Karin Rosnizeck’s Director’s Note about “Coming to America: An Immigrant Cabaret”

After talking with many immigrants, hearing their stories about moving to the United States, and constantly re-thinking and re-defining my cultural identity as a German-American, I decided to develop a play that combined two of my interests: intercultural dialogue and musical cabaret. Cabaret, especially the traditional German Kabarett that thrived during and before the Weimar Republic, is an art form where humor, satire, and ridicule provide hard-hitting commentary about contemporary events.

Cabaret is not about perfection, but about the beautiful mess of being human. Embracing the raw edges of actual performance, cabaret lives in the cracks, the sweat, and the unpredictable moments. Its magic lies in its vulnerability and raw honesty.  For immigrant artists coming to America from different countries, cultural stereotypes and culture clashes provide plenty of material to explore, twist, and to play with. 

Making the theme of immigration to the US the main focus of our show is a tough challenge. The public narrative has shifted away from America as an immigrant country that benefits from new foods, cultures, and skills. Instead, immigrants are increasingly viewed as a threat to the US workforce, national identity, and American lifestyle. They often are seen as scapegoats for whatever goes wrong in the country.
 

Each of our four ‘cabaretists ‘comes from a different continent and has lived through a wide range of experiences during their journey as newcomers to America. Together, they illustrate the point that immigrants make America great. 

Let us entertain you by these dramatic stories of cross-country transitions and enjoy COMING TO AMERICA: AN IMMIGRANT CABARET.  This is Expats Theatre’s way of celebrating 250 years of the Declaration of Independence.