Plays, poetry, food, comedy at Seattle’s June Pagdiriwang fest

By WALTER ANG
May 31, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12624/plays-poetry-food-comedy-seattles-june-pagdiriwang-fest

SEATTLE — In addition to food, children's games, martial arts, music, and dance performances, there will be theater and poetry at this year's Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival.

Mara Elissa Palma will perform at this year's Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival.

On the first of the two-day festival, there will be staged readings of Robert Francis Flor's play "The FAYTS (Filipino American Young Turks)" and Filipino playwright Juan Miguel Severo's comedy "Hintayan ng Langit" ("Heaven's Waiting Room").

There will also be a performance by Mara Elissa Palma of her one-person show "The F Word: Filipinx."

Filipino American poets will conduct a literary reading of their works during "Ang Aming Mga Boses" ("Our Voices").

For PH Independence

The Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival is organized annually by Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington to commemorate the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence. It has been held at the Seattle Center since 1987.

The festival aims to be an "ideal setting for presenting art, craft, song, dance, music, history, literature, and culture to promote better understanding of the Filipino cultural heritage."

Exhibits include booths featuring ethnic and native Philippine fabrics, outfits and wares; tribal tattoos; baybayin (the Philippines' pre-colonial writing system); Filipino American history by the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS); and film and photography.

There will also be a blood donation drive and health fair.

Political monsters

"'The FAYTS' explores the ambitions of a group of young, Seattle-area Filipinos, seeking to empower and raise the stature of Filipino Americans through the political process in the early 1970s," says playwright Robert Francis Flor, whose recent credits include "Mabuhay Majesty" last year.

In the play, community activist Ben Adama runs for public office, backed by a group of loyal friends known as the Filipino American Young Turks, as he deals with ostensibly well-meaning supporters Sitan Helel, Aswang Iblis and Mara Hukluban.

"The play was inspired by an actual political campaign," says Flors. "It explores questions of good and evil, loyalty and the price of ambition though mythology and folklore, primarily Filipino in origin. Characters shape-shift between the real and mythic worlds, pitting personal ambition and power against ideals, trust, friends and family."

"Some characters, such as aswangs, duwendes are drawn from Filipino beliefs. I did not restrict myself to the Philippines and drew on other icons and images of other cultures. These are, for example, experienced in the form of devils who exist in most religions."

Comedy and identity

"Hintayan ng Langit" reunites Lisa and Manolo, former lovers who've not seen and heard from each other in years, in an otherworldly location. The staged reading will feature Nina Ignacio, Roger Rigor and Eloisa Cardona, directed by Lorna Velasco.

"Hintayan" had a staged reading in Seattle earlier this year and was previously staged in San Francisco by Bindlestiff Studio in 2016.

"The F Word: Filipinx" is actor Mara Elissa Palma's second in a series of solo performances that she initiated last year. The first installment was "The F Word: Family," where she tackled her relationships with her kin.

"This show is about my exploration of my own Filipino-American identity, particularly after I left my family and moved to Seattle," she says.

Poetry

Pinoy Words Expressed Kultura Arts (where Flor is co-chair) is one of the co-sponsors of "Ang Aming Mga Boses."

Poets who will perform include Barbara Jane Reyes, Emily Lawsin, Jeric Smith and Sam Roderick Roxas-Chua.

The poetry reading has received support from the United Filipino Club of Seattle University as well as funding from 4Culture, a cultural funding agency that serves King County, Washington.

Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival is part of Seattle Center Festal, a series of cultural programs sponsored by the City of Seattle.

Theater and poetry performances of Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival 2018 will be on June 2 at Armory Loft 1B, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. Visit Festalpagdiriwang.com.

READ about Robert Francis Flor's "Mabuhay Majesty" here.

READ about the 2016 staging of "Hintayan ng Langit" in San Francisco here.

READ about Mara Elissa Palma's previous theater work here.

Roger Mason writes a whole new 'Peter Pan' musical

By WALTER ANG
May 26, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12533/fil-roger-mason-writes-whole-new-peter-pan-musical

ATLANTA — A new musical version of "Peter Pan," written by Filipino American Roger Mason, will open on May 31 at Mado Hideaway in the Serenbe district.

From left: Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and Peter Pan in a new outdoor-theater
musical version of "Peter Pan" written by Roger Mason to be staged by Serenbe Playhouse.
Photo by Breeanne Clowdus.

To be staged by Serenbe Playhouse, the musical will run until August.

Serenbe Playhouse stages all of its productions outdoors. Its 2016 staging of "Miss Saigon" featured a real working helicopter that landed and took off in every show. The cast included Fil-Am actors Niki Badua and Eymard Cabling as Kim and the Engineer, respectively.

