Filipino American author Melissa de la Cruz turns Batman into an Asian American teen

By WALTER ANG
March 31, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American author Melissa de la Cruz has transformed Batman into a teenager.

Gotham High by Filipino American author Melissa de la Cruz.

The prolific Young Adult (YA) novel genre writer De La Cruz has just completed work on the graphic novel Gotham High.

She reinterprets the Caped Crusader as a Chinese American in a love triangle with schoolmates Latin American Selina Kyle, who is catty but secretive, and Jack Napier, the class clown.

Illustrated by Thomas Pitilli and published by DC Comics, Gotham High sees Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham City after being kicked out of his boarding school in Hong Kong. He'd been sent there by his Uncle Alfred, who is gay, after his parents died.

Wayne has to deal with high school politics and dodges an attempted kidnapping that he suspects Catwoman and the Joker might be involved in.

With her work, De la Cruz enriches the Dark Knight canon, which is now 80 years old and encompasses comics, books, live and animated television shows for children and adults, and movies. Batman was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger in 1939.

Spin

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, De la Cruz said that she finds the Batman character fun and iconic.


She wanted to put her own spin on it by playing on the idea of "a kind of Gossip Girl Batman," referring to the book series about high school students that was later adapted into a television show in the late 2000s (and of which a sequel show is in the works).

To create this version of an Asian American Batman, she drew from her own experiences, such as being part Chinese and having a sibling living in Hong Kong.

She described her adaptations as making the Batman world "feel real" but at the same time, giving it a "fabulous 'Crazy Rich Asians' sheen."

She promises readers a surprise at the end of the love triangle plot.

Previous

Based in Los Angeles, De La Cruz has written more than 60 books.

Melissa de la Cruz reimagines Batman as an Asian American teenager.

She has written the Beach Lane series (originally the Au Pairs series; about three young women working as nannies by day and party at night in the Hamptons), the Blue Bloods series (vampire fantasy), the Beauchamp Family series (witch fantasty), and the Isle of the Lost series (novelization of the Disney Channel movie "The Descendants").

Inspired by the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical "Hamilton," she wrote a YA historical fiction romance trilogy featuring Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.

Her most recent book for adults is The Birthday Girl, published last year.

Recent

De La Cruz just released her novel The Queen's Assassin in February, which is meant to be the first book in the Queen's Secret series, a sweeping YA fantasy romance.

In the book, Shadow has been training to become an assassin, even though her mother expects her to serve as a lady of the court. A surprise attack forces her to team up with Caledon, the kingdom's deadliest weapon. In the midst of a possible war, they begin to develop feelings for each other as they uncover a shocking web of lies that will change their paths forever.

Upcoming

Her next book, cowritten with Margaret Stohl, is a reimagining of two characters from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.

In Jo and Laurie, Josephine "Jo" March finds success as her first published book becomes a bestseller, with fans demanding a sequel. Despite her growing feelings for Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, Jo's desire to remain independent leads her to decline his marriage proposal, sending him off to college heartbroken. When he returns with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally reveal her heart's true desire or lose the love of her life forever?

Gotham High goes on sale starting April 1.

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Filipino American writer Jia Tolentino wins $50K Whiting Award

By WALTER ANG
March 27, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

NEW YORK — Filipino American essayist and music critic Jia Tolentino has won a 2020 Whiting Award in Nonfiction for her book Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion, which was published last year and became a New York Times bestseller.

Filipino American Jia Tolentino wins 2020 Whiting Award for Nonfiction
Photo by Elena Mudd

The Whiting Awards, of $50,000 each, are given annually to 10 emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.

In response to the announcement of winners, Tolentino posted on Twitter, "Obscene to experience a blessing like this right now but I am so grateful to the Whiting Foundation to be included in this group. I hope I can pay the good forward."

Since 1985, the Whiting Foundation has supported creative writing through the Whiting Awards, based on early accomplishment and the promise of great work to come.

Marvel

The selection committee's statement on Tolentino notes that she "is more than a chronicler of our particular moment; she is our critic and translator, a decoder who can see the profound in the ordinary.

