LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS

ANON(YMOUS)

A VIRTUAL STUDY GUIDE

WRITTEN BY NAOMI IIZUKA

DIRECTED BY SHANNON WALSH

LIVE ON ZOOM APRIL 13-18, 2021

STREAMING APRIL 19-25, 2021

WHAT'S INSIDE

OUR PRODUCTION – 2 US IMMIGRATION FACTS/TRIVIA – 12

DIRECTOR'S NOTES – 4 THEMES – 13

THE PLAYWRIGHT – 5 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS – 14

PLAY SYNOPSIS – 6 WRITING ACTIVITY – 15

THE CHARACTERS – 8 SOURCES & FURTHER READING – 18

STUDY GUIDE DESIGNED BY TIFFANY GILLY -FORRER LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 2 School of Theatre

OUR PRODUCTION

CAST Anon ...... Natheyon Taylor Nemasani ...... Taren Wilson Naja ...... Arijana Collins Ritu ...... Subbah Mir Nasreen ...... Taylor Coffey Mr. Yuri Mackus/Strygal ...... Nicholas Russo Calista/Nice American Daughter ...... Sarah Short Senator Laius/Mr. Zyclo/Nice American Father ...... Grant Ray Helen Laius/Zyclo’s Pet Bird/Nice American Mother/Serza ...... Robin Talbot Pascal/Ali/Ignacio ...... Amechi Obodoechina Belen ...... Yesenia Medina Ensemble: Sewing Ladies, Chorus of Refugees, Barflies ...... Makaylee Seacrest Brianna Burgan Alyssa Pacaccio Mary Hope McDaniel Elijah Skalinsky

"Begin in the middle On the border On the crossing. Begin in the place in between." ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 3 School of Theatre

OUR PRODUCTION (CONT'D)

PRODUCTION TEAM Playwright ...... Naomi Iizuka Director ...... Dr. Shannon Walsh Stage Manager ...... Bailey Desselles Assistant Stage Manager ...... Justice Graham Scenic Designer ...... Tara A Houston Costume Designer ...... Brookelyn LeBlanc Co-Lighting Designer ...... Emma Massengale Co-Lighting Designer ...... Sydney Hamilton Sound Designer ...... Grayson Taylor Sims Props Master ...... John Michael Eddy Production Manager and Technical Director ...... James Murphy Lighting Design Mentor and OBS Programmer ...... C. Touchet General Sound Assistant ...... Jeremiah Turner Sound Design Mentor ...... EunJin Cho Costume Design Mentor ...... Suellen Coelho Costume Shop Manager ...... Kyla Kazuschyk

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Producer ...... Kristin Sosnowsky Managing Artistic Director ...... Vastine Stabler Development/Marketing Associates ...... Alan White, Tiffany Gilly-Forrer Program Design ...... Marshal Talon Hodges

"You dream the face of the one person you love. And that person, that person becomes like home." LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 4 School of Theatre

NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR

Naomi Iizuka’s Anon(ymous) takes place in the contact zone between the epic and the intimate. As her teen goddess in the story Naja repeatedly reminds the main character Anon when he feels lost he must, “Begin in the middle. On the border. On the crossing. Begin in the place in between.”

In the US we struggle with sitting in the in- between. We tend to prefer beginnings and endings. We like our resolutions and destinations. We forget that most of the time we exist in the middle of our own stories. Perhaps that is why Iizuka chose to adapt ’s The Odyssey, the most epic of

"In the US we struggle epics, in order to tell the story of the with sitting in the in- collective loss, strength, and humanity of between." refugees.

Through Anon’s journey we witness unspeakable acts of cruelty and earth-shattering moments of beauty. Through it all we follow him as he searches for home only to discover with him that home is not what we thought it was but is always on the border, on the crossing, in the place in between. Home is who we carry with us on our journey.

~ Dr. Shannon Walsh LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 5 School of Theatre

PLAYWRIGHT NAOMI IIZUKA

Naomi Iizuka has written at least a dozen plays and has received many awards for her work, some of which include 17 Reasons (Why), Polaroid Stories, and Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls. Her plays have been produced by Actors Theatre of Louisville, Tectonic Theatre, the Edinburgh Festival, and many more. Her works have been published in a variety of publications including TheatreForum, American Theatre Magazine, and TCG. Ms. Iizuka has been commissioned by the Guthrie Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Kennedy Center, and many other prestigious theatrical institutions. She has received numerous awards for playwriting and currently teaches at University of California, Santa Barbara. She received her M.F.A. from the University of California at San Diego and her bachelor's degree from .

