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In Dream Acts, five undocumented students from Nigeria, Mexico, Ukraine, Korea, and Jordan relate stories of their extraordinary challenges in living ordinary lives under the Homeland Security radar. Each story is moving and urgent; some are funny, others are tragic, and through their experiences, we learn about the DREAM Act and the secret lives led by undocumented students.
Created by The Dream Acts Union
Collectively written by Chiori Miyagawa, Mia Chang, Jessica Litwak, Saviana Stanescu, and Andrea Thome
Directed by Kristin Horton
STARRING: Carlo Alban*, Heidi Armbruster*, Jackie Chung*, Rachel Holmes*,
and Ryan Shams*
Stage Manager: Jennifer Birge
Line Producer: Amanda Feldman
The Staged Reading will be followed by a Panel Discussion Featuring:
Alejandra Rincon, author, Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education; Dan H. Berger, Esq., Curran & Berger LLP; the playwrights and performers; and undocumented students eligible for proposed DREAM Act benefits. The panel will be moderated by playwright Saviana Stanescu.
With an introduction by David B. Austell, Ph.D, Assistant Vice President and Director, Office of Global Services, and Associate Professor of International Education, the Steinhardt School.
*Actors appear courtesy of Actors Equity.
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DREAM ACTS at HERE‘s Spring Artist Lodge |
March 23-25, 2012
Performances at HERE, 145 Sixth Avenue, NY, NY
Photo: Alban Andreu
Imagine that you don’t have a country. It doesn’t matter if you believe you’re American, because no one else believes you—not potential employers, not banks that issue student loans, not the government. There is no way to become legally American. You don’t exist. Worse, you are hunted for deportation. You love this country, but the country does not love you back.
In Dream Acts, five undocumented teens—from Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Turkey, and Ukraine—meet the extraordinary challenge of living ordinary lives under the radar. Each story is moving and urgent. Some are funny. Others are tragic. Through these characters, we learn about the DREAM Act and the secret lives led by undocumented youth.
Written collectively by Mia Chung, Jessica Litwak, Chiori Miyagawa, Saviana Stanescu, and Andrea Thome
Directed by Kristin Horton
Performed by Neimah Djourabchi, Anna Kull, Ray Lucas, Rory Lipede, and Tiffany Villarin
Consulting Dramaturg: Suzy Fay
Lighting Designer: Raphael Mishler
Costume Designer: Savana Leveille
Stage Manager: Kate Rourke
Assistant Producer: Ann Marie Dorr
Project Assistant: Nicole Sandry
Read more
Re/Union Company and Immigrant Artists and Scholars in New York
present the panel DREAM ACTS: The Role of Theatre in Social Change
Photo: Ann Marie Dorr
Featuring DREAM-eligible undocumented youth Yelky Ramos and Nataly Lopez, and special guests: Thanu Yakupitiyage (DREAM Fellowship Coordinator, New York Immigration Coalition), Carlo Albán (theatre/film artist, author of the autobiographical solo show “Intringulis”, about his life as an undocumented immigrant),Marcy Arlin (artistic director of Obie-winner Immigrant Theater Project, CUNY professor), Meiyin Wang (associate producer of “Under the Radar” Festival and Symposium in New York). Moderated by playwright Saviana Stanescu.
Read about this panel
Panel Program (PDF)
DREAM Act Union also received generous support from: Re/Union Company, NYU Gallatin Faculty Research Fund, and New Generations Theatre Ensemble.
SPECIAL THANKS: Jessica Litwak for developmental dramaturgy, John Eisner and Lark Play Development Center, New Dramatists, New York Theatre Workshop, LaMama, NYU Gallatin, INTAR, Catherine Coray, Ted Chung, and Curtis Carmony.
Dream Acts has been developed over the last year, supported by the generosity of Lark Play Development Center, New York Theatre Workshop, NYU Gallatin, INTAR, and a number of actors.
February 10, Reading at INTAR
with actors: Darius Homayoun, Anna Kull, Rory Lipede, Jennifer Lim, and Gio Perez
January 16, 2012 – Team Meeting at Gallatin School, NYU
with actors: Carlo Alban, Heidi Armbruster, Jackie Chung, Taifa Harris, Amir Darvish
December 21, 2011 – Team Meeting at La Mama Experimental Theatre
with actors: Carlo Alban, Amir Darvish, Rachel Holmes, Lanna Joffrey, Maria Christina Oliveras
October 21, 2011 – Team Meeting at Lark Play Development Center
June 26, 2011 meeting at New York Theatre Workshop
(no photos)
