Program / Event Details

Óyeme is a play that tells the stories of teenagers who fled Central America as refugees and are living their lives as high school students in America. This play is a great opportunity to begin conversations in your school about immigration and what it means to be a refugee.

Performances are followed by a 30-minute audience workshop led by an Imagination Stage teaching artist. Performance and workshop running time is 75 minutes. The performance requires a 20’×20′ open space (or stage) for our set and performers.

Here are some responses from teachers who have had Òyeme come to their school:

“Both the workshop led by the actors and the packet we were able to use in our classrooms were of very high quality and extremely well designed to engage students in complex issues. I had amazing conversations with my students in our small advisory after the show.”

“I can’t thank you all enough for the support and voice you’ve given to our kids. I want you to know that the student who yelled “Turn that Spanish music off” at the start, and who was moved to a back table during the performance, is one of the students that I mention below. I was anticipating a very tense class period with him today and I was amazed at how he and another student who has struggled with cultural identity recently were beaming with pride while explaining components of the play and the journey to their classmates.”

Summary
Laura and Valentina are teenagers just trying to make it through another day in middle school. However, unlike many of their peers, they are refugees from Central America who have fled brutal violence in their home countries to find shelter and pursue their dreams in the United States. Step inside their shoes, hear their stories, see their struggle, and feel their strength as we move through their day. Óyeme, the Beautiful brings to light the undaunted courage and beautiful spirit that fuels these young people, and teaches us the power of friendship, family, and hope.