The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings
by Arian Moayed

Name: The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings
Brand: Arian Moayed
SKU: 9780822240471
Rating: 3.35 (17 reviews)

The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings Cover

The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings Book Cover — The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

75 mins Present Day Role(s) for Asian Actor(s) Flexible Cast Size Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

Elizabeth Keathley, a Filipina immigrant, entered the United States on a K-3 visa to live with her husband, a U.S. citizen.

When applying for her driver’s license at an Illinois DMV, Keathley inadvertently said “yes” to the form question of registering to vote and subsequently received a voter registration card in the mail.

With this voter card, Keathley voted in a midterm congressional election, which is a violation of U.S. election law.

When the mistake was discovered at her citizenship hearings, the Department of Homeland Security ordered her deportation.

Elizabeth Keathley’s case went from Chicago Immigration Court all the way to the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

This play – created from verbatim transcripts – is an uncanny examination of the U.S. immigration system and one woman at its mercy.

Press Reviews

"This is theatre as civic meditation… The Courtroom enlists the spectators as witnesses, exhorting the Americans in the room to consider what our nation is doing in our name and how, if we oppose that, we intend to stop it. As the piece follows her from one courtroom to another what is most palpable is the suspense – how deeply invested the audience becomes in the future of this gentle woman."
— The New York Times

"Coldly officious and powerfully unnerving... Performed with the lights up and with minimal effects, Courtroom ends on an unexpected up note where we all get a reminder of the awesome privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. It’s enough to make you raise a right hand."
— The Star Tribune

"I urge everyone to avail themselves of this unique theater experience. This is theater with a social conscience brought down to the most human level possible."
— The Stages of MN

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
ELIZABETH KEATHLEY Immigrant from the Philippines, married to John Keathley	—	—	Immigrant from the Philippines, married to John Keathley
JOHN KEATHLEY U.S. Citizen, married to Elizabeth Keathley	—	—	U.S. Citizen, married to Elizabeth Keathley
RICHARD HANUS Lawyer for Elizabeth Keathley	—	—	Lawyer for Elizabeth Keathley
GREGORY GUCKENBERGER Lawyer, Department of Homeland Security in Immigration Court	—	—	Lawyer, Department of Homeland Security in Immigration Court
IMMIGRATION JUDGE CRAIG ZERBE Chicago Immigration Court	—	—	Chicago Immigration Court
CHIEF JUDGE FRANK H. EASTERBROOK U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit	—	—	U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
JUDGE MICHAEL STEPHEN KANNE U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit	—	—	U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
JUDGE KENNETH RIPPLE U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit	—	—	U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
MARGARET O’DONNELL Lawyer, Department of Justice	—	—	Lawyer, Department of Justice
BAILIFF Can be doubled with Guckenberger	—	—	Can be doubled with Guckenberger
CLERK (optional)	—	—	(optional)
NOTES ON CASTING The character of Elizabeth Keathley must be played by an Asian or Asian-American actress. We found it very important to specifically cast an actress who is Filipino, and encourage productions to do so whenever possible. In performance, Elizabeth Keathley must speak with a thick Filipino accent.	female	—	The character of Elizabeth Keathley must be played by an Asian or Asian-American actress. We found it very important to specifically cast an actress who is Filipino, and encourage productions to do so whenever possible. In performance, Elizabeth Keathley must speak with a thick Filipino accent.