Miss You Like Hell

Contemporary folk-rock musical Miss You Like Hell premiered in San Diego one week before the 2016 presidential election. Now, just a few days before the 2020 election, American University is bringing the story from Quiara Alegría Hudes and Erin McKeown to life again. Miss You Like Hell tells the story of teenager Olivia and her estranged mother, Beatriz, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. The two explore their relationship through a road trip that highlights the ramifications of immigration policy in the U.S., among other things. With great determination, the American University student cast, led by director Tara Giordano, began to innovate for theater in a pandemic-stricken world. Microphones were mailed across the country. Rehearsals began in the summer months. Cast members recorded scenes from Miami, Philadelphia, D.C., and New Orleans. Other students developed the recording process and edited everything together for opening night. The finished product, a fully virtual performance of Miss You Like Hell, is a theater-film hybrid that promises to weave each cast member’s devotion into a powerful and timely story. The performance will stream at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 30. Tickets are available at auartstix.universitytickets.com. $5.