"Her debut collection of essays is a marvel, a book that captures what seems unknowable about the internet and what it is to grow up in its orbit, to become misshapen and seduced by it, defined by it. Tolentino chooses rigor and complexity even at the expense of comfort, interrogating her own complicity in the culture she critiques.

"These essays are compulsively readable, and shot through with surprise, offering us the delights of eloquence and the satisfactions of her deep, inquiring mind."

Writing

Tolentino was born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Houston, Texas with her family when she was four years old. She has a master's of fine arts in fiction from the University of Michigan.

She is a staff writer at The New Yorker and formerly the deputy editor at Jezebel. She lives in Brooklyn.

Trick Mirror includes nine essays which INQUIRER.net US and Canada section correspondent Patty Rivera describes as touching "on the spheres of public imagination that has shaped Tolentino's understanding of herself."

Read Rivera's report on Tolentino's book launch in Toronto last year and more of her thoughts on the book here.

Previous Filipino American recipients of the Whiting Award include short story writer Lysley Tenorio, who won in 2008. Tenorio is the author of short story collection Monstress.

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Filipino American Tony Award winner Clint Ramos wins $50K USA Fellowship

By WALTER ANG
March 17, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

NEW YORK — Filipino American set and costume designer Clint Ramos has been named a United States Artists (USA) Fellow for 2020. He is one of 50 fellows selected for the year by United States Artists, a national arts funding organization.

Filipino American set and costume designer Clint Ramos
is a 2020 United States Artists (USA) Fellow.
Photo by Marc Franklin

Each awardee receives $50,000 which "honors their creative accomplishments and supports their ongoing artistic and professional development." The award is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Fellows are chosen from 10 different disciplines: architecture and design, craft, dance, film, media, music, theater and performance, traditional arts, visual art, and writing.

Other awards

Ramos won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play for his work on "Eclipsed," written by Danai Gurira (Okoye in "Black Panther").

Last year, he won an Obie Award for Set Design for his work on The Public Theater's production of "Wild Goose Dreams."

Ramos previously received an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design in 2013.

Recent works

He has designed sets and costumes for over a hundred theater, film, opera and dance productions.

Ramos' costume designs for "Once On This Island."
Photo by Joan Marcus

His most recent credit on Broadway was the set of "Slave Play" written by Jeremy Harris.

As for costume design, one recent credit on Broadway was the revival of the musical "Once on This Island," which starred Lea Salonga as Erzulie. The production is currently touring the US and its musical director and conductor is Fil-Am Steven Cuevas.

Other Broadway credits include "The Rose Tattoo" with Marisa Tomei (Aunt May in "Spider-Man"); "Burn This" with Adam Driver ("Marriage Story" on Netflix, Kylo Ren in "Star Wars") and Keri Russell ("The Americans," Zorii Bliss in "Star Wars"); "Sunday in the Park with George" with Jake Gyllenhaal (Mysterio in "Spider-Man").

Upcoming

Ramos is also the costume designer for upcoming film "Respect," an Aretha Franklin biopic featuring Jennifer Hudson. The film is targeted to be released in October.

In addition to his set and costume design work, Ramos is currently Professor of Theatre and Head of Design at Fordham University. Ramos lives in New York with his husband and their daughter.

Last year, Baltimore-based documentary filmmaker Ramona Diaz was named a United States Artist Fellow. Her films include "Imelda" (2004), "The Learning" (2011), "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" (2012), and "Motherland" (2017).

Since United States Artists was founded in 2006, it has awarded more than 600 fellows with over $27 million.

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Filipino American theater artists reap 2019 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards in Seattle

By WALTER ANG
March 12, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

SEATTLE —  Filipino American theater artists Justin Huertas and Corinna Lapid Munter have each won 2019 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards for their work on Huertas' musical "The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion."

A scene from “The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion"

Huertas wrote and composed the pop-rock musical about a Filipino American family whose matriarch is a wrestler of octopi from the Pacific Ocean. It was staged last year by ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery.

Lapid Munter received the award for Excellence in Performance in a Musical as a Lead Actor for playing the titular wrestling champion.

Huertas received the award for Excellence in Local Composing.

The production received the award for Excellence in Production of a Musical. It was helmed by ArtsWest artistic director Mathew Wright, who commissioned Huertas to create the musical.

