“(Im)migrants of the State” run has been extended through May 13. (photo by Bob Turton)

The Actors’ Gang has extended the engagement of “(Im)migrants of the State” – a unique production created by and based on the real-life experiences of formerly incarcerated actors – through May 13 by popular demand.

“We expected a strong response from audiences because we knew the cast’s lived, raw, first-hand experiences of the California prison system weren’t something people were used to hearing regularly at the theater,” co-director Jeremie Loncka said. “These performers are recreating their own true stories, and at any given show you might have someone laughing at a satirized lived experience – such as prison sentencing – while the person sitting next to them is mortified at the new information, they’re learning about for the first time.”

The Actors’ Gang, led by artistic director Tim Robbins, has an energetic and emotionally compelling way of making theater – which has been pulsing through the California Correctional system since 2006. For seventeen years, the teaching artists of the theater’s Prison Project have been creating transformational opportunities for incarcerated men and women.

An ensemble of Prison Project alumni with over 240 years of combined incarceration who have found their way to freedom now want to share their stories with audiences. To do so, they have created this entirely new work of theater and brought it to The Actors’ Gang stage.

“We are thrilled to be able to extend this beautiful production,” Robbins said. “‘(Im)migrant of the State’ is theater at its most powerful – an ensemble sharing their humanity with vulnerability, honesty and immense heart. On top of that, it’s simply a thrilling theatrical experience. It’s funny and moving, harrowing and uplifting.”

Tickets are available at theactorsgang.com by email at boxoffice@theactorsgang.com or by phone at (310)838-4264. The Actors’ Gang Theater is located at 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City.