Filipino American Raven Ong designs costumes for first ever Connecticut Shakespeare Fest

By WALTER ANG
June 29, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net

HARTFORD, Connecticut — Audiences who will attend the inaugural production of the first ever Connecticut Shakespeare Festival will see the work of Filipino American costume designer Raven Ong. 

Ong's design and costume for First Fairy.

Kicking off the festival's first season at Auerfarm in Bloomfield will be William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

In the play's titular evening, humans are preparing for a wedding and rehearsing a play for the reception. When four young lovers run into the woods, a kingdom of fairies who reside there  enchant, transform, and entangle everyone in each other's dreams.

Other Filipino Americans involved in the production include actor Katrien Van Riel, who will play First Fairy. The festival is organized by Playhouse Theatre Group.

Involvement

Ong He has designed for musicals such as "Beautiful: Carole King Musical," "Waitress," "Kinky Boots," "Matilda" and "The Producers," among others. He designed the costumes for Fil-Am playwright Linda Faigao-Hall's "Dying in Boulder." He teaches Costume Design at Central Connecticut State University.

Filipino American costume designer Raven Ong.

Ong's most recent involvement with the Playhouse Theatre Group was actually with its Playhouse on Park theater company just before the pandemic imposed restrictions on public gatherings last year. He had designed the costumes for the group's staging of Kate Hamill's adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice."

When festival Artistic Director Sean Harris offered the chance to design this production, Ong accepted right away.

"I am very excited! More than a year of not being able to design any professional work allowed me to recharge. Now it's time to conquer again!" he says.

Excitement

For this particular telling of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the collaborators of the show wanted to convey a particular vision according to Ong. "We wanted excitement and energy translated into design spectacle."

Ong's Asian-inspired silhouettes for Theseus and Hippolyta.

After all, "this is the first production of the inaugural season and the first project that most of us are working on after the pandemic," he says.

He explains that director Emma Went shared research images of the world she wanted to achieve. "She shared images of outfits with corsets and bustles, hoop skirts and panniers, so we determined that our world could be timeless but also romantic. We picked the Victorian era as a jumping off point."

"The lovers will be in Victorian outfits while the fairies will have more of an 18th-century silhouette to show that they've existed long before the people of Athens have.

"For example, Oberon's vest is inspired by rococo waistcoats with embroidery but his version will have cording, lace flowerets and ball fringe.

"Puck will be in a green Victorian tailcoat to establish his ever-playful character and ability to put on a disguise. He is the one who orchestrates the motion on stage."

Archetypes

Using the Puck character as an example, Ong points out that Shakespeare plays are known for archetype characters. 

Ong's design and costume for Oberon.

"When I attended a course at Shakespeare's Globe in London, we were asked to move according to what archetype we picked and to imagine what clothing we wore. That was very helpful to me as a costume designer."

He also explains that actors usually play multiple characters in Shakespeare plays. "And they sometimes change right before the audience's eyes, so costumes play a very important role in telling the story."

"What's fascinating to me as a costume designer is the ability to put together the qualities of different fabrics and materials that help in the storytelling process and help build the world in a poetic way."

The inaugural season of the festival is themed "Shakespeare and Sondheim" and begins July 7. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be followed by Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," "Shakespeare 4 Kids: Dream Scheme" and concludes with "Snow White."

Visit Connecticutshakespearefestival.org.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/75952/fil-am-designs-costumes-for-first-ever-connecticut-shakespeare-fest

Filipino American Arthur Soriano creates comics of pre-colonial Philippine tales

By WALTER ANG
June 23, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net

AUSTIN, Texas — Filipino American Arthur Soriano has created a new comic series that focuses on "the genesis of Philippine history from a Filipino perspective." 

Arthur Soriano with young readers.

"The first issue of Marharlikan Chronicles is one hundred percent Philippine precolonial history and oral tradition," he says.

"In this series, you will not have to read about a Spanish King and outside views that aren't generally interesting to a Filipino reader."

According to Soriano, he created the comic because he wanted to give a better introduction and update to Philippine history "in a way that is appealing to the general Filipino public."