The awards are given annually by the Seattle Theater Writers group in 33 categories in two divisions (Large Theaters and Small Theaters). ArtsWest Playhouse falls under the Small Theater division.

Magical

"I'm so, so proud of this musical. For my work here to be recognized in this way is wonderful," says Huertas.

Filipino American composer and librettist. Justin Huertas.
Photo by Whiskers & Willow Photography

His previous works include "Lizard Boy" (music, lyrics, book) with Seattle Repertory Theatre and "Howl's Moving Castle (music, lyrics) with Book-it Repertory Theatre.

For the show's Excellence in Production award, he credits his collaborators. "All of my work usually incorporates fantastical, comic book-ish elements like telekinesis or tentacle hands. I rely on my directors and choreographers to imagine how that will be realized on stage. In this case, it was director Mat Wright and Fil-Am choreographer Alyza DelPan-Monley working with me to bring this crazy story to life."

Fil-Am Lex Marcos was the set designer. Lapid Munter says, "The production team we were so fortunate to have was top notch. Our cast was unbelievably perfect for this show."

Distinctly Filipino American

"I was so proud to be seen, appreciated, acknowledged. heard. This was the first show I have ever worked on that truly gave me the feeling of Pinoy pride," Lapid Munter says.

Filipino American actor Corinna Lapid Munter. 

Huertas said that this musical was his first time creating a Filipino American family for the stage. "I was intent on . including things from my own experiences. Like my own titas asking `Did you eat?' every time they see me. Or the cheap and reliable meal of Spam and eggs."

He says that the opportunity to work with other Fil-Am theater makers "enhanced the creation" process of the musical.

"Actor Christian Quinto helped me translate some lines of dialogue into Tagalog. Choreographer Alyza put some Filipino touches into the movements, like a `mano po' blessing in the opening scene."

Audience appreciation

Huertas and Lapid Munter are both elated to report that audiences appreciated their efforts.

"Audiences loved it. I was really happy to see Filipino American and Asian American families come and immediately relate to this family and their dynamic," says Huertas.

"Still, this story and this dynamic has intentions of universality, so I was also glad to see that families of other cultures saw themselves in these characters, too."

Lapid Munter shares, "One of my favorite things to do every night was to peek through the curtains and watch the audience fall in love with every character on stage. There was someone on that stage for every audience member to relate to. The most common feedback I got was `I have never felt so seen before.'

"I will never forget one evening, after a show, a woman came up to me and said she had a friend visiting. Although her English wasn't very good, she had to speak to me.

"Her friend grasped my hands, looked me deeply in the eyes and said, "The world needs to see this show. This show can fix the world. This is what the world needs more of."

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Filipino American trans actor headlines new musical 'Interstate'

By WALTER ANG
March 10, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Filipino American actor Kai Alexander Judd plays Dash, a transgender spoken-word performer, in the musical "Interstate."

Filipino American Kai Alexander Judd plays Dash in "Interstate."

Judd did not have to do too much research into his character. He came out as a transgender man himself two years ago. (Glossary of transgender terms can be found here.)

The musical's  world premiere is helmed by Fil-Am theater director Jesca Prudencio and staged by Mixed Blood Theater. Music and lyrics is by Melissa Li and book by Li and Kit Yan.

In the musical, Dash and singer-songwriter Adrian are in the process of affirming who they are. Adrian comes out as a lesbian and Dash comes out as a transgender man. As they declare their identities, both discover which connections in their lives will give way, hold or develop.

Passion

Judd, whose mother is Filipino, was born and raised in Northern California.

"I started performing when I was six years old, doing school plays and community theater and I've been a theater nerd ever since."

However, Judd almost gave up on theater. Constantly auditioning for female roles had been adding to his unhappiness of "pretending to be something I wasn't."

"I thought I'd have to find a new career. I didn't want my loved ones to hear my voice or look at my body for too long, let alone crowds of strangers. I lost my passion for theater because all I wanted to do was hide. It was devastating."

At home

After Judd came out, he found support from friends, mentors and medical professionals. After he began hormone therapy for transitioning, "I now sing in the tenor repertoire I've always dreamed of. I've started to feel at home in my body and I walk into auditions with more confidence than I ever have before."

