Filipino American Marah Sotelo is unwitting lover in SF stage rom-com

By WALTER ANG
Nov. 27. 2019
USA.Inquirer.net
https://usa.inquirer.net/48448/fil-am-marah-sotelo-is-unwitting-lover-in-sf-stage-rom-com

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American Maria Sotelo is playing the lead in the feel-good holiday comedy musical "She Loves Me."

Coworkers Amalia (Marah Sotelo) and Georg (Max Kligman)
are unknowing pen pals in the musical "She Loves Me." 

Staged by Ross Valley Players in a special coproduction with Mountain Play Association, the musical is about two coworkers, Amalia and Georg, who get on each other's nerves but who unknowingly fall in love mutually through an anonymous correspondence.

Sotelo says that the musical's story is about "love and human connection."

"It's not heavy at all but I do believe the message is great. And it's perfect for the holiday season! Sometimes the things that really should matter are right in front of us."

The musical has been performed on Broadway, with a recent revival in 2016 that featured Laura Benanti (who plays twin sisters Alura and Astra on TV show "Supergirl") and Zachary Levi (who played the title character in the movie "Shazam!") as Amalia and Georg.

Lyrics are by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock, both of whom are best known for their collaboration on "Fiddler on the Roof."

The musical is adapted from the same source material that inspired the romantic comedy movie "You've Got Mail" that starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Inspiration

Born in the Philippines, Sotelo and her family moved to the U.S. when she was eight years old.

Marah Sotelo plays Amalia in "She Loves Me." 

"I've always enjoyed performing and started in church when I was very young. This led to a curiosity about the world of theater and I started learning more about musicals.

"Of course, it was `Miss Saigon' that really grabbed my attention as a kid because there were very few shows that had people who looked like me. When I saw and heard Lea Salonga perform and sing, I remember being so inspired. I could do that too, I thought.

"It's been non-stop since then. I guess the theater bug really got me!"

Sotelo studied at Northern Illinois University's School of Music. Credits include "Cabaret" (Sally Bowles) and "Into the Woods" (the Witch) for Pacifica Spindrift Players, "Rent" (Mimi) Station Theatre, "Spamalot" (Lady of the Lake), "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" (Rosa Bud) for Parkland Theatre, "Les Miserables" (Eponine), "Aida" (Amneris) for Champaign Urbana Theatre Company, and "Sweeney Todd" (Johanna) for Danville Light Opera Company, among others.

Breaking barriers

"This show has been on my bucket list," says Sotelo. "I've always wanted to play Amalia and sing 'Vanilla Ice Cream.'"

Sotelo is referring to a song that the character Amalia sings when she realizes her fondness for Georg and thinks of his kindness.

"For a while, I thought it was impossible because I'd never seen a person of color play the role. I'm so glad I auditioned, and it's been quite the ride! I absolutely enjoyed working with my director and creating this character. I've learned so much in the last couple months!"

"I am a huge believer that people of color have to do everything we can to be seen, especially in roles that would normally not go to an artist of color. I want audiences, especially young people, to be inspired and not feel held back to go for their dream roles. Let's keep breaking down those barriers!"

"She Loves Me" runs until Dec. 22 at Barn Theater, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Rossvalleyplayers.com.

Fil-Am creates play to tackles mental health in San Diego

By WALTER ANG
Nov. 19, 2019
USA.Inquirer. net
https://usa.inquirer.net/47568/youre-safe-here-tackles-mental-illness

SAN DIEGO — Filipino American theater group MaArte Theatre Collective in its world premiere of "You're Safe Here" will show audiences the struggles and triumphs in dealing with mental illnesses.

"You're Safe Here," staged by MaArte Theatre Collective,
 is based on actual testimonials from patients in San Diego.

Devised by Allain Francisco, the play is a "docudrama" that is based on interviews from actual patients in San Diego about their recoveries.

"'You're Safe Here' offers the unique opportunity for audience members to flex their powers of empathy by immersing themselves in the visceral experience of what it is to live with mental illness," he says.

Francisco is an actor who is in his fourth year of medical studies at University of California-San Diego (UCSD)'s School of Medicine. He plans on pursuing a career in psychiatry.

The psychiatric conditions tackled in the play include depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, gender dysphoria, and eating disorders.

