Tam Tran Goes to Washington

Written by Elizabeth Wong | Directed by Rona Par | Presented by East West Players

Tam Tran is a UCLA senior who prefers life behind the camera. When her undocumented status becomes part of the spotlight she never sought, her best friend Cinthya steps in—and together they find themselves drawn into the national conversation on immigration. Tam is invited to testify before Congress in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the DREAM Act. Suddenly, the quiet student becomes a public figure, forced to confront her fears, her identity, and the weight of what it means to belong.

This touring production—part of East West Players’ Theatre for Youth program—is a compact yet potent work that weaves activism, personal narrative, and the complexities of undocumented life. With a focus on young Asian American voices and immigrant experiences, the play brings the themes of fear, courage, friendship, and public responsibility into clear view.

Audiences should expect:

A brisk narrative that follows Tam’s emotional journey from behind-the-camera observer to active witness in the political arena.

Sharp writing that highlights the interplay of private self and public role—how Tam’s personal history, creative ambitions and undocumented status collide as she steps into testimony.

Moments of humor, tension and reflection as Tam and Cinthya navigate college life, family expectations and the larger forces of immigration policy.

A production that handles real issues of deportation, legislative hearings and the cost of visibility with sensitivity—while still centering the humanity of Tam’s story.

“Tam Tran Goes to Washington” asks what happens when one person’s voice becomes a symbol—and what it takes to speak when silence has been survival. It invites audiences—especially youth—to consider how personal stories become part of public history, and how representation and rights matter not just in policy, but in lived lives.