Jesca Prudencio directs "Interstate."

Credits during and after his coming out process include male roles such as James in "James and the Giant Peach" and the Baker in "Into the Woods."

He then discovered "Interstate" would have its world premiere only a mere three hours' drive from Viterbo University, where he was studying Musical Theatre.

He'd already heard about the show when it was still being developed in New York (where Fil-Am actor Jon Viktor Corpuz played Dash.) In addition to wanting to thank the show's creators for making a story with transgender characters, "I figured it was worth saying I tried auditioning," Judd says.

Special

"This opportunity to play Dash, a character whose identity so closely aligns with my own, feels different and special."

Judd says that during rehearsals, he constantly finds himself realizing "that Dash is an Asian American trans guy just like me, so I don't need to try to be anything I'm not. Though it's not the point of theater, it's exciting to be seen at face value for a change."

As for working with a Filipino American director, he points out that "this is only the second time I've ever been directed by a woman, which is such a shame, and I am hopeful to see change on the horizon in that regard."

"I adore working with Jesca. I can count the number of Fil-Am theater professionals I've worked with on one hand, so to have a strong Filipino American woman in charge of the room is thrilling."

Prudencio is founding artistic director of theater group People Of Interest. Recent credits include a staged reading of "Something Under the Balete Tree" by Fil-Am playwright Ren Dara Santiago in New York; full productions of "Man of God" in Los Angeles, "PDA" and "Actually" in San Diego, and "The Great Leap" in Chicago (which featured Fil-Am actor Glenn Obrero).

"We joke about our culture daily. She even made lumpia and adobo for a rehearsal potluck the other night! My only complaint is that when she gives me [directorial] notes, it feels like I'm in trouble with my tita."

"Interstate" runs until March 29 at Mixed Blood Theater, 1501 South 4th St., Minneapolis. Visit Mixedblood.com.

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Filipino American Isabella Dawis wins Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award

By WALTER ANG
March 5, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

NEW YORK — Filipino American Isabella Dawis has won the Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award for her work on writing the book (theater term for script) and lyrics for "Half the Sky."

Fil-Am librettist Isabella Dawis (left)
and Tidtaya Sinutoke working on the musical "Half the Sky."

She wins the award with the musical's composer Tidtaya Sinutoke. The award gives a studio session in Weston, New York to creators of a promising new work to record selections with Grammy-winner Kurt Deutsch of Ghostlight Records.

On March 7, two free public concerts of the musical will be staged by Weston Playhouse Theater Company.

"Being nominated by Musical Theatre Factory artistic directory Mei Ann Teo is an honor in itself. We're thrilled for the chance to work with Kurt Deutsch and to present this beautiful score to the public," says Dawis.

Everest

In "Half the Sky," as Aurelie fulfills her childhood dream of summiting Mount Everest, she grapples with the mountain's grueling demands, her Thai American family's past, the rift separating her from her younger sister and a precocious teenage Sherpa.

Dawis had previously performed Sinutoke's music before working with her on this musical. "She approached me with the concept for `Half the Sky' and I was very intrigued by the possibility of viewing Everest through the Asian American female perspective, rather than the gaze of the white male colonizer," says Dawis.

They then sent a pitch to Seattle theater company 5th Avenue Theatre's First Draft Commission program, where the musical earned a spot. The musical later went through additional development with Minneapolis theater groups Theater Mu and Theater Latté Da.

Credits

Dawis' playwriting work has been supported by Musical Theatre Factory, the O'Neill Center, Town Stages, and Central Square Theater.

Fill-Am Isabella Dawis has won
the Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award for 2020.

Her acting, singing and piano-playing informs her writing. Dawis started learning piano at six years old; acting at nine after she'd watched "A Christmas Carol."

Currently based in New York, Dawis considers herself "very lucky to have grown up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which boasts a remarkably diverse and vibrant theater community." She says that having had the opportunity to see people of color onstage "especially other children like me" inspired her to try performing. At one point, she'd even acted in the musical "Filipino Hearts" at Theatre Mu.