Based on the characters and works created by JM Barrie, Mason's version of "Peter Pan" will provide theatergoers a slightly different take on the well-known story of the boy from Neverland "who wouldn't grow up."

"In this piece, which is outside the Peter and Wendy tale that everyone knows, Peter is separated from his Lost Boys by a spell which renders him alone," says Mason.

"He must learn to become an empathetic community leader rather than a dogmatic dictator of their experiences."

Collaboration

Mason became involved with the production upon the invitation of the musical's director Michael Alvarez.

Roger Mason.

Based in Los Angeles, Mason has been working remotely with the musical's lyricist and composer Ella Grace, who is based in Scotland.

Mason was born in Santa Monica, California to a father who is black and Irish and a mother who is Filipino.

An affinity for words and storytelling was nurtured in him from a young age by his paternal grandmother. "She encouraged me to memorize and recite poetry by famous American writers. I'd give little recitals for my family in our kitchen. Embodying language through performance became a powerful and transformative tool of self-expression."

By grade school, Mason was competing in poetry and speech competitions (often winning), performing in plays and musicals, dancing and studying classical piano.

It's no surprise then that he started writing plays in college. "I was 21 when I officially wrote my first play. The piece was inspired by some gender-policing and sexuality-shaming experiences I'd had as a non-heteronormative child.

"To this day, I still explore the lives of characters who live outside of societal norms and carve cultural space for themselves in a world that's not always ready for their presence."

History and fantasias

Mason went on to complete a master's degree in writing for screen and stage from Northwestern University.

His recent plays include "The White Dress," about how Jonathan likes to wear dresses and kiss girls, and "The Wind People," about a white grandmother and her mixed-heritage grandson.

His earlier plays such as "Onion Creek" and "Orange Woman, A Ballad for a Moor," are self-proclaimed historical fantasias.

"A lot of my early works were inspired by history because there's so much to be learned from the past, particularly how we regard people who are different from ourselves.

"I was curious about what I call 'forgotten moments in remembered times'-stories from history that the status quo had silenced or set aside, figures who were shunned for being contrary to the norm."

Through his works, he aims to challenge audiences to think about the prejudices and preconceptions they may "hold as empirical truth" and hopes that they gain "a fuller, deeper understanding of their past and present realities."

New worlds

For his current endeavor, Mason studied JM Barrie's original works.

"First the play and then the novel. Barrie was fascinated by Peter Pan and the mythology he created around this boy who would never grow up. He revisited it through various forms, e.g. the book, the play, etc., throughout his lifetime," explains Mason.

He purposefully did not watch other adaptations of "Peter Pan." Recent adaptations and variations of which include the Disney animated Tinker Bell videos; the films "Pan" starring Hugh Jackman and "Hook" starring Robin Williams; as well as the play "Peter and the Starcatcher."

"I knew I was creating a tale involving Peter that was wholly of my and my collaborators' design. We used the spirit of Barrie's texts to inform our decisions so we would be true to the source material.

"However, we made up our own myth. That's the beauty of what we do in the theater: we have the power to build new worlds if the old ones don't suit our needs."

"Peter Pan" runs May 31-Aug 26 at Mado Hideaway at Serenbe, Palmetto, Georgia. Visit Serenbeplayhouse.com.

Fil-Am Nathan Ramos’ prize-winning dramedy on millennials of color opens in LA

By WALTER ANG
May 24, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12436/fil-ams-prize-winning-dramedy-millennials-color-open-la

LOS ANGELES — Nathan Ramos' dramedy about the struggles of millennials of color, "As We Babble On," will have its world premiere by East West Players (EWP).

Playwright Nathan Ramos.
Photo by Sthanlee Mirador.

The play won first place in EWP's "2042: See Change" national playwriting competition in 2015.

Other Filipino Americans involved in the production include director Alison De La Cruz and actress Jiavani Linayao.

In the play, awkward graphic novelist Benji's career is stalling while those of his half-sister Laura and their friend Sheila (played by Linayao) are blossoming. They all soon grapple with the moral implications of their actions.

The play "explores the pursuit of success and its costs-and whether boxed wine and soda is an appropriate sangria recipe after the age of 24."

"It is sharp, funny, and asks thought-provoking questions about identity, artistry, and culture in our current economic climate," says EWP artistic director Snehal Desai.

"It's a world premiere of a bold, new voice that explores all facets of identity, from race, sexual orientation to class. It stood out as the winner of our playwriting competition."

All Asian characters

The "2042: See Change" playwriting competition formed part of EWP's ongoing efforts to build support mechanisms for equity, diversity and inclusion in American theater in preparation for 2042. That's the year, according to the US Census, when people of color are projected to become the majority of the population.