Two passions

Francisco states that while UCSD "has a reputation in the biomedical sciences, they actually also have a very strong MFA Theater Program as well." It's the same university where he took his pre-med undergraduate degree in biology with minors in psychology and, you guessed it, theater.

Allain Francisco devised "You're Safe Here," using theater to address mental health issues.

He combined his two passions to create this show to "confront social stigmas regarding mental illness and recovery among San Diego's immigrant, POC and LGBTQ+ communities."

This is not his first collaboration with MaArte Theatre Collective. He recently acted in the group's staging of "Colored." His other recent credits include "Ojo" (La Jolla Playhouse), "The Oldest Boy" (San Diego Rep), "Lost in the Pines" (Magnetic North Theatre Co.), "Les Miserables" (413 Project) and "War Games" (Nomads Theatre Company).

Project

As part of his studies, Francisco had to do a research project before graduation. "I have always had a passion for mental illness and I was thinking of creative ways to do my research project. I have a background in traditional basic science research and wanted to do something that was a little bit more artistic.

Erica Mejos and Hannah Reinart are part of the cast of "You're Safe Here."

"With faculty support, and having been inspired by my training in the Viewpoints performing method, Pina Bausch's choreography and Anna Deavere-Smith's docu-theater work, I thought that this type of theatrical production would lend itself well to help lessen the stigma on mental illness and to bolster empathy for its clinicians who suffer greatly from burnout."

Francisco developed the show's material for eight months. "But it's been on mind for more than a year," he says.

The patients' testimonies were gathered from July to August this year with guidance from his professors. "There were six patients who participated in the interviews, as we wanted the story to be a bit more focused, although I've been conducting clinical interviews in the mental health setting since January."

Three of patients are Filipino American. The sex and gender breakdown of the interviewees includes male and female sexes, and cis, trans and non-binary genders.

Venue

The production will be staged at Gaya Gaya Bar and Kitchen. Opened this summer by Chef Danilo "DJ" Tangalin, the restaurant serves dishes in kamayan style, encouraging patrons to share their meals and conversation.

"We lost our originally planned performance space at the last minute and Chef DJ stepped in graciously, allowing us to use his dining room for the production."

"We wanted to be mindful of their space and their patrons, so we scheduled the show to start at 9pm since it is only one hour long." 

Cast includes Allain Fransisco, Annalia Galvan, Erica Mejos, Gerardo Munoz, Ryan Nebreja, Emily Neifert, and Hannah Reinert.

MaArte Theatre Collective artistic director Yari Cervas will helm the production. Edward Delos Reyes is sound designer.

"You're Safe Here" runs Nov. 21-23 at Gaya Gaya Bar and Kitchen, 7580 Miramar Rd., San Diego. Visit Maartetheatrecollective.com.

Chicago Filipino American theater company wrestles with stigmas and traumas

By WALTER ANG
Nov. 12, 2019
USA.Inquirer.net
https://usa.inquirer.net/46855/chicago-fil-am-theater-wrestles-with-stigmas-and-traumas

CHICAGO — Filipino American theater group CIRCA-Pintig is staging a student production that brings to light the beauty of reclaiming a sense of self in harmony with the community after one overcomes stigmas.

CIRCA-Pintig is staging “Silencing Stigma, Reclaiming Life,”
vignettes on mental health in the Asian American community

"Silencing Stigma, Reclaiming Life" is a collection of vignettes that show Asian American-including Filipino American-experiences that tackle difficult topics about mental health and social justice struggles, according to the group's artistic director Ginger Leopoldo.

The vignettes were written by 14 participants of a theater and writing workshop conducted by CIRCA-Pintig earlier this year. In addition to Lepoldo, other facilitators included Larry Leopoldo and Luis Pascascio.

Some of the stigmas explored in the show include anxiety, suicide, self-harm, PTSD and transgenerational trauma. A piece titled "Inay: Ilaw ng Tahanan" ("Mother: Light of the Home") is a letter from a mother to her daughters and spouse asking forgiveness for deciding to uproot her family to immigrate to the US from the Philippines.

Collaboration

The workshop participants are all female, in their early 20s and are a mix of college and graduate students who are taking a class on Mental Health, Asian Americans and Community Engagement taught by Rooshey Hasnain at University of Illinois at Chicago.

The participants conducted field interviews using techniques from their class and applied what they learned from the workshop to convert the interviews into scripts for the stage.

