CIRCA presents THE FOB DIARIES

In a time when immigration as an issue takes the heart of the greater American public discourse, the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA) takes a stab at exploring what young people think about immigration through The FOB Diaries.

FOB, short for "fresh-off-the-boat‚" a term deemed derogatory if you go by the strict essence of political correctness, has come to mean many things to different people. It connotes stereotyping and yet it is loaded with other meanings that one can use to subvert internalized views on race and identity.

Conceived as a venue to tell stories from the point of view of the youth, the play chronicles snippets of immigrant life both funny, sad and riveting, all made engaging by a mix of dramatic skits, music and video.

The FOB Diaries is a culmination of a two month theater performance workshop participated in by CIRCA youth volunteer-artists from a mixed group of Filipino, Hispanic and African American youth facilitated by Daisy Castro and Demetrio Maguigad.

Presented in partnership with Video Machete, The FOB Diaries goes on stage on December 8, Friday at 7 pm and December 9, Saturday at 3pm at Video Machete, 3460 W. Lawrence Ave. (by St. Louis), Chicago. For reservation, call (312) 222-1551 or email at circatheater@yahoo.com. The production is supported in part by Crossroads Fund, City Arts 1 of Department of Cultural Affairs, Illinois Arts Council and Nuveen Investments.