From left: Actors Sachin Bhatt, Jaime Schwarz and Will Choi,
who are in the cast of "As We Babble On,"
with Nathan Ramos and the dramedy's director Alison De La Cruz
during EWP's 2018 Visionary Award ceremony.
Photo by Sthanlee Mirador.

Since winning the competition, "As We Babble On" has gone through a developmental workshop at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and staged readings in Los Angeles by Artists at Play (with dramaturgy by Fil-Am playwright Michael Golamco) and at the Renberg Theatre through the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

"The play has really had quite a transformation since its first inception," says Ramos. "It now features an all-Asian cast, looking at the full diaspora of Asian peoples-Asian, South Asian, and hapa, in this case, half white, half black."

"Sitting in the East West Players house and seeing all the stories and voices that came before me, I really wanted to nurture the play into speaking what it meant to be an Asian American millennial. I really am excited to see that reflected on stage."

Unlocking inspiration

Ramos was born in Cleveland, Ohio to a Korean mother and a Filipino father.

He had studied acting at Ohio University and has performed in New York and regionally. His frustrations with limited and inconsequential or negative-stereotype acting roles-in addition to the many other issues that life throws in one's way-spurred him to write "As We Babble On."

At auditions or casting calls, he would receive inane comments like "You're too Asian" or "You're not Asian enough," which began to affect his self-worth.

He then recalled Filipino Canadian musician and composer Romeo Candido's advice to him to not wait around for somone else to write the roles he wanted. Ramos had been an actor in Candido's musical "Prison Dancer" (inspired by the viral videos of the dancing inmates of a maximum-security prison in Cebu) which ran in New York in 2012.

So then, Ramos channeled his angst into crafting the play.

Learning from each other

Interestingly enough, writing the play and winning EWP's competition created a shift in Ramos' artistic trajectory. New opportunities soon came to him and he now also writes for the video (television and online) and film industries, including as a script doctor for Hollywood films that he cannot divulge the titles of.

Filipino American Jiavani Linayao is in the cast of "As We Babble On."

He was most recently head writer, music director and a creative producer for the first season of Disney's "Club Mickey Mouse" and its 2017 holiday special episode. "It's a reboot of the `Mickey Mouse Club.' It actually has many Filipino American Mouseketeers," he says. (Namely Jenna Alvarez, Gabe de Guzman, and Leanne Tessa Langston.)

For now, he is relishing his time working with the team of "As We Babble On" to bring his story to life on the stage.

He appreciates the diversity of the cast's individual backgrounds and experiences. "Comedians, improvisers, TV and film actors, and stage actors all coming together and learning from each other's processes."

"It's been really great. Sitting in with actors speaking the words I have written has really been a special experience."

"As We Babble On" closes EWP's 52nd season and is presented in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center and with support from the S. Mark Taper Foundation.

"As We Babble On," previews begin May 31, runs June 6-24 at David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles. Visit Eastwestplayers.org.

Broadway Barkada to hold concert in Los Angeles, May 28

By WALTER ANG
May 19, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12344/broadway-barkada-hold-concert-los-angeles-may-28

LOS ANGELES — Performance and artist-support group Broadway Barkada will stage "Balikbayan: An LA Homecoming Concert" on May 28 at Rockwell Table and Stage.

From left: Liz Casasola, Broadway Barkada (BB) cofounder and the concert's director;
Billy Busamante, BB cofounder and cast member of "Soft Power;"
Jaygee Macapugay, BB member and cast member of "Soft Power."

The show will feature Filipino American cast members of the musical "Soft Power" as well as other Broadway Barkada (BB) members who have performed on Broadway and Off-Broadway.

"The show will feature a mix of musical theater, pop, R&B, soul, jazz and boogie-woogie," says director Liz Casasola. Musical direction and arrangements will be by Mark Abulencia.

Part of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project.

Line up

BB members in the cast of "Soft Power" (starring Conrad Ricamora and currently playing at Ahmanson Theater) confirmed to join the concert include Billy Bustamante, Jaygee Macapugay, Maria Christina Oliveras and Geena Quintos.

According to Casasola, also performing in the concert are BB members who are based in Los Angeles, such as Melody Butiu, Chris Chatman, Debralee Daco, Deedee Magno Hall, Anthea Neri, Isabelle Van Vleet and Allen Lucky Weaver.

"Many of these artists who worked in New York have moved to Los Angeles for various reasons, such as pursuing television, film or music work or to raise families," she says.

These artists' geographic trajectories are part of reason why the concert is titled "Balikbayan"-to celebrate a homecoming and reunion of these colleagues and barkada-mates.

