Chasing a dream

Tony Valdovinos’ life story will become a musical at The Phoenix Theatre Company this month
By Mandy Holmes / Photos by Claudia Johnstone

On Jan 29, the curtains will open and the stage lights will go up as Phoenix Theatre Company presents Americano!, a musical inspired by Tony Valdovinos’ life.

Valdovinos’ parents brought him to the United States from Mexico at just 2 years old. As a child, he witnessed 9/11 and vowed to become a Marine so that he could fight for and defend America.

On his 18th birthday, the Camelback High School graduate stepped in to the Marines recruiting office only to learn that he was not a citizen of the country and therefore couldn’t join the Marines. That was when Valdovinos found out he was one of many DREAMers, or undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, living with this reality.

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