The University of Northern Iowa Interpreters Theatre is giving interested participants the unique opportunity to experience life as a migrant worker through the upcoming production of “Journey Through the Night,” conceived and directed by Angela Glunz, a communication studies graduate student.

The production is an interactive simulation where participants will experience the life of a migrant worker attempting to cross the U.S. border from Central America. Thousands of undocumented workers make this trek every year in the hope of finding the “American Dream.” Now it’s the audience member’s turn to take on the role of a migrant worker who will face several obstacles and setbacks that mirror the reality of actual workers.

“‘Journey Through the Night’ is a simulation where the audience is an active participant in the production,” said Karen Mitchell, artistic director of the Interpreters Theatre.

An interactive simulation creates a situation for people to actively experience what people go through in real life.

This particular simulation in “Journey Through the Night” creates a number of experiences for the audience. As audience members take on the role of someone trying to migrate to the United States, they will have to ride on top of a “train,” dodge gang members and border patrol agents, and try to cross a “river” with the help of smugglers. No worries if you don’t have any past performance or simulation experience.

“(The audience) just needs to be ready to experience the journey,” Glunz said.

So what inspired Glunz to come up with such an interesting simulation?

“Last semester I took a Performance and Social Change class with Karen Mitchell. We devoted the semester to the topic of immigration. We collaborated with Jennifer Cooley’s (Re)presenting (Im)migration Spanish class and created immigration simulations,” she said.

Glunz explained how these simulations deeply affected her.

“Not only did I learn about a reality that I did not know existed, I learned so much about myself during those simulations which made me have to step back and evaluate who I am and how I treat others,” she said.

“Journey Through the Night” is Glunz’s graduate project. This project is one that Karen Mitchell is especially excited to see.

“I’m eager to know how it will work and what kind of impact it will have on the audience,” she said. “I’m really excited about it and it’s especially exciting for Angela because this is a really unique project for her graduate studies.”

“Journey Through the Night” is free and open to the public. The event is being held Nov. 9-12 at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Interpreters Theatre in Lang Hall, Room 040. This production will contain extremely strong language, violent themes and situations. It is recommended for mature audiences only.