The Struggle of Immigrant Youth will be represented on “Dream Act”

Local Phoenix Churches, artists and advocates will team up for dramatic play and discussion

Phoenix, Arizona. December the 31^st, 2009.

Two local churches of the metro Phoenix area will be presenting DREAM Act, a play in one act by playwright James E. Garcia on January 15^th thru 17^th, 2010.

Dream Act relates the story of Victoria Nava an undocumented college student whose dreams of graduating and contributing to her community to the fullest may be slipping away. The play will be open to the general public.

The play was previously presented on 2008 and there are 2 versions one in English and in Spanish.

Dream act will bring to general audiences the struggle of being undocumented youth in this country, where bright youngsters live in constant fear of being discovered as undocumented, yet with the energy and talent to be outstanding students.

James E. Garcia is the founder and creative force behind New Carpa Theater (previously Colores Actor-Writers Workshop) and also the writer of Dream Act. He has been recognized as one of the few Arizona playwrights who tackle current events. His theater company also creates spaces for local talent, some of them new names in theater. New Carpa is dedicated to the development of Latino and multicultural theater works.

The new production of Dream Act will be hosted by two Churches that are active in social issues: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, located at 4027 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, and the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1407 N. Second Street in Phoenix. There will be presentations in English and Spanish at different times on both locations.

Each performance of Dream Act will be followed by a short discussion with the playwright and experts on the Dream Act from CADENA the DREAM Act advocacy group and the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition.

Tickets for the play are $10 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. A limited number of discounted tickets will be available at showup.com.

For more information e-mail info@newcarpa.org, or go to www.newcarpa.org.

PERFORMANCE TIMES AND LOCATIONS

English-language performances:

· Friday, January 15, 8 p.m.,

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix (UUCP

· Saturday, January 16, 2 p.m.,

First Congregational United Church of Christ

· Sunday, January 17, 2 p.m.,

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix (UUCP)

Spanish-language performance:

· Saturday, January 16, 8 p.m.,

First Congregational United Church of Christ

· Sunday, January 17, 8 p.m.

First Congregational United Church of Christ