We are excited to invite you to a special evening at the Swedish American Museum with music by teachers and students from Svartedalsskolan, located outside of Gothenburg, Sweden. The students will perform traditional Swedish spring songs. There will also be a brief presentation about a new musical “The Dream of a Better Life” by Roger Bodin, director of Emigranternas Hus (the House of Emigrants) in Gothenburg, followed by a performance of selections from the musical. A dinner of pizza and salad will be served. Cost to attend includes dinner and is $10 per person. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online, in person at the Museum, or by calling 773.728.8111.

About the musical:
“The Dream of a Better Life” is about a couple who emigrated in 1927 by boat from Gothenburg to New York and came to Chicago. It’s about their love, yearning for a better life “over there,” the difficult farewell, meeting all the new people upon arrival and creating their new life all while dealing with the mixed emotions that come when you leave your home country for another. Musically, it’s Swedish folk music meets American jazz and blues. It was created by the Emigrants’ House in Gothenburg, the group Wavemakers and the Charles Unger Experience. The musical will be performed when Gothenburg celebrates 400 years in 2021. This is will be the first time portions of the musical will be performed in the United States.

This event is cohosted with the Gothenburg Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.