autobiographical monologue Project

About the JustUs Project

The criminal legal system in the U.S. is a human rights crisis with the highest incarceration rate of any country, profound race and class disparities, regular violent assaults in prison, and recidivism rates and costs that point to its failure, and yet this dehumanizing system is normalized and maintained.

Motus Theater’s JustUs project supports community leaders who are impacted by carceral systems to tell artfully crafted autobiographical monologues that expose the devastating impact of the criminal legal system and inspire action towards a vision of true justice. 

The JustUs monologues were created in collaboration with Motus Theater’s artistic director as part of a 17-24 week transformative storytelling workshop focused on story development, public speaking and trauma support aimed at preparing monologists to become story ambassadors for the millions impacted by carceral systems. The project builds upon Motus’ specialty of developing artfully crafted autobiographical monologues with leaders on the frontlines of violence in the U.S., putting them center stage as the protagonists in the American drama.

The JustUs monologues cover themes as diverse as racial profiling, inequity in the bond/bail system, human rights abuses in prison, the criminalization of substance abusers, the systemic racism and poverty that pushes young people into illicit economies, and more.

There are currently two touring JustUs Project monologue groups:

JustUs League: Five men tell stories of the impact of the criminal legal system on them and their families. Monologues cover themes as diverse as racial bias in sentencing, inequity in the bond/bail system, human rights abuses in prison, the criminalization of substance abusers, the systemic racism and poverty that pushes young people into illicit economies, employment and housing obstacles facing people with former felony convictions, and more. Monologists include: Juaquin Mobley, Dereck Bell, Daniel Guillory, Brandon Wainright, and Astro Allison.

Boundless Truth: Women’s Stories of Freedom and Incarceration: Black women leaders who were formerly incarcerated tell autobiographical stories of the racism, biases, sexual violence, exploitation, and injustices within the criminal legal system. The autobiographical stories were developed in a 24-week Motus Monologue process facilitated by Motus Theater’s Artistic Director Kirsten Wilson, and Transformative Healing Coach Wendy Talley. Monologists include: Brenda Cisse, Candice Bailey, Colette Payne, Cynthia Randall, Marquitta Brown, Terri House, and Willette Benford.

“I love these monologues because they shift the narrative that has enabled systems of oppression in the U.S.”

— Bryan Stevenson, executive director, Equal Justice Initiative

“Boundless Truth is worthy of the national stage!”

— Audience Member after attending the premierE of the Boundless truth performance

Live Performances

By inviting audiences to hear the artfully crafted autobiographical stories of formerly incarcerated people, the JustUs project strategically allows more people to get proximate to the stories of people who are formerly incarcerated, and hold closer the injustice of the criminal legal system (both behind bars and beyond). Performances broaden the audience’s understanding of the experiences of people who have gone through the criminal legal system and encourage dialogue about true justice.

Motus presents the JustUs monologues in two formats:

Monologue Performances

Monologue performances feature the JustUs monologists sharing their own stories, interwoven with musical responses from notable singers and musicians. Most performances are followed by opportunities for talkbacks and Q&As, allowing the monologists to share their systemic knowledge and experience, and the audience to ask questions or respond to the performance. Space is also created for imagining a country without prisons and visioning how true justice and public safety could become tangible.

Shoebox Live Performances with Guest Readers

In Shoebox Live performances, Motus and the JustUs monologists invite law enforcement, district attorneys, DOC staff, legislators, and other state and community leaders to join the monologists on stage and, for a moment, stand in their shoes by reading aloud their stories. (Find info on our national tour here). Guest readers spend pre-show time with the monologists - establishing a connection, sharing their reasons for participating, and hearing the monologist read their own story first-hand. Following the reading, the guest reader and monologists discuss the personal and community impact of the experience. These performances are woven with musical responses by lauded musicians and often feature additional time for a talk-back or Q&A featuring the presenters and experts in restorative justice and criminal justice reform.

Read Motus Theater’s statement on guest readers, here. 

Motus is currently touring the JustUs monologues with DAs’ offices across the nation in collaboration with Fair and Just Prosecution.  Read more about our national tour here.

Motus and the JustUs monologists also partner with churches and congregations for “Welcoming the Stranger”/” We Were Strangers,” a special performance project in which faith leaders read aloud the monologues and reflect, both personally and theologically, on the experience of doing so. Read more about this special project, here.

Read Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty’s 2022 end-of-year appeal letter in support of Motus’ JustUs project, here. Additional information on how to support JustUs - here.

Collaborations with Faith Leaders

Motus Theater also works in strategic collaborations in which faith leaders and organizations read the stories of our JustUs monologists and reflect, both personally and theologically, on the experience of doing so. Read more about our these collaborations, here.

Some of our guest readers and panelists have included:

Boundless Truth monologist, Cynthia Randall. Photo by Michael Ensminger.

“Motus Theater has provided a voice to those who were voiceless. As a result, a lot of people are speaking about things that they weren't speaking about: the injustices of the justice system and it's punitive damage.”

— Juaquin mobley, JustUs monologist & formerly incarcerated leader

“I don’t want to stand in your shoes. It is hard to stand in your shoes.”

- Dean Williams, Executive Director of the Department of Corrections after reading a JustUs monologue by Daniel Guillory

“Motus’ JustUs presentation… truly surpassed even our incredibly high expectations. Motus’ performances will make a difference in decisions made by DAs across the country and, as such, in the willingness to rethink punitive approaches that simply waste more lives.”

—Miriam Krinsky, Executive Director of Fair & Just Prosecution about Motus’ JustUs performance in front of 55 DAs at their 2021 national conference