"My name is Naomi Ms. Iizuka spoke with the San Diego Union- Iizuka and I'm from a lot Tribune in an interview titled "Our of different places." Immigrant Story." Ms. Iizuka shared that she is from "a lot of different places" including (where she was born), Jakarta, and Amsterdam. Her family eventually came to the when she was in the first grade.

She also shared, "My son gives me hope for what it means to be American. I think he and his generation represent the best of us in terms of a country that has a lot of different traditions and a lot of different influences." LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 6 School of Theatre

SYNOPSIS

SCENES 1-9

At the start of the play, Anon is alone, beginning a story he struggles to remember. A Chorus of Refugees join him, telling their own stories, but Anon cannot remember his. Naja, a goddess, tells him to “Begin in the middle" and Anon starts describing a war. Nemasani, Anon's mother, appears singing an ancient song and Anon attempts to speak to her. He is separated from her by an explosion of white light that transports the story to the sewing factory of Mr. Yuri Mackus.

Senator Laius, with his wife Helen, are showsn the factoryy b Mr. Mackus who hires immigrants and refugees, one of which is Nemasani. She sews a shroud that she shares is for her recently deceased son and refuses Mr. Mackus, who desires to marry her, until she is finished with it. She shares a little of her story with Helen Laius, and the story shifts focus to Anon who broods in the company of a young woman, Calista, on an American beach. Anon longs to sail away from this place, but Calista insists it is his home.

Calista and Anon argue until Naja appears and invites him into the ocean and they leave a frustrated Calista behind. WIn the middle of the ocean, Anon belives he knows Naja from somewhere, but cannot remember. She tries to remind him and the two characters kiss, after which she warns Anon that he must focus on his survival of the storm as rising waves separate them.

Returning to Nemasani in the sewing factory, everyone has gone home except for her and Mrs. Laius, who is still listening to Nemasani's story. Senator Laius returns with Mr. Mackus and Mr. & Mrs. Laius leave. Mr. Mackus forcefully makes advances toward Nemasani, who slaps him and threatens him with the wrath of the gods, after which he exits and the story transitions to a city somewhere in the US. Naja sets a radio down in an alleyway, Nasreen enters taking out trash from a restaurant, and Anon emerges from the dumpster. Nasreen inquires about Anon's name, to which he answers "Koo Ri" after the Curry he has been eating from the garbage. Ali, Nasreen’s blind father, comes outside and invites Anon in to eat. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 7 School of Theatre

SYNOPSIS

SCENES 10-25

Inside, Anon meets Ritu, the cook and is dared to eat a very hot pepper, which he eats without a problem. Ritu becomes suspicious of Anon and attempts to get more of Anon's story out of him. Throughout the scene, Ali and Ritu's story share similarities to Anon's, which he still cannot remember and Naja appears, encouraging him again to “Begin at the place in between.” Anon is transported to his past where war ensues and he remembers the details and chaos of what he had forgotten, including the storm, his mother, and a refugee named Pascal, a refugee who rescued Anon. Pascal also asks Anon his name, to which Anon answers Lan. The two boys escape a tunnel and ride atop a boxcar of a passing train, speaking of dreams and hopes until they arrive at Mr. Zyclo's meat warehouse. Here, the boys begin to work for Mr. Zyclo, but Pascal disappears mysteriously and Anon escapes.

He comes to an open area split by a freeway where he meets Ignacio and his daughter Belen, then hitches a ride with Strygal, a truck driver, who turns out to be transporting refugees in the back of his truck. Anon fights with Strygal and the Chorus of Refugees become ghosts in the process. Anon then encounters the ghosts of Ignacio, Strygal, and Belen, but none will talk to him. Pascal appears and tells his story, then the of Chorus Refugees return and Anon joins them, calling himself Anonymous, after which he is transported as in earlier in the play.

