UNIFY seeks actors for culturally representative play

MT. PLEASANT — UNIFY, a newly developed cultural inclusion group in Mt. Pleasant, continues to pursue their ideals of Uplifting Needs of Immigrant Families through Youth-Leadership through the preparation of a theatrical performance for the community.

The group is holding auditions Friday, July 29 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, July 30 12-6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant.

“The play is an original I actually have been writing for a couple of years,” UNIFY Marketing Director and Grant Writer Nefi Sanchez said. “It's set in the Philippines around the time the Spaniards arrive.”

According to Sanchez the play consists of a girl named Bulan needing to find a cure for her younger brother who was cursed by her mother, a former healer turned witch. Throughout the story she struggles with isolation, strange new people (Spaniards), and the effects of a raid that hurt her home island.

“The play deals with themes of belonging and feeling enough,” Sanchez said. “The characters are fictional but the events and the rest of it I took my time to make historically accurate”

This is a UNIFY original has four primary roles and multiple secondary and background characters.

The primary roles to be cast include:

Bulan: a quiet teenage girl

Adlaw: a harsh mother in her 30s to 40s

Hagaw: a bitter adult male

Warrior: a kind adult male.

The group encourages all types to audition this weekend.

Scripts will be provided

RSVP’s are appreciated via unifynpo@gmail.com

Additionally, UNIFY is working to schedule a Cultural night showcasing diversity in Henry County.

“These two events are part of our goal to meet immigrants 'Representational Needs' and better connect them with the rest of the community, and the rest of the community with them,” a UNIFY representative said.

UNIFY identifies three areas of focus to meet immigrant family needs in the community: representation, opportunity, and human needs

Plans to create events centering on Human Needs are in discussion, at the moment, for November and December, while still working to fulfill these needs in their work with IowaWINS’ food pantry.

Longer-term goals for the group include starting either a tutoring or summer career program for next year.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com