Jose Antonio Vargas takes audiences deeper into his story, sharing details of his journey to America from the Philippines as a child; his journey through America as an immigration reform activist; and his journey inward as he re-connects with his mother, whom he hadn't seen in person in over 20 years. With anecdotes from both his own story and the struggles of countless other undocumented immigrants in America, Vargas poignantly explores one of the most divisive questions facing our country today: how do you define “American”?

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, theatrical producer, and the host of theDefine American podcast. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the non-profit media and culture organization Define American, named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. He co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed play What the Constitution Means to Me, which opened on Broadway in spring 2019 and became the first known undocumented lead producer on Broadway. In July 2023, he premiered Here Lies Love, a Broadway show highlighting the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos, while being the first show to have a fully Filipino cast. The production transforms the theatre into a nightclub where the audience is literally immersed in the story, witnessing history up close.