Carnegie Mellon University: Immigration. Deportation. Detention. Hiawatha Project — a new Pittsburgh-based theatre company founded by two Carnegie Mellon University alumnae — took these issues head-on in its debut production, Camino. Camino tells the tale of two young Latino immigrants struggling with the multi-billion dollar system of for-profit immigrant detention. Founded by Anya Martin (A'03) and Michelle Carello (A'07), Hiawatha Project has a purpose beyond mere entertainment.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Producing Awareness
Carnegie Mellon University: Immigration. Deportation. Detention. Hiawatha Project — a new Pittsburgh-based theatre company founded by two Carnegie Mellon University alumnae — took these issues head-on in its debut production, Camino. Camino tells the tale of two young Latino immigrants struggling with the multi-billion dollar system of for-profit immigrant detention. Founded by Anya Martin (A'03) and Michelle Carello (A'07), Hiawatha Project has a purpose beyond mere entertainment.
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One of the things that caught my eye in this article was the fact that the lead actor got arrested the night before closing. That would be a very interesting position to be in relation to the show. Unless they had someone who could step in for that part, they probably had to cancel the last shows. I actually ran into a situation like this one this summer. One of my actors kept having long phone calls that went over the scheduled break time or that made him late for rehearsal, but I never got to learn what the issue was, and the producer told me that we had to wait for him and not make it an issue. Come to find out he had been caught with a DUI and didn't have his immigration papers on him, so ended up having to spend a night in jail, then he was dealing with the legal repercussions for the next week. Luckily he didn't miss any performances.
This brief article tells very little about the far reaching implications of the Hiawatha Project. I wondered why "Hiawatha" which is a native American name and not readily associated with immigrants. In the interests of understanding, I found myself clicking from page to page ferret out exactly what this project hopes to accomplish. I was intrigued with the scope of the project and yet, not surprised. Pittsburgh has a long history of being on the cutting edge. Unfortunately, as a poor student I have nothing to contribute but my respect and admiration. I hope the group's endeavors are a success and in the tradition of Hiawatha, they travel toward peace and unity. If you are unfamiliar with the Hiawatha Project, this certainly deserves your attention, and if you can afford it, your cash.
I think that this project is a really great undertaking and that Michelle and Anya are going to do well. I agree with Calvin that the fact that they lost their lead the night before led to producing this project was a hurdle that I cannot imagine. However, I hope that that young man has gotten his situation figured out and is doing well. I think that it is a good goal, and that CMU does try to be on the cutting edge or front line most of the time, to bring people's awareness of many issues to the forefront. I am especially interested in the next project solely from the title; Helicopter Parents Anonymous.
I find myself constantly coming up against this notion that theater can change lives. I don't believe that is true. What theater can do is expose people to new situations and new ways of thinking that might broaden their horizons. I find it amazing that the same tool we use to entertain us (with shows such as Boeing Boeing, Legally Blonde, and Mamma Mia) can also be used to make very clear social commentary on the world around them. Theater is a multi-edged sword that can be used to great effect in many different ways and in many different guises. I also think that theater directly addressing social problems is a valuable doorway into the classroom and engaging students in learning.
This story hits a soft spot for me personally since my hometown has dealt with its very fair share of immigrant issues. Miami's most prevalent legal discrepancies deal with immigration laws. Anya and Michelle did a great thing by channeling their creative talents and creating something so meaningful and powerful to people of all ethnicities. I also think that the show's focus on a certain cultural background could be a product of the multicultural community that Anya and Michelle grew up in as CMU students.
I'll just echo the previous comments and agree that this play is a great mesh of all the things we like about CMU and Pittsburgh. Being on the cutting edge of technology is great, but the real prize is being the frontrunner in terms of ideas and social goings on. The fact that all of these great minds from CMU and around the city are working together to raise awareness about these events is exactly what I want out of theatre. To be both thought provoking and entertaining, and maybe show you something new along the way.
Another great example of CMU collaborative (and alumni) power. Here is a prevalent national debate that, I think, has fallen on the back-burner in the past year. Albeit, I am from the east coast, so it's probably still a very talked about issue in the Southwest. But nonetheless, I think we have lost touch with this issue recently, and I'm glad play's like this can remind us to continue asking questions. How should we take action against illegal immigration? Why are we reacting the way we do?
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