Refugee Nation
Design: Malichansouk Kouanchao. Click to view larger image.
Based on the stories of Laotian Refugees and their descendents
Written and performed by Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng
with featured artist Litdet Viravong
Directed by Armando Molina
Produced by TeAda Productions and The Latino Theater Company
A mother lives alone in the darkness. A father struggles to forget a lost war. A son battles in the streets of urban America. A daughter searches for answers in her community. Refugee Nation is about a young generation struggling to understand their history and the silence of an elder generation still healing from the traumas of war. Based on the stories of Laotian refugees in the U.S. Refugee Nation returns to L.A. to premiere the completed work after touring the country over 5 years.
More than just a telling of Laotian American history, this three-person performance eloquently touches upon issues relating to the refugee experience, assimilation, generation gap, and mental health using drama, film, music, and audience interaction, and personalizes these issues through a genuine Laotian American perspective. The result is a performance that not only brings to light the hidden stories of Laotian Americans around the U.S., but one that is able to unite people from all types of backgrounds, ethnicities, and histories by relaying the ideas of change, loss, struggle, healing, and the unrelenting strength of the human spirit.
The Refugee Nation continues to grow. With the certainty of new refugee arrivals coming from the Middle East, what can we learn from the wounds of a war 30 years ago that are still yet to be healed?
Upcoming Shows
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
June 2 – June 24, 2012
Previews: May 31, June 1
Thursday-Saturday 8pm | Sunday 3pm
General $30 | Students, Seniors, Veterans $20 | $10 Thursday
Box Office: (866) 811-4111
Group Services: (213) 489-0994 ext. 110
Walk-up tickets available one hour prior to performance (based on availability)
Refugee Nation support needed!
- It’s our first 4-week run of this nationally touring show.
- With 16 shows, 1600 seats need to be filled!
- YOU CAN help by:
- Bringing a GROUP of 10 or more and get discount for all and a FREE t-shirt for the organizer.
- SPONSOR a night! Buy all 99 seats in the house for a show ($1500) and give tickets to a deserving organization to have a fundraiser or offer free admission to their clients.
- SPREAD THE WORD through Facebook, Twitter, Email or passing out Postcards.
- Donate!
This production is made possible in part by support from the National Endowment for the Arts, The CCI ARC Grant, the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Refugee Nation was developed in collaboration with Legacies of War, a national organization dedicated to raise awareness about the history of the Vietnam War-era bombing in Laos. For more information on how to support this education and advocacy effort, visit legaciesofwar.org. Refugee Nation has been supported in part by the Rockefeller Foundation’s MAP Fund; SPARC; UCLA’s World Arts And Culture’s 2006 HOTHOUSE; Center Theater Group/TCG-Roger Gueneveur Smith Writer’s Workshop; CSU Dominguez Hills’ Pat Eliet Lecture Series; Los Angeles Immigrant Funders’ Collaborative; City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; National Asian American Theater Festival; National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund and co-commissioning partners VSA Out North Highways Performance Space and Gallery.
Join the Refugee Nation!
- Sign up on the mailing list and stay up-to-date with the latest tour information
- Sponsor community workshops, shows and student tickets – contact us for more info
- Spread the word – follow our blog at refugeenation.com and join our Facebook group
- Gear up with one of our T-shirts from blacklava.net
