Using personal diaries, journals, and documented historic narratives In to America traces the American immigrant experience from Jamestown to present day through the true stories of ordinary men, women and children who departed their homelands in the hopes of creating a new life. In To America is an extraordinary story 400 years in the making that transcends time, space and race to reflect the diversity and commonalities of our shared American experience.
By William Massolia
Directed by Dorothy Milne
Performed by Chicago's Griffin Theatre Company
Running time: 75 minutes, No intermission.
“Vibrant and diverse”
-CHICAGO TRIBUNE
“Drawn from letters, diaries, oral histories and biographies, the work—featuring a richly diverse and skillful cast of 13 under the direction of Dorothy Milne—unspools in less than two hours. That is an impressive act of condensation, to say the least, yet the show is unquestionably wide-ranging. And its message rings out loudly and clearly: Immigration, the very life blood of this country from the start, has never been entirely free, fair or easy.”
-CHICAGO SUN TIMES
“Highly recommended... the excellent 13 actors plays multiple roles, representing an astonishing range of ethnic back-grounds with emotional authenticity and pinpoint-precise accents.”
-CHICAGO READER
We all came from somewhere, and it's awesome that we all bring something unique and special to this grand experiment called America! Join us in the lobby before the show for an interactive activation with PATH (Preserving, Archiving, and Teaching HipHop) to trace your own heritage and to share your journey!