Other performers joining the concert include Emily Borromeo, Bryan Geli, Joanne Javien, Glen Llanes, Anthea Neri, Jennifer Paz, and Nicole Santiago.

Community

For Casasola, there's a personal connection to the concert title. "Los Angeles is my hometown! It's also my homecoming," she says.

BB cofounder Billy Bustamante (left) moderating post-show talkback session
with Lea Salonga during Pinoy Night at "Once on This Island."

Aside from working as an actor in New York (including Jessica Hagedorn's "Dogeaters" at The Public Theater), she has also coproduced concerts that topbilled the likes of Lea Salonga.

She cofounded Broadway Barkada with actors Billy Bustamante and Brian Jose in 2009.

All three were in the cast of Pan Asian Repertory Theater's staging of "Imelda: A New Musical." Two typhoons adversely affected several areas in the Philippines that year and the trio gathered the show's all-Filipino American cast to perform in a benefit concert to raise funds to send back to the survivors.

The group has since continued to grow and has become a collective of professional artists whose mission is "to provide a community for the Filipino artist, that cultivates our talents, educates our audiences, and elevates our global impact."

Filipino Veterans and Education Project aims to obtain national recognition and raise awareness of Filipino and Filipino-American World War II soldiers through academic research and public information.

Other events

In February, Broadway Barkada hosted a "Pinoy Night" at one of the performances of the Broadway musical "Once on This Island," which includes Lea Salonga in the cast. The group facilitated a post-show talkback session with Salonga moderated by Bustamante.

From left: BB members JP Moraga, Allen Lucky Weaver and Jon Viktor Corpuz
were part of the cast of the staged reading of Boni Alvarez's play "Fixed."

Last month, BB members JP Moraga, Allen Lucky Weaver and Jon Viktor Corpuz were part of the cast of a staged reading of Fil-Am playwright Boni Alvarez's "Fixed" at New Dramatists, a developmental laboratory for professional playwrights, in New York.

Alvarez was named as one of New Dramatists' eight new resident playwrights last year. He was chosen out of 415 applicants by a seven-person committee (composed of New Dramatists residents, alumni, and outside theater professionals) in a nine-month evaluation process.

The reading of Alvarez's play kicked off his residency, which will last until 2024. His play "Fixed" was most recently staged by Echo Theater Company in Los Angeles last year, directed by Rodney To.

An adaptation of Spanish writer Pedro Calderon's "The Physician of His Own Honor," the play is about the love between Miracles Malacañang, a Filipino ladyboy masseuse, and Mariano Fernandez.

Upcoming

Back in New York, Broadway Barkada will perform at "Time Is Now," a networking and mentoring event featuring Filipino industry leaders, at the Harvard Club of New York in June.

The group will also hold its annual "Lumipad Dance Concert" at Alvin Ailey Theater later in the year.

"Balikbayan: An LA Homecoming Concert" is on May 28 at Rockwell Table and Stage, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets at BarkadaLA.eventbrite.com.

READ about the Filipino American cast of "Soft Power" here.

READ about the 2017 Los Angeles staging of Boni Alvarez's "Fixed" here.

Filipino American Tasi Alabastro named 'Emerging Artist Laureate' in Silicon Valley

By WALTER ANG
May 17, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12301/fil-named-emerging-artist-laureate-silicon-valley

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American theater artist Tasi Alabastro has been named Silicon Valley Creates' Emerging Artist Laureate for 2018.

Tasi Alabastro has been named Silicon Valley Creates'
2018 Emerging Artist Laureate

Silicon Valley Creates (SVCreates), an arts-support organization, will hold an award ceremony for Alabastro and its other laureates on June 21 at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose, California.

SVCreates' SVArts Awards, which has been given out since 1991, recognizes "exceptional achievement in the arts and contributions to the cultural life of Silicon Valley." Recipients receive cash awards to celebrate and encourage their artistic work.

The program will be emceed by Filipino American Michael Isip, executive vice president and chief operating officer of news and media organization KQED.

In its Facebook account, SVCreates posted, "Congratulations, Tasi Alabastro! [He] will be honored . for his work and his commitment to enriching our community through the arts. Tasi is an actor, online content creator and photographer whose work focuses on reflecting his community and culture."

Previous Fil-Am SVCreates Emerging Artist Laureates include Jeffrey Lo for theater in 2012 and Robertino Ragazza for photography in 2013.

Relief and elation

Alabastro was in the middle of doing a livestream video broadcast when he received the phone call to inform him of his award.

Since he was unable to answer his phone, he glanced at the email alert instead. "My heart flew! It was a mixture of relief, elation, and welling pride," he says.

