Hold These Truths

Written by Jeanne Sakata Performed by Makoto Hirano Directed by Daniel Student Hold These Truths tells a story, buried by history, of one American’s attempt to reconcile his love for a country that labeled him a second class citizen. Gordon Hirabayashi’s real-life 50-year journey brings us the astonishing facts of Japanese Internment, the US government’s orders to forcibly remove and mass incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast, through the eyes of a Quaker college student who was simply looking for love and the American Dream. When confronted with the ultimate challenge to his freedom, Gordon embarks on a truly profound and brave defense of our Constitution, taking him on a wild adventure of discovering his Quaker faith, hitchhiking to prison, and ultimately, challenging the law in the highest court in the land… twice. Philadelphia actor Makoto Hirano gives voice to over thirty characters in this one-man tour-de-force regional premiere, which celebrates the triumph of the power one person has to change a nation. For more info, click here: http://www.holdthesetruths.info/Site/Welcome.html or here: http://www.playsandplayers.org/hold-these-truths/ The Philadelphia premiere of Hold These Truths is Barrymore eligible and runs 90 minutes long. Honorary Producer: Louis Bluver