Anon finishes recounting his story and is once again sitting amongst Ritu, Ali, and Nasreen who have been listening. Ritu recalls a sweatshop she once worked at and thinks Anon's mother may be there. Back at the factory, Mr. Mackus is angry with Nemasani, insisting that they will be married imminently, but Anon enters and fights with him "like ancient warriors." Anon wins burying Mr. Mackus in a mountan of clothing and the stories of the Refugees are heard coming from outside. The play ends with Nemasani and Anon eating take-out on the roof of the factory as she listenso t Anon tell his life story to her. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 8 School of Theatre

THE CHARACTERS

ANON

Anon is a teenage refugee, who is searching for his mother who he was separated from during a storm at sea. He struggles to remember his past and wanders from place to place on a dreamlike journey to find a sense of home, hopeful to find his mother. Anon is lost, tired, and heartbroken, but presses on with hope, grit, and resilence in spite of the danger that comes his way. Anon is a shape-shifting survivor who will stop it nothing to reunite with his mom, based on the character of Odysseus, from Homer’s The Odyssey.

NEMASANI

Nemasani, Anon's mother and fierce survivor, is a refugee living in the US, working at a sewing sweatshop. She believes Anon died in a storm that shipwrecked them at sea and sews a shroud in his memory that she uses to keep her boss from marrying her. She is lusted after by her boss and eventually Anon finds and protects her from her boss, but she does not believe Anon is who he claims to be. Nemasani is based on Penelope from Homer’s The Odyssey, and the her name “derives from '', the goddess of memory and mother of .”

NAJA

Naja is a goddess who appears as a girl and moves through the world effortlessly. She is powerful, smart, and kind and first appears to Anon as a surfer, Naja is greatly invested in Anon’s voyage and remains throughout a constant and reliable guide. She can be confrontational and direct, but her demeanor remains poised and tranquil, fully in control. Naja is based on the Goddess Athena, from Homer’s The Odyssey and her name is "a Sanskrit word referring to the spirit of earth who protected Buddha during a terrible storm." LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 9 School of Theatre

THE CHARACTERS

MR. YURI MACKUS

Mr. Yuri Mackus is the owner and manager of a US sweatshop where he hires female immigrants and refugees. He believes his factory to be “the first stop on the way to the American Dream”, differing from what his employees would say about the terrible place. He is aggressive and abusive with little regard for the individual. He is impatient, lewd, and controlling, When he discovers that Nemasani has been tricking him, he becomes enraged and violent, but is annihilated by Anon. He is based on Penelope’s Suitors from Homer’s The Odyssey.

NASREEN

Nasreen is a teenage refugee, daughter of refugee parents from India. She works at her parent's restaurant and has a bold, curious, and gentle personality. She finds Anon in the alleyway behind her parent's restaurant and boldly announces that she is not afraid and strong enough to protect herself. They quickly become friends and Nasreen, upon hearing Anon's story, is hopeful that his mother is alive somewhere in the city. She is helpful and welcoming to Anon and is based on Nausicaa, Princess of Phaeacia, in Homer’s The Odyssey.

PASCAL

Pascal is a West African refugee who came to the US to escape his dangerous homeland where his family was murdered. He is tough and experienced in the city's underworlds, but remains good-natured. He helps Anon who struggles in the big city and acts as a friend and guide. Pascal teaches Anon how to survive, but his ego is also his flaw as it leads them into a dangerous workplace that ends in Pascal's tragic death. He later appears to Anon as a ghost, tells him his story, and asks Anon to remember him. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 0 School of Theatre

THE CHARACTERS

ALI & RITU

Ali and Ritu are an Indian immigrant couple, parents to Nasreen, who own and operate a restaurant in a city somewhere in the US. Ali is friendly and warm to Anon whereas Ritu is careful and wary of him, questioning him with great suspicion, but ultimately softening to his story and telling him of the sweatshop she believes is mother to be at. These characters are based on Arete and Alcinous, King and Queen of Phaeacia, in Homer’s The Odyssey.

SENATOR & HELEN LAIUS Senator Laius is a politician in America, with his wife Helen. He doesn't contribute much to conversation, unlike his wife Helen who, out of curiosity speak with women in the Sewing Factory, ultimately revealing a sympathetic, but shallow, privileged character underneath her beautiful appearance. These characters are based on Menelaus, King of Sparta Helen of Troy, from Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey.