Relief because he almost did not apply for consideration.

On the last day of the application period, he had been through an exhausting week and had limited internet access. "All of [those memories] came rushing back to me and I thought, 'Thank goodness I finished my application!'"

Milestone

"One of the rad aspects of what SVCreates has developed through this laureate is the sense that you've got a milestone to clock," he says.

He contrasts the career of an artist to that of, say, an office-based professional. "Oftentimes, as an artist, you aren't moved through your career the way it would be in many positions in a company, i.e. promotion to manager, CEO, etc."

"One of the things I share with artists who are just starting out is to learn to identify what you think your milestones are. If you can't look back and see how much you've been growing, you'll have a challenging time navigating what's ahead."

Heartbreak

It was heartbreak that brought Alabastro into theater work.

Born and raised in American Samoa ("I'm quite fond of where I grew up!"), he moved to San Francisco after from graduating high school to pursue a degree in microbiology.

A failed relationship prompted a respite in Hawaii. "It was there that I decided to take an acting class and the rest, as they say, is history."

Alabastro (left) and Katie O'Bryon Champlin
are in the cast of "Three Days of Rain."
Photo by James Kasyan

It's fortunate for SF Bay Area theatergoers that Alabastro returned and has since established a profession on the stage and in film.

He's worked with theater groups such as Bindlestiff Studio, 06 Ensemble, Santa Clara Players, and City Lights Theatre Company, among others.

He also works with inmates in state prisons as part of Arts-in-Corrections, a program that re-engage participants with their creativity and imagination.

Upcoming

Alabastro is currently rehearsing for Dragon Theatre's staging of Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain."

He will play a prodigal son who returns home to join his sibling to discuss their late father's will. Both soon discover a series of family secrets.

"I remember the day I finished reading the script. I thought, 'Damn, that's one hell of a story.' It took me another read-through to finally digest some of the more complex ideas and themes. The writing is so rich and there's so much for an actor to wrangle and play with."

"Dragon Theatre is a place I've worked in several times in as an actor and a few other times as a graphic designer."

He previously played lead character Orestes in the group's production of a modernized take of the Greek tragedy "The Libation Bearers" and was part of the cast of mystery thriller "The Woman in Black."

"I'm excited to help bring this story to life with director Meredith Hagedorn and this team. This play is Meredith's swan song. It's her last play before she retires as the artistic director."

"Rehearsals have been an immensely engaging experience. Some of my initial reactions have persisted through rehearsal, the sense of wonderment at the script and how much there is to comb through, the elation that I'm being challenged as an actor, and the determination to make sure I help tell the story to its fullest potential."

"Three Days of Rain" runs May 25-June 17 at Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway, Redwood City. Visit Dragonproductions.net.

Alan Asuncion celebrates 10th year of stomping around

By WALTER ANG
May 11, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12169/alan-asuncion-celebrates-10th-year-stomping-around

NEW YORK — It's a profession that requires banging around with broomsticks, hub caps, trash cans, lighters, and other objects that may occasionally be considered trash. There's also a lot of heavy stomping in boots.

Alan Asuncion has been with "STOMP" for more than 10 years.

But you can't just do it however you like, you have to be in sync with a group of other people. And you have to produce rhythm and music. And you do it in front of hundreds of theatergoers.

Seen another way, you're part of an orchestra that plays unconventional musical instruments, but you also have to dance and act (and be funny).

Alan Asuncion has been in a job like this for more than a decade now, creating performances that are an amalgamation of music, dance, and theater.

He's in the cast of "STOMP" in New York."Celebrating 10 years in any job is a great milestone and achievement!" he says of his 10th anniversary with the show last year.

Still learning

"Getting along with all the people you work with makes the time really fly by," he adds.  "This has always been a dream gig for me," he says of the show created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.

Asuncion also plays piano and drums.

The performers "make a rhythm out of anything we can get our hands on that makes a sound," explains Cresswell. "STOMP" also has ongoing North American and European tours and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year.

Asuncion says it feels "surreal" that he's considered a veteran of the show even though he is "still learning and evolving."

Dream

Asuncion was born in Far Rockaway, Queens-the youngest of five kids. "My mother is from Cadiz and my father is from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental."

He began his music career playing the piano and drums and eventually began teaching lessons on how to play these two instruments.

At 14 years old, he started playing in various bands in the wedding circuit, which allowed him to perform with many Broadway and notable jazz artists. Prior to joining "STOMP," he had been in the cast of the aerial show "De La Guarda."

Learning

"Most of the rhythms and music of the show were fairly easy for me to learn, coming from a music and drumming background."

