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I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams

An immigrant story that explores what it means to be American.

Credits

Jorge Sosa, Composer

Cerise Lim Jacobs, Creator and Librettist

Curtain-raiser: Sing Out Strong: Immigrant Voices

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.

I Am a Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

About

An immigrant story

Two children, worlds apart—one flies, one walks—to America.
Two girls, divergent lives—one green card, one undocumented—in America.
Two women—different struggles, disparate hopes—for America.
Two friends, shared dreams, one journey—through America.

 

The Inspiration

I am a new American, an immigrant of ethnic Chinese origin, from Singapore. I grew up when my country was still a British colony. My ancestors, originally from China, came to South East Asia as part of the great Chinese diaspora, in search of a better life. Then it was my family’s turn to leave to find a better life, a life without racial turmoil, or race riots and fear of Chinese communism as the British got rid of all their colonial possessions. They settled in Australia, but I continued on – to Oxford, England, then to Canada and America, sponsored by a Polish Solidarity member who had jumped ship in New York and who knew what it was like to be without a country. Immigration is in my DNA, it seeps through every pore in my body. On September 5, 2017, President Trump, with one stroke of his pen, revoked Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), upending the lives of DACA recipients—Dreamers—in the country that had become their home.

News

Columbus Circle DACA Protest
Working Towards Justice and Equality for All

Today we honor and celebrate Juneteenth, as well a victory for Dreamers. We renew our pledge as an activist opera company to support and work for #BlackLivesMatter and towards a day when there is truly justice and equality for all. Read More

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Next Stop, Pittsburgh!

I’m thrilled to share the news that last year’s timely immigrant story, I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams, will premiere at the Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh on October 23 and 25, 2020, as Resonance Works 2020-2021 season opener. I know that many of you were so moved… Read More

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Looking back at 2019 and envisioning 2020

It has been a remarkable year of growth for our company as we continue to forge our identity as an activist opera company. Thank you for joining us! Read More

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Looking Back on I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams

It's been a month since we closed I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams, An Immigrant Story. And what a month it was. Read More

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Activist Blog: “We All Have Learning to Do”

I can’t think of any recent moment in which I have been more moved than I was while watching the premiere of I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams. It was truly a masterpiece; a work that was eye-opening and intimate in addition to its unquestionable beauty. Upon leaving, I felt shaken by its tragedy, but also empowered by its delivery, especially since it was done with a brilliant all-female cast. Read More

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Q+A with Jorge Sosa

Composer Jorge Sosa was all set to work with White snake Projects on the opera, Monkey: A Kung Fu Parable when President Trump revoked the DACA act. He and Cerise put Monkey aside and started work on I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams. Jorge talked with us about working with WSP, his influences, and his own experiences as an immigrant. Read More