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AUBURN — UU Theater and Community Little Theatre will present “American Dreams: Immigration Stories,” a collection of stories told from the perspective of immigrants living in the United States.
The play, written and directed by Linda Britt, will be staged at CLT June 29 and 30.
Britt wrote the play in response to public attitudes surrounding immigration,taking inspiration from current events, such as the travel ban and the expiration of DACA — the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. It represents people from multiple countries across generations.
“This play was sparked by the news we see everyday, and the rhetoric that’s coming out about there being ‘bad’ immigrants,” Britt said.
UU Theater’s Toby Haber-Giasson wanted to bring Britt’s play here, since LA has become a hub of diversity. “The show challenges us to welcome all our neighbors, whatever their circumstances, without judgement.”
The characters in Britt’s stories present mixed viewpoints on living in America. Some did not actually want to be here, such as a 53-year-old homesick Bosnian woman whose daughter lived in the States, and a 22-year-old Iranian student trapped in the U.S. after her visa expired. Others worked hard to make a living here and wished to pursue a better life, such as a gay man from Egypt escaping persecution and a young South American woman whose parents were deported after living in the U.S. legally for over 20 years.
Britt’s aim was to get the audience to look at immigrants with empathy and to put themselves in the shoes of others. “I wanted people to think about that question, ‘What would you do if you were me?'”
A recent reading of the play in Farmington drew a warm response. “This one fellow, elderly gentleman from Yugoslavia said. “He wasn’t the only one; it meant something to the whole community. I hope people could just see these immigrants as humans.” Britt is an award-winning director and playwright whose plays have been produced from Maine to California, and three — “Chosen,” “Mirrors and Memories” and “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington” — have recently been published.
For tickets, contact CLT or www.laclt.com.
