Common Thread Theatre Collective Presents “How to Make an American Son”

DAVIDSON, N.C. (July 10, 2023) – The Common Thread Theatre Collective, a joint venture between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Davidson College, will present “How to Make an American Son,” a new play by Christopher Oscar Peña and directed by Holly Nañes. The hard-hitting drama explores what happens when the American Dream collides with the reality of immigration and family. Performances will begin Friday, July 14, at Barber Theatre on Davidson College’s campus.

Honduran-born Mando built a successful cleaning business and has the means to pay for his 16-year-old son Orlando’s lavish high school lifestyle. Orlando, who is impetuous, restless and smart, is openly gay and has the great fortune of having two parents who accept him fully. He is happily enjoying the fruits of his father’s labor, but embarrassed by his accent and his line of work. Mando is guilty of enabling Orlando’s entitlement, though it’s hard to fault him for sparing his son any semblance of hardship, which he knows all too well.

But when Orlando finds himself responsible for the fate of a treasured worker and the future of his father’s business, the two must face tough truths about the business, citizenship, their family, and, most importantly, how to keep their dreams alive in a society that keeps them struggling to belong.

Production Dates and Times

Friday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m.

Location

Barber Theatre, Davidson College campus

310 N. Main St.

Davidson, N.C.

Ticket information

Adults – $28

Seniors – $23

Students – $15

Faculty and staff – $23

Tickets can be purchased here.

Expanding on the success of Common Thread Theatre Collective’s nationally recognized inaugural season, this season is made possible by generous funding from the Bacca Visiting Scholar and Artist Program, the Clark Ross Academic Innovation Fund, North Carolina A&T’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and its Division of Student Affairs, the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Learn more by visiting the website or by emailing Karli Henderson at kahenderson@davidson.edu.