Identity

Born in the US to Filipino parents, Soriano became interested in early Philippine history because he thought it was something he ought to know about his heritage.

And also because "I'm Filipino and I love history in general." He'd learned about Greek and Roman ancient civilizations in college, so "why not the Philippines, too?"

He believes that knowing one's own history is important because "it gives you insight to who you and your people are.  In general, history teaches what happened, why it happened and what we could do better in the future."

Latest discoveries

These days, Soriano studies precolonial Philippine history independently and has the "ability and passion" to acquire books that "most don't have access to." 

Cover of inaugural issue of Maharlikan Chronicles.

"Which is why I share what I find.  I have met with scholars at museums in the Philippines and have bounced thoughts off with [historian] Ambeth Ocampo."

"As I studied precolonial Philippine history, I learned that the information available was very outdated and the latest discoveries would make for a better presentation of our early past."

He wants to "improve the knowledge base of Filipinos of their rich precolonial history."

First

For the inaugural issue, he collaborated with illustrator Faye Villanueva. "She and her husband Aria are comic creators in the Philippines and they own Kawangis Komiks and several titles of comics."

The first issue features Apo Anno the early Igorot leader and Urduja the warrior princess.

"This is an open-ended series since we plan to promote more adventures for Urduja and a wide array of Filipino mythology and folklore."

Response

"We have had a great response for the first issue. Many love the introduction of Philippine history from 'our' perspective, with the added plus of incorporating our oral tradition with known scholarly history and recent scientific discoveries."

Maharlikan Chronicles is sold in retail stores in Texas and Michigan and online for the rest of the US as well as internationally. Readers in the Philippines can visit the comics' website for the latest updates on availability.

"The second issue will be a continuation of precolonial Philippine history centered around the Visayas and the beginning of an adventure series for Urduja," says Soriano.

Visit maharlikanchronicles.com.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/75377/fil-am-creates-comics-of-pre-colonial-ph-tales

Filipino American theater director Jennifer Chang helms audio plays on LA landmarks

By WALTER ANG
June 16, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American theater director Jennifer Chang is helming a new audio play series that will focus on the city's unsung landmarks. 

Jennifer Chang

Titled "Chalk Lines," the series features five plays that bring to life areas of interest in city council districts 8 to 10, which includes the Metro Expo Line, Leimert Park, Historic West Adams, and Exposition Park.

The series is produced by Chalk Repertory Theatre, of which Chang is a cofounder and was the artistic director until 2016, with funding from the city's Department of Cultural Affairs.

The series' focus on geographic locations builds on the group's origins of staging productions in unconventional locations. Since it was founded in 2008, Chalk Rep has staged shows at sites as grand as the Natural History Museum and as intimate as the garage of a private home.

Chang recently won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) Award for Best Direction of a Play for her work on East West Players' production of "Vietgone." (READ about it here.)

Recent credits include "The Clitorish" for New Ohio Theatre and "Hannah and the Dread Gazebo" for Fountain Theatre. Chang is the Head of Undergraduate Acting at University of California-San Diego.

Development

The project had already been in development prior to the pandemic. "We had been developing and [had already] done beta testing on an app, kind of like a Pokémon Go, where your location unlocks an 'adventure,'" says Chang.

"In the case of 'Chalk Lines,' the intended goal was to unlock an audio play with your geo-location."

The theater group wanted to highlight the idea that these districts are destinations and that they possess rich history and culture.

Chalk Rep had initially intended for the series to be anchored on the segment of the Expo Line roughly between downtown and Culver City. "We wanted to create a project that would encourage folks to adventure . and that would be accessible with the train."

Pivot

The pandemic's restrictions made the group rethink its approach. "With the lockdown, we couldn't encourage folks to leave their homes and go to places or ride the Expo Line because that could potentially put them in contact with other people."

"We pivoted to putting all our focus on the districts."

In its current iteration, audience members can safely enjoy "Chalk Lines" at home focusing solely on the auditory experience or they can visually augment the experience by visiting each outdoor location and listen on a mobile device.