Singing and acting credits have included Minnesota Opera, Guthrie Theater, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Biennial, among others. Her most recent credit was performing with her sister Francesca as onstage sisters in "Peerless" at Theater Mu.

Thrilling, enriching

"'Half the Sky' takes the standard American book musical and infuses it with the sounds of Asian musical traditions. It's moving and meaningful to see such support behind our work, especially as a team of two Asian female writers," she says.

"There's no reason to spend your life trying to fit into someone else's story when you can share your own. As a creator, you have the ability to lift up the voices of those around you.

"To be an American storyteller in today's world is an immense privilege, because we're so hungry for connection and truth. What's most thrilling for me is breaking new ground, introducing audiences to the unfamiliar, and hopefully enriching their lives for it."

Concert presentation of "Half the Sky" on March 7 at Weston Playhouse, Walker Farm, 705 Main St., Weston. Visit Westonplayhouse.org.

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Seattle-based Filipino American theater artist Sara Porkalob is on a hot streak

By WALTER ANG
March 3, 2020 | USA.Inquirer.net

SEATTLE — Filipino American theater artist Sara Porkalob is directing a string of stage productions starting with a play involving England's Victorian-era high society, a mysterious stranger, a cold body and some human fluids.

Filipino American theater artist Sara Porkalob.

In addition to having written the play, "The Angel in the House," Porkalob is also directing it.  Audiences can watch this "gothic revenge thriller" with live music over a four-course meal, as presented by dinner theater group Café Nordo.

In this "blood-soaked romp," the Brown couple invites two other couples to their estate to ring in a very special New Year. But when an unexpected guest arrives and a murder victim is found in the garden, the evening takes a shocking turn toward the sinister.

Fil-Am actor Ray Tagavilla is part of the cast as one of the husbands.

Occult

In a statement, Porkalob said her inspiration for creating a "cursed character" for this play stemmed from her love of Victorian (1837-1901) literature and her passionate agreement with Virginia Woolf's collection of essays criticizing the Victorian poem titled "The Angel in the House," which had been written by a man and came to symbolize feminine ideals.

Sara Porkalob wrote and is directing "The Angel in the House," a gothic revenge thriller. 

"The Angel in the House" is intended to be the first installment of a new play cycle from Porkalob with elements of the occult and magic.

The dinner menu includes Chrysanthemum Salad; Beet, Pear, and Roasted Garlic Soup; Maple Leaf Duck Breast wrapped in Swiss Chard (vegetarian option is Wild Mushroom, Swiss Chard, and Farro Roll); and Lavender and Lemon Madeleines.

Upcoming

Porkalob just also recently finished directing and acting in a developmental production of the musical "XY," about first loves and letting go of the past, for Village Theatre.

Her play "Alex and Alix," scheduled to premiere in April, will be staged by Artswest Playhouse and Gallery. It is described as a play "about endings, beginnings, unseen forces that shape memory. A meditation on trauma and healing. Two women and a love story that gets rewritten every day."

She is developing another production for Café Nordo titled "7th and Jackson," which is scheduled to premiere in July.

Best friends Lee, Min and Ada dream of owning and running their own restaurant and jazz club. When the bombing of Pearl Harbor and rising World War II tensions tear apart their homes, they make a sacred promise to keep their dream alive.

Fil-Am magician

Porkalob is also directing "Make Maritess Zurbano Disappear! A Magical Memoir," a show featuring the title Fil-Am magician and hypnotist who has "spent years using magic to battle racism, misogyny and the legacy of colonialism."

Filipino American magician and hypnotist Maritess Zurbano
stars in "Make Maritess Zurbano Disappear! A Magical Memoir.

In the show, when Zurbano's mentor dies and his home is put up for public auction, she contemplates why, after men stop valuing them, women in the magic profession disappear.

Zurbano has performed in Las Vegas, New York, Berlin and Japan for almost two decades in theaters and venues such as schools and casinos and at private, sports and business events.

"The Angel in the House" runs until March 15 at Café Nordo, 109 S. Main St., Seattle. Visit Cafenordo.com.

"Make Maritess Zurbano Disappear!" runs March 8-10 at Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater, 2322 2nd Ave., Seattle. Visit Fb.com/WomanHypnotist.

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