Extra News - Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper December 20, 2007

'Aqui Estoy': True Life on Stage

By Adriana Gallardo

For a spanish version of this article, click here

Representing at least five different nationalities from Cuban to Kyrgyzstani, the young actors of the Albany Park Theater Project eloquently narrate the realities of undocumented Latin American immigrants in a new two-act production, "Aqui Estoy" (I Am Here). The play humanizes experiences that are often overlooked in the rhetoric-filled immigration debate.

The play was written based on interviews with day laborers who solicit employment on the corners of Albany Park and the personal account of a former member of APTP who braved the life as a young undocumented immigrant in Chicago. Amor de Lejos and Nine Digits are preformed in a cold, dark, empty stage that resembles the space under an iron bridge that could be found anywhere in the streets of the city.

With almost no use of props, the 90-seat theater space becomes filled with a well-choreographed ensemble that moves mechanically, playing on the repetitious nature of the work day laborers take on after completing the often life-threatening trip across the border to the United States.

The play comes full-circle when Julio (Mourtaza Ahmadali), an immigrant who was brought to Chicago as a child, sees his life trapped in four walls without escape due to his lack of a social security number. Taunted by J. Wilbur Worker (Jes'us Matta) a white-faced government official, Julio is forced again and again to give up dreams of an education, better jobs and driving legally, due to his status.

The play had its first run in 2003 under the direction of APTP co-founders David Feiner and Laura Willey, who died of ovarian cancer earlier this year. This is the theater's first production since her death. Accompanying Feiner in the direction of this run were Colby Bessera, Micah Bezold and Maggie Popadiak.

According to Feiner, 70 percent of this version is new and adapted to fit the current actors. The use of actors' bodies to paint the setting throughout the show continues to be a tradition of APTP. "Sometimes words alone can not capture all the emotion," said Feiner.

The work of APTP continues offstage as one of the city's leading youth-development efforts. The theater project mentors and guides participating teens with a college focused program. According to APTP, since 1997, 40 project alumni have moved on to college and more than 90 percent were the first generation in their families to attend. The passion in this show by the young actors reflects an awareness of the issues in "Aqu'i Estoy."

Brett Lonis, 17, says playing the role of Gustavo, a day laborer, was a learning experience for him.

"I understand why these men stand on the street," Lonis says. "Though I am not Latino, I understand there is not just one border and we all have a history that can be traced back to immigration."