CALISTA

Calista is daughter to a wealthy, influential man who own a tropical, beachfront home somewhere in the US. She is bratty, immature, hot-headed, and careless, a stereotype "rich girl" who gets what she wants whenvever she wants. She saved Anon when he washed ashore her father's private beach, but uses that to try to guilt-trip him into doing things for her. Her character is based on the nymph Calypso, from Homer’s The Odyssey.

MR. ZYCLO, HIS PET BIRD, & STRYGAL

Mr. Zyclo is a butcher who runs a disturbing warehouse “out in the boonies” of the US. He has one good eye who appears sophisticated, but is truly vile. He keeps a pet bird that resents him for keeping her locked up and a son, Strygal a truck driver and human trafficker, who he also has a strenuous relationship with, is also a dangerous and crude person. Mr. Zyclo is based on Polyphemus the Cyclops from Homer’s The Odyssey.

IGNACIO & BELEN

Ignacio and Belen are refugees from Central America en route to the US. Ignacio accompanies Belen as a silent ghost who died years ago, guiding his alive, preteen daughter Belen on her journey. She is hopeful and kind, yet mature and determined. They meet Anon on the road and travel for a short time together. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 1 School of Theatre

THE CHARACTERS

SERZA

Serza works at a sleazy dive bar in a city somewhere in the US. She is talkative and jovial, and at first unsure about serving Anon, but eventually pities him and brings him water. She tries to get him to relax and dance with her, to which Anon senses precariousness and leaves. Her character is based on Circe in Homer’s The Odyssey.

SEWING LADIES

The Sewing Ladies that work in Mr. Mackus' sewing factory are immigrants and refugees who work alongside Nemasani. One is outspoken and cunning, answering the questions of Senator Laius and his wife, Helen on their tour of the factory. The other is silent and perceptive who spies on Nemasani and betrays her coworker to Mr. Mackus, to gain approval from him.

NICE AMERICAN FAMILY

The Nice American Family includes a Nice American Father, Mother, and Daughter, suggested as the picture-perfect American family. They adopt Anon who washes ashore on their private beach. They attempt to make Anon blend in with their very "white-bread" American lifestyle, but ultimately fail. This family appears briefly in a montage and are suggested to actually be Senator Laius, his wife Helen, and Calista according to the play's cross-casting.

BARFLIES

The Barflies heavily drink at a counter of the dive bar in a city somewhere in the US and dance without speaking any dialogue. Their function is atmospheric. They may be based on the enchanted animals populating the island of Circe in Homer’s The Odyssey, or creatures of the Underworld.

CHORUS OF REFUGEES

The Chorus of Refugees represent the numerous people who leave their war- torn countries or places that have been destroyed by natural disaster. They tell stories of their homelands throughout the play and appear in the action of the play as immigrants hidden in Strygal’s truck who die when the truck crashes. They also play Shadows and people of the city tunnels and alleyways, which represents the Island of the Lotus Eaters from Homer’s The Odyssey. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 2 School of Theatre

IMMIGRATION FACTS/TRIVIA

1. Most scientists believe that human beings first came to America over the Bering Straits about ______years ago. A) 800 Years Ago B) 9,000 Years ago C) 20,000 Years ago

2. In the late 1700s, the first Census of the US took place. Of the 3.9 million counted, Native Americans were included. True or False?

3. Although many new immigrants came in pursuit of a dream, nearly all the Irish immigrants from the 1840's and 1850's came to escape a nightmare - a ______. A) War B) Famine C) Plague

4. The first Naturalization Act stated that only people who were white could become a citizen of the United States. True or False?

5. Between 1880 and 1930, over ______people entered the United States - about 12 million through Ellis Island. A) 27 Million B) 17 Million C) 7 Million

6. The US Republican platform of 1864 stated, "Foreign immigration which in the past has added so much to the wealth, resources, and increase of power to the nation…should be fostered and encouraged." True or False?

"In 1986, the government gave amnesty to more than 3 million aliens through the Immigration Reform Act, but during the recession years of the early 90s, there was a resurgence of anti- immigrant feeling.

