American Dreams: Immigration Stories – A Monologue Play

Flag and Statue Artwork (above) by Michael O’Neill, courtesy of Mary McDowell Friends Upper School. Used by permission. // Statue and Sky artwork, above, courtesy of UMF.

(Ideal for Professional, Amateur and Educational theatrical productions groups.)

Also perfect for Online Events as great Online theatre.

A powerful, moving, and timely monologue play about immigration, with stories that are sometimes funny, occasionally ironic, and too often heartbreaking. The Iranian student afraid to return to her country, the mother who misses her homeland, the Afghan translator who fears for his comrades, the migrant worker who hasn’t known any other life, the Canadian who just wanted to get away from the cold, the Russian mother of a newborn American citizen, the Polish scientist who thought he had done everything right… each a unique perspective, and together they make up America’s immigration story. 30 monologues, adapted with permission from interviews with immigrants to the U.S., are ordered in a fluid construct, easily adaptable to available performers as far as age, gender and ethnicity. See the below for very flexible royalty terms.

PLAY DETAILS

18Female 12 Males. Doubling possible, but not recommended
1. Dreaming – Marie, 24, U.S.A.
2. The Bridge – Selma, 48, Bosnia
3. This is What Americans Look Like – Katie, 24, China
4. Shaking Hands – Wilson, 33, Sudan
5. Why I Serve – Ariana, 33, Guatemala
6. Citizenship for Sale – Sergei, 58, Russia
7. Eternal Return – Jaime, 45, Mexico
8. Boatpeople – Manuela, 42, Cuba
9. Fear – Rafiq, 40s, Syria
10. Legal – Yasin, 26, Egypt
11. Nowhere to Go – Víctor, 18, Honduras
12. Two Tours – Marco, 30, México
13. Home – Nora, 53, Albania
14. Be the Change – Bilan (f), 22, (in hijab), Somalia
15. Denaturalized – Marta, 29, Argentina
16. Lucky – Patrick, 65, Northern Ireland
17. The Message – Isabel, 12, Honduras
18. Lost in Translation – Isaad, 44, Afghanistan
19. Invisible – Carol, 25, Canada
20. American Dreams – Alicia, 31, Nicaragua
21. Thirty-one Years – Jakub, 50, Poland
22. Taco Truck on Every Corner – Amanda, 29, Cuba
23. Out of Status – Jazmin, 22, Iran
24. Miami Mama – Natasha, 27, Russia
25. Asylum – Hala, 38, Jordan
26. Diversity Lottery – Sophie, 34, France
27. Citizens – Javier, 20s, Puerto Rico
28. A “Good” Immigrant – Emily, 42, England
29. Changing Rules – Isabel, 23, El Salvador
30. I Will Tell You This – Joseph, 79, Germany
About 90 minutes
Simple set, costumes.
ORDER #3231

COMMENTS:

“American Dreams” is a great addition to the discussion around immigrants in America today. Today, when the real threat of losing the DACA program looms large, try to remember how many people in that room made it clear that they want to have this play performed again and again… to try to change minds, which we hope will eventually change laws.” — Rose Viviano, from the Syracuse production

“AMERICAN DREAMS is the perfect vehicle to continue discussions about race, immigration, and all related topics.” — Juleen Murray Shaw, from the Brooklyn production.

“Here in Syracuse … (‘American Dreams’) is an accurate reflection of reality for many, many people. We must recognize what our neighbors and community members have lived through and continue to deal with within the US immigration system. What theatre is really wonderful at is sparking empathy.” – director, Carmen Viviano-Crafts

ON FACEBOOK: 5 stars: “America needs immigrants – their talent, their courage. Regardless of your stance on illegal immigration, Dreamers, hear their voices and realize we all have the same goals, dreams. Your play touched me.”

PERUSAL MATERIALS

The Perusal Script to this play is available for download as a PDF file AmericanDreamsSCRIPTPERUSAL PERUSAL.

REHEARSAL / PRODUCTION MATERIALS

Performance License Application: No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us. This is a filler form that after you click “SUBMIT” will send directly to our email address. Response averages 2-3 business days.

Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account), EMAIL us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Before we ship any rehearsal material we will need your performance dates, the name of your organization and the theatre where you will perform.

Email us prior to your order so we have the info to give you a complete quote. EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.

A NOTE REGARDING PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES FOR THIS TITLE ONLY:

If donations are solicited to help cover the costs of the production, please contact us and a 4% royalty will be assessed the PRODUCER. You must also purchase a copy of the script below.
If the donations solicited are to be donated to some immigrant fund or program, or group of immigrants, or a single immigrant, and none of the money donated will go to the Producer to help cover the costs of the production, please contact us and a $25 licensing fee will be assessed the PRODUCER. This fee will include a copy of the script. Do not purchase a script below. We will send you an invoice through PayPal.
If there is no admission charged to the production and no donations asked for in any way, and the production is intended for immigration education and/or immigration awareness purposes, please contact us and a $25 licensing fee will be assessed the PRODUCER. This fee will include a copy of the script. Do not purchase a script below. We will send you an invoice through PayPal.
If admission to the production is charged by the Producer, the royalty and fees below will be assessed.

REGULAR ROYALTIES AND FEES:

Script RENTAL in PDF format — Order #3231a : $20.00 (will be sent to you by email, from which you will be authorized to print copies for your production)
First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3231d : $70.00
Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3231e : $50.00
Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application (See application at the top of this section)

PRODUCTIONS & READINGS:

PRODUCTIONS:

Spring Valley High School, Spring Valley, New York – December 2021
New Jersey High School — 2020
Pacific County, Washington, for Pacific County Immigrant Support — May, 2020
Mary McDowell Friends Upper School, Brooklyn, NY — November 13 and 14, 2019 (produced and directed by Juleen Murray Shaw.)
ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse NY — November 12, 2019
Creative Action Unlimited and the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York — November 2018 (some of the monologues were used in a production called “American Dream,”)
Norway Universalist Church, Norway, Maine — August 10, 2019
PREMIERE: Courthouse Square, by Empathos Company, Tacoma, Washington — July 26-28, 2019, (as part of “Sincerely, America”.)

READINGS:

First Universalist Church & Museum of Lewiston/Auburn and the Maine College of Art Becoming American series, Auburn, Maine — November 11, 2018
University of Maine at Farmington as a fundraiser for the Global education Fund — October 25, 2018
Community Little Theatre, Auburn, Maine — June 29 & 30, 2018
Emery Arts Center, University of Maine at Farmington — March 22 & 23, 2018

BILLING CREDITS

The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
American Dreams: Immigration Stories

a monologue play by
Linda Britt

NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play.

ALSO:

“American Dreams: Immigration Stories” is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”