Calvin College presents "Grains of Hope: Refugee Experiences in West Michigan"

The Calvin Theatre Company will be performing an original play entitled Grains of Hope: Refugee Experiences in West Michigan from April 11-May 9 at Calvin's Lab Theater and various venues throughout West Michigan. Written last fall by a communications class studying the ethnography process, professor and director Stephanie Sandberg embedded in this work an urgency about the cruelties, trials and hope within each refugee's story. By capturing the exact words and personalities of each character, the play represents the perspective of the refugees as they assimilate into American society.

This play follows seven refugees from seven countries around the globe, including Ethiopia, Iraq, Sudan, Congo, Bhutan, Vietnam and Burma following stories of escape, refugee camps and the fight to obtain an interview with the United Nations in order to be relocated to an unknown place in the United States. The play also highlights social organizations aiding the refugees with assimilation into society, emphasizing struggles of racism, political red tape and discrimination.
  
This production begins at Calvin's Lab Theater (located in the college's Spoelhof Center) at 7:30 p.m. on April 11, 2013, and will travel throughout the city of Grand Rapids to various surrounding locations. The show will close on May 9, with a final performance at 7:00 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre.
 
Admission to this play is free, enabling all to learn about this growing situation. Although written for adults, the content is appropriate for older children (middle-school aged) and up. Questions regarding this play may be directed to ctpublicity@calvin.edu. To see the complete touring schedule, visit http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/ctc/2012-13/

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Matt Kucinski
Media Relations Manager
Calvin College
msk23@calvin.edu
616.526.8935 (office)
616.307.7429 (cell)
Received on Fri Apr 5 09:39:59 2013