In this episode, Tahmina Talks Immigration with the Producer Chevi Chung and Director Ellen peters as well as one of the actors Nicole Lockett (who is also Senior Paralegal and Office Manager at Watson Immigration Law) of a play called Sincerely America. If in Washington State, we hope you will watch the play! Tickets can be purchased at www.sincerelyamerica.bpt.me. Listen to this podcast to learn more! Sincerely, America is inspired by the immigrant experience in an effort to create empathy and understanding for each other by reaching into the past to see the history of our community. The first play of the production, American Dreams, a play by Linda Britt and directed by Ellen Peters, focuses on the immigrant experience in the U.S., an experience which varies widely depending on country of origin, race, religion, age, and location allowing the characters to focus on the aspect of their story that is most meaningful to them. The second play of the production, The Art of Remembering, a play by Adina L. Ruskin and directed by Chevi Chung, shows three actors embodying different facets of a young woman who returns home to bury her father. While there, she cleans out her closet and with each object she discovers, she touches on the stories of her ancestors that are as diverse as a feisty Polish-Jewish émigré taking America by storm, an Argentine who stands against his country's repression, and a woman who witnesses the fall of the Berlin Wall. Together, Sincerely, America reminds us of the beauty of life and the importance of our past. Director Ellen Peters has earned a B.A. in theatre and psychology from Bates College in Maine and an Ed.M. in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University. She has also studied improvisational comedy. Ellen has performed on stage and screen with professional and community productions and has directed and taught at community theatres in Maine and in Washington, D.C., all prior to her move to Tacoma in 2011. While in Maine, she served on the LA Arts Board and the Lewiston Auburn Public Theatre (AEA) Board. As Chair of the Education Committee, Ellen spearheaded a school liaison program, which engaged a more diverse audience. Since moving to Washington state, Ellen has served on the Board of Tacoma Little Theatre and acted and/or directed with Tacoma Little Theatre, Dukesbay Productions, Toy Boat Theatre, and Found Space Productions. She has become increasingly interested in the impact of theatre on the audience and the larger community and focuses her interests on scripts which prompt discussion and educate and challenge. Ellen is delighted to be a part of the Tacoma arts community and is an administrator at the University of Puget Sound. Producer Chevy Chung: Chevi Chung is the visionary behind Empathos Company and a theatre artist currently based in Tacoma. She has worked in London, Los Angeles, and Seattle. She holds an MA in Acting from the Guildford School of Acting, pursued her undergraduate theatre studies at the University of La Verne, and earned a BA in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. Chevi is energized by stories about People of Color, women, and history.Actor Nicole Lockett: Nicole is the Senior Paralegal and Office Manager of Watson Immigration Law. She received her Associate of Applied Sciences in Paralegal Studies from Highline Community College in 2010. She holds an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis on Performance Arts, English, and Anthropology from Green River Community College, where she graduated with honors and as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Among her many talents, she has a passion for the arts and animals! She is an enthusiastic and avid actor who performs regularly at local community theatres. Multi-talented Nicole is additionally a semi-professional choreographer in the Puget Sound Area