The film chronicles the work of The Fortune Society, one of the nation’s most respected reentry organizations, and the life-changing impact of its theater programs, where storytelling becomes a pathway to healing, empathy and employment.
“Broadway has become an emotional point of rehabilitation,” Sen said. “This film shows how theater, both inside and outside prison walls, can serve as a powerful healing tool — one that reduces trauma, crime and recidivism.”
The documentary features The Fortune Society founder and Broadway personality David Rothenberg and four inmates-turned-actors — Philip Hall, Casimiro Torres, Ervin Hunt and Vilma Ortiz Donovan — who share their raw and inspiring journeys of trauma, transformation and reintegration into society.
Acclaimed actor John Savage, known for The Deer Hunter and Hair, praised the film, saying, “I watched the film. It was a loving performance. Wonderful to share with everyone. Very, very important to hear everyone’s story. From the heart. The true words of a human being. Thanks for everyone’s participation. I love you all.”
Tony Award-winning actress Christine Ebersole, acclaimed actress and director Marcia Jean Kurtz, and Eric Krebs, founder of multiple theaters in NYC, also appear, providing context and guidance around the transformative power of the arts.
On November 11, Broadway, Bars, and Fortune was honored with an Award of Excellence from the Hispanic International Film Festival. The documentary also received an Official Selection in the New York Lift-Off Film Festival.
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About the Director
An internationally respected physician, author, speaker and filmmaker, Dr. Shuvendu Sen’s works have been awarded, translated into several languages, institutionalized and highlighted through documentaries and films. Trained at the New York Film Academy, Sen’s screenplays have been selected at the Los Angeles Film Festival, New York Screenplay Awards, Rome Prisma Film Awards, Hollywood Verge Film Awards and Gold Movie Awards, among others. He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from AmeriCorps and the Office of the President of the United States, and the Castle Connolly Top Doctor’s Award. Sen’s pioneering contributions include advocacy for the wellness of incarcerated individuals, healthcare of marginalized populations, creation of university programs leading to employment and advocacy in the Opioid crisis.