One of the characters Alan Asuncion plays in "STOMP" is "Mozzie."
Photo by Steve McNicholas

Though photographs of Asuncion in performance may not seem like it (usually with him flying in the air), what proved a little more difficult for him in the beginning was the physical demands of the show.

"Getting used to the movement and physicality of the prop, or making it look easy, was always the most awkward for me. Plus, I'm not a dancer, so my movement skills were lame."

"The most challenging prop to learn for me were the poles. It wasn't necessarily because of the physicality of the prop, but because the music and choreography for the poles are probably the most dynamically and rhythmically complex pieces in the show."

It would seem Asuncion has learned a thing or two. After all, one of the characters he's been assigned to play is Mozzie, who is described as "acrobatic.

Routine

Ten years in, he has developed a pre-show routine.

"About an hour and a half before the show, we have a rehearsal and a 20-minute body warm-up."  Afterwards, there is a block of time allotted for the cast to mentally prepare for the show.

Asuncion in a scene from "STOMP," a show that produces
"rhythm out of anything . that makes a sound."

"That's when I usually go out to get an espresso. I go when I don't even need it. Just to go out and be outside for a little bit.That, and I play `Words with Friends.'"

Since Asuncion makes music daily for theatergoers, what kinds of music does he himself listen to? "I haven't really purchased any music recently, but while driving or cooking, I have a few Pandora rock and jazz stations that I have my phases with.

He listens to artists or groups such as John Mayer, The Police, Snarky Puppy, Robert Glasper, Haitus Kayote, Esperanza Spalding, Knower, Mister Barrington, Edit Bunker. "Too many!" he says.

"I've also been listening to drumming and comedian podcasts. I'm a big fan of stand-up comedy. Guys like Joe Rogan, Bill Burr, Modern Drummer, Drummer's Resource, etc."

"STOMP" plays Tuesdays to Sundays at Orpheum Theatre, 126 2nd Ave., New York. Visit Stomponline.com.

Filipino Americans win at 42nd SF Bay Area Critics Circle Awards

By WALTER ANG
May 8, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12109/fil-ams-in-sf-bay-area-critics-circle-awards

SAN FRANCISCO — Rinabeth Apostol and Tiffany Villarin both won Best Actress in a Play—for playing twins—at the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle's 42nd Annual Excellence in Theatre Awards.

Villarin (left) and Apostol (far right) played twins in "peerless."
Photo by Kevin Berne

Robert Brill won Best Set Design for his work on Berkeley Repertory Theatre's production of the musical "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations."

The awards-for productions staged in 2017-were announced and presented to the recipients at the Victoria Theatre.

Brill won for his work in the Best Set Design-in a House with more than 300 Seats category. Written by Dominique Morisseau, "Ain't Too Proud" was staged August to November last year, directed by Des McAnuff.

Twins

Apostol and Villarin were nomiated as a duo and won for their roles as twins L and M, respectively, in Marin Theatre Company's staging of "peerless," in the Best Actress in a Play-in a House with 100 to 300 Seats category.

Staged in March of 2017, Jiehae Park's dark comedy was directed by Margot Bordelon.

WATCH: Trailer of Marin Theatre Company's "peerless"

Loosely based on Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the sisters delve into diabolical means when one of them loses a slot to a prestigious university.

Recent credits

Apostol's credits include Jessica Hagedorn's "Dogeaters" staged by Magic Theatre in San Francisco in 2016 as well as stints with San Jose Repertory and East West Players, among others.

From left: Tiffany Villarin, Rinabeth Apostol and Robert Brill.

Villarin's credits include Goodman Theatre and Silk Road Rising in Chicago and Ensemble Studio Theatre and Diverse City Theater in New York, among others.

Both actors recently concluded acting stints at Actors Theatre of Louisville's 42nd Humana Festival of New American Plays in Kentucky.

Villarin (left) and Apostol in "peerless."

Apostol was part of the cast of Susan Soon He Stanton's "we, the invisibles" and Villarin was part of the cast of Mara Nelson-Greenberg's "Do You Feel Anger?"

Villarin will be in Ma-yi Theater's production of "Teenage Dick" in New York from June to July. (She was previously in Ma-yi's "House Rules," a comedy about Filipino American familes.)

"Teenage Dick" is Mike Lew's reimagining of Shakespeare's "Richard III" set in a high school. It will be staged at Public Theater. Sound design will be by Fil-Am Fabian Obispo.

Upcoming

Brill has also designed the sets for "Frozen: Live at the Hyperion" at Disney California Adventure Park (where costumes were designed by Tony Award winner Fil-Am Clint Ramos) and the Broadway production "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical."

Robert Brill designed the sets (shown in this screenshot from the trailer)
for Berkeley Repertory Theatre's "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations."

