Southeast Asian Stories

southeast asian stories: war, memory, and community

GLAS 300: GLOBAL ASIA IN CHICAGO | SPRING 2024 PERFORMANCES

The GLAS 300 Course

With some of our oral history narrators

With our community partners from CIRCA-Pintig, Rizal Center of Chicago, and Vietnamese Association of Illinois

These performances were written and curated by students in GLAS 300: Global Asia in Chicago this Spring 2024 based on oral histories they conducted with Southeast Asians who self identify as Cambodian/Khmer, Vietnamese, or Filipinx/a/o and who have some connection to Uptown. The oral histories sought to capture their migration histories to the US and Chicago, family histories, their relationship to, knowledge of, and perspectives about Uptown. Drawing from these oral histories, the movement artistry they learned from CIRCA-Pintig, and the guidance and encouragement of Prof. Anna Guevarra, students shared their narrator stories as dramatized narratives.

SEE THE PROGRAM PLAYBILL BELOW

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SEE THE PROGRAM PLAYBILL BELOW 〰️

Back and front covers of the playbill

“From Cambodia to Chicago: Walking with the Community”

Featuring Shahn Butt, Kekulalani Jasmine Keauli’i, and Brynne Tolentino
An ensemble puppet play following the lives of three Cambodians as they make conversation while waiting at bus stop 36 on Broadway & Winona. The play takes inspiration from the stories shared by Khemarey Khoeun, Samkhanh Khoeun, and Soktheary Nan about their lives, their hopes for the future, and their passions in life.

During a movement workshop facilitated by CIRCA-Pintig in the classroom

The week before the performance.

Keku rehearsing her lines the week before the performance

Brynne rehearsing her lines the week before the performance

Shahn rehearsing his lines before the performance

During the performance

“Uptown United?”

Featuring Kait Consing, Mikaela Cruz, Lana Oliveros, and Breanna Williams.
A play that explores the perspectives of four Filipinx/a/o immigrants with differing backgrounds and their analyses of Uptown’s social issues. The stories take inspiration from the stories of Nancy Balantac, Jed Dulanas, Ginger Leopoldo, and Ellen (Aurora) Maanes.

During a movement workshop facilitated by CIRCA-Pintig.

During a movement workshop with CIRCA-Pintig

The week before the performance

During the performance

“Voices in Motion”

Featuring Quentin Eder, Diana Mizban, Raina Pedroza, and Amy Vongonh
A visual and auditory performance that depicts the survival, perseverance, and resilience of Trieu Nguyen, Van Duong, Gian Mui, and Thiem Tran. Nguyen, Duong, Mui, and Thiem are Uptown residents with deep connections to Vietnam.

During a movement workshop facilitated by CIRCA-Pintig in the classroom

During a movement workshop with CIRCA-Pintig

The week before the performance

During the performance

Audience Talk Back

The audience had an opportunity to chat with student performers and Professor Guevarra about conceptualizing the performances, the meaning behind these productions, and the stories that they capture.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A warm thank you to our community partners on this project:

All of the oral history narrators who generously contributed their time, knowledge, and experiences with us.
UIC AANAPISI Initiative
CIRCA Pintig
Rizal Center of Chicago
Vietnamese Association of Illinois
Liesl Olson and Matthew Randle-Bent at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum
Photography: Studio Soo and Prof. Anna Guevarra
Videography: Studio Soo