And in Washington DC on Feb 2!

DE NOVO at American University Washington College of Law

Puffin Presents “De Novo,” a True Story of Undocumented Youth in the U.S. Immigration System

Teaneck, NJ, Saturday, November 18 – “De Novo”, a new play from Houses on the Moon Theater Company, tells the true story of Edgar Chocoy and his harrowing experience through the U.S. immigration system. In 2002, fourteen-year-old Edgar escapes his barrio in Guatemala City when MS-13, the largest gang in Central America, puts out a hit on his life. He travels over 3,000 miles through the desert and across borders of three countries in search of his mother, who had left him as a baby to work in the United States. Eventually detained by the Department of Homeland Security, Edgar pleads for asylum, asking the Federal Court not to deport him to Guatemala where he faces certain death by the MS-13. “De Novo” weaves together immigration court transcripts, letters and extensive interviews with children in immigration proceedings across New York, Arizona and Los Angeles to tell this timely social narrative. The production is augmented with poignant images from award-winning photojournalist Donna Decesare, who is widely known for her coverage of gangs in Central America and Los Angeles. $10.00 suggested donation. Reservations recommended: tix@puffinfoundation.org. Friday, November 18, 8:00 p.m. The Puffin Cultural Forum is at 20 Puffin Way (off Teaneck Rd.) in Teaneck, NJ. Call 201-836-3499 or visit www.PuffinCulturalForum.org <http://www.PuffinCulturalForum.org> .

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEWARK ON NOVEMEBER 14, 2011

In TARA’S CROSSING, a play by Emmy nominated writer Jeffrey Solomon, a transgender woman flees Guyana for asylum in the United States, only to end up in a government detention center, where she faces an uphill battle to prove her claims of persecution. The play is one of the first ever to deal with the subject of political asylum for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender refugees, a remedy that has been available in the United States only since 1994 and was inspired by dozens of interviews with sexual minority asylum seekers from around the world conducted in New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.

The play will be presented Monday, November 14, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Rutgers University-Newark Bradley Hall Theater. Bradley Hall is located at 110 Warren Street, Newark, NJ. The theater is located on the 3^rd Floor.

The program is free and open to the community. No tickets/reservations will be required. The performance will be followed by a post-show panel and discussion with the creative team and Amy Gottlieb, the director of the Newark-based American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program & Rutgers Immigration Law Professor.

The Off-Broadway run of TARA’S CROSSING at the Tenement Theatre in Manhattan was universally lauded by critics and called “ Revealing and Tender” by the Village Voice, “Powerful and Impressive!” by OUTfm and “Remarkable, Moving and Captivating” by NyTheatre.com. The play has been widely presented by Law Schools as a training tool on the complex legal and emotional issues faced by sexual minority refugees.

The program is co-sponsored by the NJIT/RU Theater Department, the RU LGBTQ Law Caucus, RU Pride, and the newly established RU Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer & Diversity Resource Center.

TARA’S CROSSING is a production of Houses on the Moon, Inc. (www.housesonthemoon.org) a New York based theater company with a mission to tell untold stories, whose works appear Off-Broadway and internationally. The play features actors Aundre Chin, Ian Eaton, Nysheva-Starr, Jeffrey Solomon and Emily Weiner.

TARA’S CROSSING: A PLAY ABOUT A GUYANESE ASYLUM SEEKER IN U.S. IMMIGRATION CUSTODY
WHEN: Monday November 14, 2011 @ 7:30pm
Doors open for RU Students/Faculty/Staff @6:45
Doors open for the public @ 7:10pm
WHERE: Rutgers University Bradley Hall Theater
110 Warren Street, Newark, NJ- 3^rd Floor
Cost: This event is free and open to the public. No tickets/reservations necessary.
Parking: Parking is available on-street.
Accessibility: This building is wheelchair accessible.

will present Houses of the Moon Theater Company’s production of De
Novo, a documentary theater piece about undocumented minors seeking
asylum from U.S. immigration custody, for four performances only
September 10, 11, 17 and 18 at the Mill Hill Playhouse, located at the
corner of Front and Montgomery in downtown Trenton.