Still, immigration rates through the 1990s soared, leaving today's generation with lingering questions: Does America have a duty to keep its doors open to the world? Can immigrants keep their own culture and language, and still be called Americans? Is continued economic growth in America dependent upon a liberal immigration policy? The debates will certainly continue, as new immigrants arrive on our shores daily, bringing with them their own histories, traditions, and ideas,

all of which broaden and enrich our sense of what it means to be an American." (Immigration).

e u r T , A , e u r T , B , e s l a F , C : s r e w s n A

LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 3 School of Theatre

THEMES

THE IN-BETWEEN

There are many themes in Naomi Iizuka's Anon(ymous). One that repeats is this idea of "THE IN-BETWEEN." This is a metaphor for the experience of many refugees, feeling torn between two places, their home country and where they've taken refuge, and struggle to settle into one place over the other. What feels like "the in-between" to you? IDENTITY

Understanding one's own IDENTITY is another theme presented in the play. Anon struggles to remember or chooses to hide his true identity, seemingly because he struggles to know exactly what it is and as a way of protecting himself from the dangers of the world around him. Identity discovery is a life-long journey. What is something you recently learned about yourself?

FALSE APPEARANCES

Another theme found in Anon(ymous) is the use of FALSE APPEARANCES. Characters will appear kind and safe, then turn out to have malicious intent. Other characters are foreign or unknown, and turn out to be trustworthy and kind. This theme questions when people judge a person by their appearance. What a person says and does is far more valuable for making an evaluation of their character than appearances; appearances can be deceiving and manipulated. What is something about a person you can't tell just by looking at them? HOME

One more major theme in the play is identifying and finding a sense of HOME. For some, home is a place, for others, it's a feeling, and for others, it's relationships with others. Anon's great journey is a discovery of what "home" means to him and grasping that home as best he can. What does home mean to you?

Where I come from is far away from here. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 4 School of Theatre

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

BEFORE SHOW • Have you ever travelled outside your own city? State? Country? I disappeared. • If you could travel anywhere, where would you vsit? I became invisible. • Do you have ancestors that immigrated to the US? If I ran away. yes, where did they come from? 1 escaped. • What do you know about immigration in the United I shed my skin. States? What do you have questions about? I changed my name. • Why do you think refugees leave their home country? I became • What are important parts of an epic story? Anonymous. My name is • Where or what does "home" mean to you? Anonymous.

HOWAFTER S • Do you know anyone like any of the characters in Anon(ymous)? Which ones? • Why do you think Anon never reveals his true identity? Have you ever concealed your identity? • What characters do you empathize with or not empathize with and why? • Do you think Nemasani believes Anon is her son at the end of the play? Why or why not? • What do you think Anon's objective is in the play and do you think he accomplishes it? How so? • What could you do to support and protect those who are currently immigrants and refugees in the US? LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 5 School of Theatre

ACTIVITY: WRITE YOUR STORY

Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka is based on Homer's The Odyssey, following the thrilling, gut-wrenching, and sometimes terrifying journey of the main character, Anon – Odysseus in Homer's classic tale. This journey resembles a well-known story structure used by novelists, playwrights, and screenwriters everywhere called The Heroe's Journey.

O r d i n a r y W o r l d T h e R e t u r n

w i t h t h e C a l l t o E l i x i r A d v e n t u r e

T h e R e f u s a l o f R e s u r r e c t i o n t h e C a l l --O r d i n a r y W o r l d T h e R o a d B a c k --- --M e e t i n g t h e ( t o t h e ~"' j - M e n t o r O r d i n a r y W o r l d ) • ------4~------

T h e R e w a r d S p e c i a l W o r l d C r o s s i n g t h e ( S e i z i n g t h e T h r e s h o l d S w o r d )

T h e O r d e a l T e s t s , A l l i e s , ( D e a t h & R e b i r t h ) A p p r o a c h t h e E n e m i e s I n n e r m o s t C a v e

Imagine if your life were like an epic journey for which you are the main character. What characters would guide you? Who would play the villain? What is your objective and do you ever achieve it? Think about a big moment or memory in your life. It could be an impactful event, it could be a memorable trip, or it could be a day that went from ordinary to not-so-ordinary unexpectedly.