Chang is excited for listeners to "really hear where the stories take place."

"The sound designers have been so innovative and incredible, doing 3D mapping and wandering through the districts, walking the trajectories of the [plays.] The soundscape was authentically captured."

Diverse, rich

In addition to researching the histories of these locations, Chang's team of collaborators ensured the plays were written by and for the "folks who had strong ties to the districts . talented writers who all were born or lived in the areas."

"We wanted to have a variety of experiences and points of view in terms of gender and age and identity. We have a recent school graduate, a veteran award-winning playwright and multi-hyphenate artists."

The five plays features characters as varied as an orphan with AIDS who is visited by a life insurance sales person, a frank tour guide who goes through 150 years of LA history, a seasoned street vendor and a young college student riding the Expo, and a person preaching about alien life.

Chang will direct "The Great Leap" at Round House Theatre in Washington, DC in the late fall.

"Chalk Lines" launches June 19 for free. Donations encouraged. Visit Chalkrep.com.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/74709/fil-am-helms-audio-plays-on-la-landmarks

Filipino American Hazel Lozano in award-winning satire on race 'An Octoroon'

By WALTER ANG
June 11, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American Hazel Lozano is part of a play where actors will be in blackface and redface. 

Lozano (left) plays the Production Assistant in
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' satire "An Octoroon."

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' "An Octoroon" is "a spectacular collision of the antebellum South and 21st-century cultural politics, twisting a funhouse world of larger-than-life stereotypes into blistering social commentary to create a gasp-inducing satire."

In the story, Lozano plays the part of a production assistant where a modern-day Black playwright decides to adapt his favorite melodrama play from 1859.

But he quickly realizes that getting white male actors to portray evil slave owners isn't easy. So he decides to perform the white male roles himself-in whiteface.

Incendiary

Blackface is when non-Black performers use darkening make-up to mimic the appearance of Black persons. In the U.S., the practice evokes an offensive and racist history of caricaturing negative stereotypes of Black slaves. Redface is the offensive lampooning of Native Americans.

In the Los Angeles premiere of this work, which will be the inaugural production of Fountain Theatre's new outdoor stage; what ensues is a world where "race and morality are challenged, mocked and savagely intensified."

This Obie Award-winning play has been described as "radical, incendiary and subversively funny."

Other Fil-Ams involved in the production include assistant stage manager Quinn O'Connor and audio engineer Noele Kyle Cunanan.

Start

Born in the Philippines, Lozano moved to Washington state with her family when she was nine years old. "Both of my parents are from Iriga City. Taga-Iriga 'ko, sagkud gusto kong magpraktis ka Irigueño ko. Sari po kamo, mga Irigueño sa LA?! [I'm from Iriga, I'd like to practice my Irigueño. Where are the Irigueño in LA?!]" she says.

She inadvertently got herself into the world of theater when she was in the first grade. "I raised my hand, trying to be helpful to the class. Then I found out I had volunteered to perform a one-person play in front of the whole school."

But since then, she's been hooked. Her previous credits include Administrator in Fil-Am playwright Boni Alvarez's "America Adjacent." Other credits include Iago in "Othello." She produces the Intimacy Choreography In Conversation podcast,

Lozano was intrigued by director Judith "Judy" Moreland's description of using caricature "while maintaining dignity and humanity."

"It was something that I've been reflecting a lot on lately as an Asian Pacific American artist. It's also something that I've found to be a great acting challenge both now and in the past."

Race

"I feel privileged being chosen to work on productions like this: shows that challenge our audiences to really see themselves and the world around them. That make them confront and interrogate biases they didn't think about before. 

Filipino American Hazel Lozano (left)
is in the cast of "An Octoroon." 

"I've been very grateful to this group of collaborators. Judy and Fountain Theatre have assembled some of the most talented folks I've worked with in LA, onstage and off. It's been a beautiful artistic workout every day."

She says she is "very, very hungry" for audiences to see the work. "Because they are the most important character in the show!"