This is the third time CIRCA-Pintig has collaborated with Hasnain to teach her students how to dramatize their field interviews. The previous installments were done in 2014 and 2015.
Unspoken

To form "Silencing Stigma: Reclaiming Life," Fil-Am playwright Lani Montreal merged the students' works with excerpts from her own existing plays as well as those of Filipino playwright Liza Magtoto and Fil-Am playwright Conrad Panganiban.

"The play gives voice to unspoken thoughts and emotions in a dramatic forum that aims for community healing and positive reflection," says Leopoldo.

"This production brings together new and resident Circa Pintig actors and production staff sharing their time and commitment to create a dialogue about a topic not typically discussed at dinner table talk."

Consultation

The production uses music composed by Demetrio Maguigad. Other Filipino Americans involved in the production include Joy Cusi (music direction), Chip Payos (choreography), Larry Leopoldo and Jose Agarri (set design), and Luis Pascasio (light and sound design).

There will be Q&A sessions and community consultations after each performance facilitated by the CIRCA-Pintig members along with organizations such as Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare and other community social services.

"Silencing Stigma, Reclaiming Life" runs Nov. 15-24 at Klausner Auditorium, Nazareth Family Center, 1127 N. Oakley Blvd., Chicago. Visit Circapintig.com.

Filipino American actors are fabulous queens in Palm Springs musical

By WALTER ANG
Nov. 5, 2019
USA.Inquirer.net
https://usa.inquirer.net/45719/fil-ams-are-fabulous-queens-in-palm-springs-musical

PALM SPRINGS, California — Filipino American actors Ron Coronado and Jay Españo are both headlining the musical "Priscilla, Queen of The Desert" staged by Palm Canyon Theatre.

Jay Españo (left) plays Adam/Felicia Jolly
and Ron Coronado (far right) plays Bernadette.
Photo by Paul Hayashi 

The musical is about three friends who work as drag queens on a road trip across Australia on the titular bus named Priscilla, as they search for love and acceptance.

With a book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, the musical uses '70s and '80s disco and radio pop hits such as "It's Raining Men," "I Will Survive," "Hot Stuff," "Finally," "Boogie Wonderland," "Go West," "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," "I Love the Nightlife," and many more.

Coronado plays Bernadette, a transgender woman who is a seasoned drag queen, while Españo plays Adam/Felicia Jolly, the upstart drag princess. Ben Reece plays Tick/Mitzi Mitosis, whose goal of rekindling the relationship with his son serves as the impetus for the trio's adventure.

Preparing

Before joining the production, Españo had never seen the musical before although he was familiar with the movie it's based on. He feels challenged by the role because unlike the character Adam/Felicia, "I'm very quiet and introverted. So, it's refreshing to be able to just do crazy, unpredictable and annoying things on stage."

Jay Españo (left) and Ron Coronado are in Palm Canyon Theatre's
production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Españo's recent credits include "50 Shades of Shakespeare" and "When Adonis Calls."

He also wanted to be accurate with his character's Australian accent. "When I started to create my version of Felicia, I messaged some of my Aussie friends and sent them all my lines in the show. They sent me back recordings of how they say it in their accent."

A new approach

Coronado, on the other hand, had done the show and the same role back in 2017. "It was so much fun!" he says of the experience. "When I was asked to reprise my role, my response was 'Of course!'"

His recent credits include "Big River," "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Hairspray" (as Edna Turnblad).

"This is my first time ever returning to a show and playing the same character. I thought I would have a real advantage, but the truth is, with a new director, a new choreographer, a new set designer, and new cast, I had to really forget everything I did two years ago and start anew.  I'm glad I did.  This production has its very own identity and I love it very much."

Audience response

Coronado shares that the show is a "Journey to the Heart of Fabulous!" and "there is something in this show for everyone.  The laughter throughout the show and the standing ovations at the end says it all."

Españo says, "We get a lot of laughs in a lot of the funny scenes but we also hear a lot of sniffles during the touching scenes. I think the scene when the three leads discover their bus vandalized with a gay slur really sends out the message of what gay people face every day around the world and the need for tolerance. That's one of my favorite scenes, when we sing "True Colors."

"Audiences have been really generous. A lot of them dance every night. It's like coming to a party. The energy they give makes the cast work harder on stage. We get standing ovations."

"Priscilla, Queen of The Desert" runs until Nov. 17 at Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 North Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. Visit Palmcanyontheatre.org.