A recipient of the Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration, Brill is a founding member of Sledgehammer Theatre and a professor of scenic design at University of California-San Diego.

"Ain't Too Proud" will be staged in Washington, DC at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from June to July and in Los Angeles at Ahmanson Theater from August to September.

READ about Rinabeth Apostol preparing for her role in Jessica Hagedorn's "Dogeaters" here.

READ about Ma-yi Theater's staging of "House Rules" here.

Play takes a 'StanD' for mental health awareness

By WALTER ANG
May 4, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/12010/play-takes-stand-mental-health-awareness

LOS ANGELES — If Christopher Aguilar can help it, no person with bipolar disorder or any other kind of mental health condition should ever have to be hospitalized due to the severity of their illness.

Scene from a previous performance of "StanD," a play that promotes
awareness of mental health illnesses in the Filipino American community.

One way they are (Aguilar identifies with the they-them-their pronouns) addressing the problem is to raise awareness—of what possible signs and symptoms are, of what life is like for a person with a mental health condition, and of the fact that asking for help should be and is perfectly fine.

Their play, "StanD," and will be staged in May-Mental Health Awareness Month-at two Filipino American organization venues: Filipino American Service Group Inc. Bayanihan Center (May 12) and Pilipino Workers Center (May 19).

The shows are free admission to the public and a post-show discussion about mental illness will follow each performance.

Premise

To be performed by a Filipino American cast, the play is about a Filipino American man living with bipolar disorder.

"This play explores the consequences of adolescent acting-out behaviors, parents' stance on psychiatric medications, the responsibility of taking medications and the repercussions of stopping medications all at once," says Aguilar.

"The plays asks 'What happens when a man has to reconfigure his life after a hospitalization and how does the family learn to adapt to manic-depressive behaviors and recovery?'"

"In the end, we see the possibility of a bipolar lifestyle, the true identity of this man and the effects of what it takes to be completely human."

Breaking stigmas

Born in Newport Beach, California, Aguilar took up a master's in music theater at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Actor, dancer, playwright and mental health advocate Christopher Aguilar.

Recent choreography credits include San Diego Repertory's "Old Boy" and East West Players' "La Cage Aux Folles."

"I wrote 'StanD' to help break the stigma of mental illness," they say.

Aguilar's advocacy is borne out of his personal experiences, having been hospitalized at 16 years old and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"As I grew up, I began to believe that sharing my own experiences living with bipolar disorder can help break the stigma, especially within the Filipino American community."

Aguilar was hospitalized again later on as an adult after an extreme manic episode

"It was then that I wanted to find a way to help others from being hospitalized themselves. That's when I started writing the play."

Positive feedback

Aguilar developed their play at East West Players' David Henry Hwang Writer's Institute.

Developmental versions and excerpts of the play have been staged at high schools and wellness conferences and have received positive feedback.

"There was a Filipino American girl that was warned that she may encounter a few triggers from watching the play and that she was allowed to leave if necessary.

"I am glad she stayed, because she talked during the post-show discussion about how she was hospitalized herself and how this play really helps her feel that she's not alone."

At another previous staging, one audience member started crying during the post-show discussion.

"She didn't realize people like Stan's character existed and that Stan's character [reminded her of someone she knew]. The fact that she was crying, the play seemed to be effective.

"Toward the end of our discussion, a woman pointed out how there is hope revolving around mental health simply because there is a group of Filipinos who has the time and effort to put on a play, simply to help people. That made us feel good."

Seeking advice

Signs and symptoms for mental illnesses vary from individual to individual and from condition to condition.

Aside from approaching medical or health professionals for advice, Aguilar recommends researching information from the websites of National Alliance on Mental Illness (Nami.org/Learn-More/Know-the-Warning-Signs) and Each Mind Matters (Eachmindmatters.org).

Aguilar is certified as a Peer Health Educator from APAIT Special Service Group.  "I have some training on how to conduct discussions revolving around health of any kind, but especially prevention from diseases. I believe my training translates into the mental health sector and I am so honored and glad to be given the opportunity to conduct the 'StanD' discussions."

Aguilar is eager to spread more awareness about mental health through theater and welcomes inquiries from organizations, schools and groups interested in having the play performed at their locations.

"StanD," free admission, runs in Los Angeles on May 12 at Filipino American Service Group Inc. Bayanihan Center, 135 N. Park View St., and on May 19 at Pilipino Workers Center, 153 Glendale Blvd. Contact chrisbelen.aguilar@gmail.com.

