The New Colossus, directed by Tim Robbins

Set between 1864 and today, The New Colossus is an homage to the strength, resilience, and dignity of the refugees that risked their lives to find a better life.

The play tells the story of forced migration and the constant struggle for survival and dignity in an uncertain and hostile environment. Through this intensely physical production, 12 actors tell their ancestors stories, their journeys from oppression to freedom, celebrating the courage and great character of the refugees and immigrants who came to this country throughout the last 300 years. Performed in twelve languages with live music, poetry, and kinetic movement, the play concludes with a question - who are we as a nation right now?

The New Colossus is a celebration of our diversity.

 Director Tim Robbins said, “I live in Los Angeles, where one can only be struck by the contributions made to our city by immigrants and people who came here as refugees.  The Actors’ Gang felt compelled to respond to the government’s anti-refugee and anti-immigration policies – and to tell a story that draws attention to the true nature of people that live in this country.  Save for the Indigenous, all of our families came here as slaves, refugees or immigrants...Our hope is that we will be able to illuminate the courage and the fortitude of the immigrants and the refugees who have defined this land and, in doing so, discover the similarities that exist between our ancestors and those who are currently struggling for dignity and freedom today.”

 The New Colossus shares a title with the sonnet written by poet Emma Lazarus in 1883 for an exhibit to raise funds for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, which opened in 1886. Even though the Statue of Liberty was not conceived as a symbol of immigration, Lazarus’ “The New Colossus” reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and oppressed of the world.

WHEN:
Saturday, February 17 – Saturday, March 24, 2018
PREVIEWS:
Thursday, February 8 - Friday, February 16, 2018
PERFORMANCES:
Opening night: February 17 at 8:00 pm
Evenings:
Thursdays at 8:00 pm
Fridays at 8:00 pm
Saturdays at 8:00 pm

TICKETS:
General Tickets: $34.99
Seniors: $30.00
Under 30 and full-time students: $20.00
Thursday Evenings – “Pay What You Can”