A new theatrical production titled "Our Lady of San Diego Convention Center" is beginning a 12-venue tour across San Diego. Written by Mario Vega and directed by Patrice Ammann,the play dramatizes the experiences of unaccompanied migrant children who were housed at the convention center during the spring of 2021.
Mario Vega’s transition from UCLA student to playwright
Mario Vega developed the script for this production as a graduate thesis project during his studies at UCLA. The playwright's perspective is deelpy rooted in his direct professional experience as a youth care worker at the San Diego Convention Center in March 2021. According to the report, Vega—who is Korean-speaking but not a native Spanish speaker—worked closely with a majority of Spanish-speaking children to help them process the trauma of being separated from their families.
The project evolved through several developmental stages before reaching its current touring form. As the source notes, the play underwent early workshops, including a collaboration with the Old Globe Theater's 360 Project and a session at the Latinx New Play Festival. These sessions were instrumental in refining the narrative voice and deepening the character development that now forms the core of the production.
The spring 2021 transformation of the San Diego Convention Center
The San Diego Convention Center served as a critical, albeit temporary,housing site for hundreds of unaccompanied minors during the spring of 2021. These children had been displaced from detention centers in Texas and were awaiting reunification with supporters in the United States. The play aims to capture the "tense environment of uncertainty and hope" that defined life within the convention hall during that period.
This historical moment serves as the backdrop for a story about the intersection of human resilience and bureaucratic systems. The production, directed by Patrice Ammann of Toyo Theatre, seeks to use the stage to bring these specific,localized experiences into the broader public consciousness, highlighting how a community can act as a bridge during times of national division.
The emotional arcs of Fatima and Lourdes
The narrative centers on four specific protagonists, including two migrant girls named Fatima and Lourdes. The play depicts a stark contrast in their psychological journeys: while Fatima begins the story with hope, she gradually loses faith as the complexities of the asylum process unfold. In contrast, the character of Lourdes evolves from a reserved individual into a steady source of support for her sister .
The drama also focuses on the two youth care workers who formed deep bonds with the children through shared hardship. These characters illustrate the compassion required to navigate a system that can be both supportive and overwhelming. By focusing on these specific relationships, the play attempts to give recognition to both the children and the workers who supported them during the 2021 crisis.
The unverified fates of the children after the 2021 shelter period
While the play provides a window into the emotional lives of those in the shelter, several specific details regarding the real-world individuals remain unverified. The source does not clarify whether the characters Fatima and Lourdes are based on specific, identifiable people or if they are compostie characters created for the narrative. Furthermore, the report does not provide information on the long-term legal or personal outcomes for the children who were housed in the San Diego Convention Center during that time.
There is also a lack of specificity regarding the exact NGOs and arts groups involved in the community discussions affiliated with the Mandates for the Mandates project. While the play is presented as a platform for activism, the specific connections between the production and the ongoing work of these disenfranchised groups are not detailed in the current reporting.
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