Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins to showcase play in Folsom about America as beacon of hope

Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins is scheduled to be in the Sacramento area next week to showcase and talk about his play “The New Colossus” at Folsom’s Harris Center. Robbins’ show tells the stories of 12 different people fleeing from something and searching for freedom in America.

The play was created during the Obama presidency in reaction to the Syrian refugee crisis. It features the story of Mexican immigrants, a Hungarian freeing communism and 10 more stories. The play includes 12 languages — most appearing briefly — and features live music, poetry and kinetic movement.

“The story of our ancestors’ journeys to freedom are epic stories of survival, full of difficulty, danger, distrust, camaraderie and courage, of insurmountable obstacles overcome by hope and heroism,” Robbins said in a news release. “The New Colossus is a story of resilience, of extraordinary people living through extremely difficult challenges, holding on to their desire to survive, to live and breathe in freedom.”

Following each Folsom performance, an in-depth discussion is scheduled to be be facilitated by Robbins. Audience members will be encouraged to share their own stories as well as their immediate reactions to the work.

The play’s title references a sonnet written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. The sonnet, “The New Colossus,” was written to raise funds for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

If you go

The New Colossus

When: 7:30 p.m. March 3 and March 4.

Cost: $28 to $62; students $12.

Tickets: www.harriscenter.net or 916-608-6888 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and two hours before showtime

Note: The Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, facing East Bidwell Street