On the next two pages, fill in each of the stages with your story. Page 17 breaks down what each stage means. Use your story as inspiration and feel free to imagine beyond what really happened; what was the call to adventure? How did you refuse? Who was your mentor? Use this as an outline to write out your own epic journey! LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 6 School of Theatre

ACTIVITY: WRITE YOUR STORY

TITLE ______AUTHOR ______

______

______

______O r d i n a r y W o r l d ______

______~.., ______"' j ______

S p e c i a l W o r l d ______

______

SETTING ______CHARACTERS ______LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 7 School of Theatre

ACTIVITY: WRITE YOUR STORY

So What do these different stages mean? Let's break each one down briefly so you can write you own story!

ORDINARY WORLD -ACT 1 ORDINARY WORLD: Where the Hero exists before the journey begins, unaware of the impending story about to unfold. This is often a stage full of exposition and familiarizing us with their "everyday life."

CALL TO ADVENTURE: When the Hero receives a call to action and the adventure begins. Whatever happens in this stage, it threatens to disrupt the norm, presenting a problem that only the hero can solve.

REFUSAL OF THE CALL: Before the Hero is eager, they first face their fear. In this stage, the hero resists the journey due to self doubt, willful ignorance, or other uncertainties.

MEETING THE MENTOR: A turning point for the Hero. A mentor enters the story to empower and guide them to the threshold of their adventure.

SPECIAL WORLD -ACT II CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: Newly emboldened, the Hero crosses from the Ordinary World into the Special World. This can be physical or non-physical; it is when the Hero accepts the call to adventure.

TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES: This is usually the longest portion of the story. The Hero is faced with obstacles, hurdles, and challenges that test their will and strength and learn who they can and cannot trust.

APPROACH THE INNERMOST CAVE: At this stage, the Hero faces a danger or internal conflict they have yet to deal with until now. As they approach the ordeal, they must make preparations for the conflict.

THE ORDEAL (DEATH & REBIRTH): A great conflict or battle that the Hero must overcome in order to survive and earn the reward. Here, they must "die" in order to be "reborn" with greater power or insight.

THE REWARD (SEIZING THE SWORD): Once the Hero overcomes the ordeal or defeats their enemy, through their rebirth comes their reward. They are transformed and emerge victorious, often with a prize.

THE ROAD BACK (TO THE ORDINARY WORLD): A reverse of the Call to Adventure where the Hero must cross back into the ordinary world with their reward.

THE ORDINARY WORLD -ACT III THE RESURRECTION: The Climax, the big final fight, or the final challenge in which the Hero uses what they've learned to protect the reward and return home safely.

THE RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR: The Hero returns to the ordinary world with their reward and a new, changed self, forevermore. LSU ANON(YMOUS) STUDY GUIDE PAGE 1 8 School of Theatre

SOURCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"What do you have to – Cohn-Eichner, Eleanor. "Overview," Stage Agent, https://stage lose? There's no way to agent.com/shows/play/10722/anonymous. know unless you go and see." – Iizuka, Naomi. Anon(ymous), Playscripts, 2007. – "Immigration Timeline." The Statue of Liberty―Ellis Island Foundation, Inc, https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/ immigration-timeline. – "Naomi Iizuka," Playscripts.com, https://www.playscripts.com/ playwrights/bios/105. – "Our Immigrant Story: Naomi Iizuka | San Diego Union- Tribune," Youtube, uploaded by The San Diego Union- Tribune, 14 Sep 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=1sNBhM5_d44. – Vogler, Christopher. "Excepts from Myth and the Movies, Stuart Voytilla," 1 June 2003, pp. 2. https://www.tlu.ee/ ~rajaleid/montaazh/Hero%27s%20Journey%20Arch.pdf. – Photos provided by Canva.com FURTHER READING – Interview with the Playwright: Hebert, James. "For theater artist and educator Naomi Iizuka, ‘America is much bigger than this little pool I grew up in," 16 Sept 2018. https://www. sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/sd-et-fall- arts-theater-naomi-iizuka-20180822-story.html - How to Support Immigrant Students: Stoltzfus, Kate. "What Schools Can Do for Immigrant Students," ASCD, November 2019. http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education- update/nov19/vol61/num11/What-Schools-Can-Do-for- Immigrant-Students.aspx