TeAda 9th Annual Theater for Asylum Seekers’ public sharing, in collaboration with The Program for Torture Victims (PTV)!
Los Angeles, CA – [March 4, 2026] – TeAda Productions presents a free performance of Theater for Asylum Seekers public sharing on Saturday March 14, 2026 from 4 – 7pm at USC Dramatic Arts Building’s StopGap Theatre.
For the past 8 years, TeAda Productions and Program for Torture Victims (PTV) have collaborated in a residency program that engages recently arrived immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. TeAda Productions provides theater and storytelling workshops for the clients of PTV. The program provides the means for participants to safely explore their lived experience, inhabit the world of creative expression, expand their community connections, and share their story throughperformance. The program also becomes a powerful exchange of wisdoms, and provides a sanctuary space to adjust, adapt, create, and heal. The culmination on March 14th will feature stories, spoken word, movement and theater pieces written, arranged, and performed by immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Last year, the PTV Fellows moved the community through their culmination performance:
GLOBAL HEARTS: OUTGROWING STRUGGLE & STEPPING INTO POWER. Reflecting on his
workshop experience, and performing in the powerful culmination sharing: PTV Fellow Lawrence remarked: “From the beginning I was like, ‘Will I really do this?’ but as we started having our workshop, everyone would come in, and from nowhere we’d get community stories. We’d create something from nothing. It’s beautiful that from nothing you can get something. It has to be some magical power. That’s when I said, let me give all I can for this production.” Lawrence shared that his “life has changed” because of this experience, and that he can now “sit down, get something done, develop something” from nothing, in both the theater and in life. Speaking on the significance of this partnership, TeAda Co-Artistic Director and Program Lead Ova Saopeng adds: “Now more than ever, in a world that feels divided and full of conflicts, the ability to create safe and brave spaces for human kindness and connection through storytelling and movement is essential and vital. This creative collaboration validates and unifies the good, the joy, and the hope in humanity to truly and deeply accept one another for who we are.”
Each collaboration provides a diverse demographic of asylum seekers. TeAda has worked with asylees from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and many more. TeAda’s storytelling and theater workshops, and performances transform the lives of our participants. As a result, past participants learn to build confidence, prioritize community camaraderie, and gain valuable collaborative skills that they can use in their own work, passions, and lives. This year’s performance is currently being built based off of participant storiesrelated to: migration, persecution, violence, freedom, power, peace, resilience, healing, liberation, and love. We are excited to share it with you.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘2026 Theater for Asylum Seekers Public Sharing’
WHAT:
For the past 8 years, TeAda Productions and Program for Torture Victims (PTV) have collaborated in a residency program thatengages recently arrived immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. TeAda Productions provides theater and storytelling workshops for the clients of PTV. The program provides the means for participants to safely explore their lived experience, inhabit the world of creative expression, expand their community connections, and share their story through performance. The program also becomes a powerful exchange of wisdoms, and provides a sanctuary space to adjust, adapt, create, and heal. This year’s Theater For Asylum Seekers Public Sharing on March 14th will feature stories, spoken word, movement and theater pieces written, arranged, and performed by immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers centering ideas of migration, struggle, transition, belonging, identity, home, and hope.
WHO:
- Written by TeAda Productions & the Fellows of The Program for Torture Victims
- Directed by TeAda Productions
- Starring the Fellows of The Program for Torture Victims (PTV)
- Produced by TeAda Productions
WHEN:
March 14th – 4pm
WHERE:
USC Dramatic Arts Building (DAB) | StopGap Theatre 817 W 34th St
Los Angeles, CA 90089
PARKING:
- $20/day at USC Shrine Parking structure, 686 W 32nd , Los Angeles, CA 90007 (across the street from USC campus entry, and closest parking lot to theater)
- Download the “Park USC” app on your phone for more information on where to park on
- Metered, and free non-metered parking available on streets surrounding the
- Take the Metro: nearest stop is Jefferson/USC (two blocks east of USC DAB)
TICKET PRICES:
FREE RSVP on Eventbrite
MORE:
The 2026 Theater for Asylum Seekers Public Sharing is open to all ages.
CONTACT:
(510) 725-8889
teAda 9th Annual
teAda 9th Annual
teAda 9th Annual
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