Can America fulfill its promise -- especially when times are tough?
Before the start of the Great Depression, many laws had been passed barring certain ethnic groups from coming to the United States. The deepening economic collapse tightened the flow of immigration to almost a standstill. During the 1930s even refugees from Nazi persecution were restricted from entering the country through ethnic quotas. Asians were blocked entirely. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and Mexican Americans were "repatriated." Anti-immigrant sentiment was widespread.
In COSACOSA's Spare A Dime, the character of The Immigrant raises questions about the sustainability of the American dream, singing of "promises made, promises broken" in Promised Land, a duet with The Farmer. The song uses two of FDR's "four freedoms" -- freedom from fear and freedom from want -- to describe democracy and possible paths to prosperity for both our characters and the nation. In the second part of the song cycle, The Immigrant is now employed by the WPA's Federal Project Number One. He documents the era by "seeing the world through another's eyes," as described in his song Changing Places.
The Immigrant character is based in histories recorded by Federal One during the Depression and in a multiplicity of stories collected from COSACOSA constituents all over the city today, especially neighbors in South Philadelphia, were we work with first generation Americans of over thirty different nationalities. No matter where in the world their country of origin, their goal for life in the U.S. remains the same. As one youth explained, "a chance for peace and for a better life is all we need..." Experience even more perspectives by joining us at PIFA 13! Buy your tickets today!
Tomorrow's character post? The Farmer!
In COSACOSA's Spare A Dime, the character of The Immigrant raises questions about the sustainability of the American dream, singing of "promises made, promises broken" in Promised Land, a duet with The Farmer. The song uses two of FDR's "four freedoms" -- freedom from fear and freedom from want -- to describe democracy and possible paths to prosperity for both our characters and the nation. In the second part of the song cycle, The Immigrant is now employed by the WPA's Federal Project Number One. He documents the era by "seeing the world through another's eyes," as described in his song Changing Places.
The Immigrant character is based in histories recorded by Federal One during the Depression and in a multiplicity of stories collected from COSACOSA constituents all over the city today, especially neighbors in South Philadelphia, were we work with first generation Americans of over thirty different nationalities. No matter where in the world their country of origin, their goal for life in the U.S. remains the same. As one youth explained, "a chance for peace and for a better life is all we need..." Experience even more perspectives by joining us at PIFA 13! Buy your tickets today!
Tomorrow's character post? The Farmer!