Special Events
The Origins Project, performs "With Nothing But a Dream: Stories from Ellis Island
On August 8, 2008, City Lights Youth Theatre summer program, The Origins Project, performed "With Nothing But a Dream: Stories from Ellis Island," an original play written and produced by middle and high school students. To prepare for the play, students worked closely with the staff of Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the Ellis Island Institute to study the experiences of immigrants who came through Ellis Island. During the program, with the Institute’s museum educator, the students learned about the hospital buildings and what the future would hold for those immigrants failing the medical inspection. They investigated artifacts related to immigrants’ experiences during processing on Ellis Island to gain an understanding of the medical examination process. They also studied the case report of a hospitalized immigrant, recreating the story and becoming the characters in the report. The knowledge students gained informed the script and production, and provided insight into the thoughts and emotions of immigrants during their time on Ellis Island. The play closed with a monologue by a young woman who is an immigrant herself, speaking about her personal experience as a newcomer to this country and the challenges she faces.
The Origins Project teaches tolerance for people of different backgrounds, the universality of the immigrant experience, and the enduring legacy of the past. The Ellis Island Institute was pleased to work with City Lights Youth Theater in 2008, and looks forward to a continuing relationship in the coming years.
For more information on City Lights Youth Theatre and The Origins Project please visit their website http://www.clyouththeatre.org/