Written and directed by Jeffrey Solomon, with images by acclaimed
photojournalist Donna DeCesare, the cast will feature Jose Aranda,
Lina Gallegos, Mauricio Leyton, and Emily Weiner.

Sixteen year-old Edgar Chocoy pleaded with a U.S. court not to deport
him to Guatemala. “If I go back, they’ll kill me.” This true story,
crafted from immigration court transcripts, interviews and letters
tells the story of the case that challenged the conscience of a
nation.

In 2002, at the age of 14, Edgar fled Guatemala to escape the largest
gang in Central America. He traveled over 3,000 miles, across the
borders of three countries, in search of his mother, who came to the
US to find work. Detained by the Department of Homeland Security, he
asked a Federal judge to grant him asylum and not deport him to
Guatemala, where he was certain the gang he escaped would kill him.

De Novo chronicles the gripping true story of Edgar and provides a
rare glimpse into the life of an “unaccompanied alien minor.” Each
year, thousands of these children make the dangerous journey across
the border and through the U.S. justice system. De Novo’s run Off
Broadway at 59E59 Theaters was hailed as “Riveting” by Show Business
Weekly, “with superb acting and directing…A well-crafted, intimate
production.”

Passage Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director June Ballinger states
“We are proud to be presenting this story in Trenton as part of our
25th season. It speaks directly to our mission to embrace the city’s
culturally diverse citizens and to foster understanding in our
community.” Post show talkbacks will be held after each performance
with members of the creative team and Aryah Somers, an Immigration
Attorney representing unaccompanied minors in deportation proceedings.

De Novo will be performed on Saturdays September 10 and 17 at 8pm, and
on Sundays September 11 and 18 at 3pm. All tickets are $20 and $10 for
students. For reservations call (609) 392-0766; visit online at
www.passagetheatre.org; or in person at the Passage Theatre Office at
219 East Hanover Street in Trenton. Tickets are also available at the
door one hour before each performance at the Mill Hill Playhouse.

For 25 years Passage has been the professional Actors Equity Theater
with a mission to develop and produce boundary-pushing and
stylistically adventurous new works for the theatre that entertain and
challenge a diverse audience. It is housed in the 100 seat Mill Hill
Playhouse in the historic district of downtown Trenton.

Passage’s mainstage season is made possible in part by the NJ State
Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the NEA; the Geraldine R.
Dodge Foundation; The Times of Trenton; Trenton Marriott at Lafayette
Yard; the City of Trenton Dept. of Recreation, Natural Resources and
Culture; WIMG 1300; PNC Bank; The Bunbury Company; The Mary Owen
Borden Foundation; The Garfield Foundation; The Rose and Louis H.
Linowitz Charitable Foundation: Princeton Area Community Foundation;
Bank of America; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group; Bloomberg; Community
Foundation of New Jersey; NJ Council for the Humanities; Mary G.
Roebling Foundation; and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

Tickets Here!

TARA’S CROSSING, A play inspired by true events that tells the remarkable story of a transgendered asylum seeker who struggles to win her freedom while in U.S. immigration detention.

“Remarkable, moving and captivating”  - N.Y. Theater.com
“Revealing and tender” – The Village Voice

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13^TH at 6pm, MSTF AUDITORIUM, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, 10 PINE ST, BALTIMORE http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183963391649530

THURSDAY, APRIL 14TH at 6pm, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW, ROOM 603, 4801 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, NW, WASHINGTON DC http://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/founders/2011/20110414a.cfm

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 at 530pm, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW, DAVIS COURTROOM, STARR HALL, 65 ELIZABETH ST., HARTFORD, CT http://www.doodle.com/htqei7ecbys6whvt