MaArte is San Diego’s new Fil-Am theater group

By WALTER ANG
May 3, 2018
USA and Canada Section, Inquirer.net
http://usa.inquirer.net/11978/maarte-san-diegos-new-fil-theater-group

SAN DIEGO — Works by Filipino American playwrights will be featured in MaArte Theatre Collective's "On the Flip Side: A Night of FOB-ulous Theatre" this May.

Founding members of MaArte Theatre Collective.
Top row (from left): Claudette Santiago, Reanne Acasio,
Patrick Mayuyu, and Ciarlene Coleman.
Bottom row (from left):
Shaun Tuazon Martin and Christine Nathanson.

Seven short plays will be directed by young San Diego-based theater makers at the one-night-only showcase.

San Diego natives Thelma De Castro and Carol Cabrera are among the featured playwrights, the other five are from across the US.

"For the most part, the plays center around the children of immigrants," says Christine Nathanson, co-artistic director of the group, referring to the "FOB" in the title, slang for "fresh off the boat"—a pejorative for new immigrants.

"Although none of the plays give specific commentary on the transition from the characters' country of origin to the US, their experiences, relationships and personal demons reflect a deep sense of heritage.

"They wrestle with longing, expectations, body image, tradition and what it means to forge a new identity in a place that doesn't always accept you."

What's in a name

MaArte Theatre Collective was established only a few months ago.

"We're a group of Filipino American theater artists in San Diego who got tired of waiting for other companies to produce work featuring Asian stories, so we decided to do it ourselves."

As evidenced by their upcoming production's title, part of the group's ethos is turning pejoratives and stereotypes on their heads and challenging old or long-held definitions, concepts and ideas.

It was co-artistic director Ciarlene Coleman's suggestion that won the votes for the group's name.

The group took off from the multiple meanings of "maarte," which include "creative and artistic" and the less flattering, colloquial "picky, high-maintenance young woman" or "diva."

"As an organization, we have chosen to reclaim and redefine this word. We, as young, opinionated, and present theater artists, have chosen to embrace all that 'maarte' entails," says Nathanson.

"To us, it means bold. It means audacious. It means filled with the power of creativity. We are selective and we know exactly what we want-the fair and honest representation of the fullness of the Filipino-American experience-and we're out to get it."

Hyphenated

The other four founding members are Reanne Acasio, Shaun Tuazon-Martin, Patrick Mayuyu and Claudette Santiago.

Except for Acasio, who was born in Guam, and Tuazon-Martin, who was born in Oakland, California, the collective's members are all native-born San Diegans.

The group's inaugural production was an intimate cabaret titled "Debut" last February at Snoice, a dessert shop that specializes in halo-halo, shaved ice and boba tea concoctions.

"'Debut' was an announcement of our arrival, both as a collective and as Filipino American artists whose talents deserve to be recognized," Nathanson says.

WATCH: Highlights from Maarte Theatre Collective's "Debut"

"We're united in our Filipino identities, but that experience is incredibly diverse, complicated and, most importantly, hyphenated. We're border-straddling, stereotype-defying Filipino Americans."

"In order to survive as a freelance artist in San Diego, it is necessary to operate across multiple disciplines and do lots of things. We all consider ourselves multidisciplinary artists."

The members' combined inventory of experiences range from onstage talents such as acting, singing and dancing to backstage disciplines like directing, sound design, music composition, and choreography, among others.

There's a list of off-stage skills and passions, too: graphic design, writing, arts administration, activism and "artivism" (i.e. activism through and using art). There is also at least one self-confessed donut enthusiast in the group.

The plays

The seven plays to be featured in "On the Flip Side" have varying durations.

Marc Abrigo's "Distinguished Competition" is a five-minute piece about a casting-call for a new Asian comic book superhero while Carol Cabrera's "Colored" is about Luke, who "has been gone a long time and has missed too many funerals" but is now back "but are his friends ready to forgive him and, more importantly, can he forgive himself?"

Other plays include "Accents" by Ciarlene Coleman, "High Stakes" by Ruth Pe Palileo, "That is Not Yours" by Molly Olis Krost, "Inay's Wedding Dress" by Conrad Panganiban, and an excerpt from "Bachelor Moon" by Thelma De Castro.

Upcoming

After "On the Flip Side," Maarte Theatre Collective plans to produce another cabaret performance-in what will hopefully "become a regularly scheduled event every few months."

Another one-evening-only presentation of short plays is planned for the fall and a full-length new play is on the drawing board for next year.

"We're accepting submissions for consideration at MaarteTheatreCollective@gmail.com," Nathanson announces.

"On the Flip Side: A Night of FOB-ulous Theatre" runs May 7 at Ocean Beach Playhouse, 4944 Newport Ave. D, San Diego, California. Visit MaarteTheatreCollective.weebly.com.