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| Annushka is a young girl from Russia | Khadija is a young girl from Lebanon | Jamie is a young boy from the Dominican Republic | Tuan Ngo is a young boy from Vietnam |
ANNUSHKA and her sister Tanya are living with their Grandfather in Russia, waiting to hear from their Father who has gone ahead to America. Their mother has recently dies. Their Father works in a doll factory, saving money so that he can send for the 2 sisters. Finally the day arrives. Their Grandfather gives them the tickets, explaining that he is unable to go with them. He would like them to each have a Sabbath candlestick which were a present from his Mother on his wedding day. The girls set off by boat. The boat is very large and is filled with many people which scares Tanya. Annushka reassures her sister by singing her a lullaby. When the girls finally make it to New York Harbor, they realize how difficult it is going to be to find their Father with all the people. Annushka gets the idea to light their candlesticks and hold them up above their heads (like the Statue of Liberty). Their Father is able to see them and welcomes them to their new home.
KHADIJA (from Lebanon): Khadija's mother, father, and brother have just died in a smallpox epidemic so she goes to live with her Aunt and cousin, Sami. Her Aunt and Sami are getting ready to go to America to join her Uncle so she goes along with them. The only thing she has left from her first family is a coat that her brother wore. Khadija finds great comfort in this coat since it brings back memories, but most people think the coat is old and worn. Her cousin, Sami, is a very cheerful boy who is constantly doing antics to try and cheer Khadija up. While on the boat which will take them to America, Khadija and Sami meet another boy. Sami plays around with the boy as he tells him about Ellis Island and how if the inspectors find anything wrong with you, they will send you back to where you came from. When they arrive at Ellis Island, Sami and the Aunt pass the inspection, but when it is Khadija's turn she has a large "X" put on her back which means she will have to go back to Lebanon. Sami convinces Khadija to take her brother's coat off and turn it inside out so that the bright red lining will show. She does this and goes back to the inspector who does not recognize her and, telling her that she looks like a "little berry", passes her. Khadija, Sami, and the Aunt are now ready to start their new life in America.
JAMIE (from the Dominican Republic): Jamie's father has started a new job in NYC as an electrical engineer and is ready for Jamie, his 4 yr.-old sister Marietta, and Mami to join him. Jamie does not want to leave his bicycle and, especially, his friends. Jamie's Uncle, Tio Ernesto brings Jamie a conch shell as a going away present and explains to him that whenever he gets homesick for the Dominican Republic or for his friends he just needs to listen to the shell and he will hear all the memories which are stored inside. Jamie thanks Tio Ernesto but is unsure of the shell's ability to do all that his uncle has said. Jamie and his family go to NYC via an airplane. Jamie sulks through the ride and through his first days in the new apartment. He hears Tio Ernesto remind him of the shell and tries it out. Sure enough, he remembers his friends and the fun that they had playing together. This only depresses him more as he realizes that he will never make such great friends. A couple days later, Mami takes Jamie and Marietta to the park where Jamie meets another boy, Peter. Through a game of ball, Jamie and Peter become friends. Jamie realizes that he can make friends just as well as back at home.
TUAN NGO (from Vietnam): Tuan Ngo and his father run from their home in Vietnam to escape the Viet Kong soldiers. They flee through the jungle at night, staying as quiet as possible so as not to be discovered. Finally, they reach the shore where a small fishing boat and other refugees are waiting for them. They push off from shore in the rickety boat and start off for sea. After a while, their motor dies and they are left to drift at sea, hoping that a larger boat will see them and pick them up. After a couple boats pass them and as a third boat appears to be turning away as well, they decide that the only chance they have is to break up their boat and hope that the people on the third boat will have compassion for them. Their plan works and they are brought to America where Tuan Ngo and his father wait in an internment camp for word that they can start their new life. That day finally arrives.
Wild Swan Theater has been delighting family audiences since 1980 with performances that blend storytelling, movement, and music into magical, accessible experiences. Premiering productions in its home base of Ann Arbor and touring them throughout Michigan and the Midwest, Wild Swan has enchanted hundreds of thousands of playgoers of all ages in theaters, schools, libraries, and museums of all sizes. Wild Swan Theater is nationally known for its ingenious artistry, its innovative audience accessibility program, and its projects for participants with disabilities.