"This play has so much to teach all of us, whether as Philippine immigrants, Philippine descendants, Asian Pacific Islanders who've experienced colonialism, or as Americans who bear privilege and suffering on soil tilled by enslaved African-Americans.

"If we achieve the playwright's and the director's objectives, this play should ignite the audience into any number of strong reactions which will hopefully lead to reflection and change."

The award-winning Fountain Theatre provides a creative home for multi-ethnic theater and dance artists. Its projects have been seen across the U.S. and internationally.

"An Octoroon" runs June 18 to Sept.19. Visit FountainTheatre.com.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/74024/fil-am-in-award-winning-satire-on-race

Fil-Am resto serves Filipino classics with vegan twist

By WALTER ANG
June 9, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American chef and restaurateur Reina Montenegro has opened her new restaurant Chef Reina where she offers Filipino comfort food with a twist. 

Filipino American Reina Montenegro's vegan restaurant Chef Reina
serves Filipino classics with a plan-based twist.

The brick-and-mortar storefront expands on her existing online service where patrons can order dishes that don't look out of place in any other regular Filipino restaurant.

There's lumpia shanghai in the list of appetizers. Under the "Filipino Favorites" section, there's lechon kawali, kaldereta, corned beef and chicken adobo.

She even offers sweet and sour bola bola, and favorites that have luncheon meat such as silogs and fried rice.

Only here, the dishes are all vegan.

Sandwich lovers may also be enticed to try the restaurant's Philly Cheeze "Steak," "Chik'n" Sandwich, BLT and Impossible Burger. And yes, the ube pancakes come with a side of "bacon."

Rewarding

Montenegro moved from the Philippines to the Bay Area in the late '90s. She prides herself as being self-taught in the kitchen and began her culinary career as a personal chef and caterer in 2012. 

Chef Reina's vegan sweet and sour bola bola and luncheon meat.

She soon opened a restaurant that focused on her ideal of plant-based and cruelty-free cuisine, touting it as the "first Filipino vegan restaurant in the Peninsula."

She had turned to vegan cuisine initially for health reasons. "But now I am all in for the environment and the animals as well," she says.

The uniqueness of her offering made business boom. So much so that two branches followed.

"Of course, I got a lot of heat from the older Filipinos, but when they tasted the food, they became believers! The most rewarding is when a non-vegan says, I'm not vegan but I absolutely love this food. That's when I know I've done my job."

Chrysalis

She ran her business the past few years, always aware of her different roles as an immigrant and person of color, with no nearby family support.

The pandemic restrictions last year forced her to shutter all three of her former restaurants. Though as it turns out, you can't put a hardworking woman down for long.

With time and space to incubate in the chrysalis she had been growing around herself, Montenegro finally emerged from it with a stronger sense of self and thus, rechristened her culinary services into its now eponymous brand.

Montenegro's taking more ownership and acceptance of her "identity and mission in bringing delicious and sustainable food and culinary activism to more families."

"I am so excited to share myself through the food without a mask or pretense."

Care

In a bit of good news for her loyal customers, the new restaurant takes over the spot of one of her former locations. It has a to-go window for online pick-ups and walk-up orders. 

Sisig and lumpiang shanghai, vegan version. 

In addition to the regular dishes, Montenegro's Chef Reina also offers prepacked bulk vegan "meat" dishes which the restaurant calls "Care Packages." Aside from Pinoy comfort fare such as sisig and tocino, patrons can also purchase beef bulgogi and carnitas by the pound.

"It feels so good to be on my own and doing what I absolutely love without anything or anyone holding me back," she says.

"I feel that finally my life is aligned where I can soar high and do what I am passionate about, which is ultimately to convince people to end suffering, not only to the environment or to the animals, but also themselves."

Chef Reina is at 33 Visitacion Ave., Brisbane, CA. Visit Chefreina.com.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/73847/fil-am-resto-serves-filipino-classics-with-vegan-twist

Filipino Americans Reuben Uy narrates Lysley Tenorio's award-winning ‘The Son of Good Fortune’

By WALTER ANG
June 2, 2021 | USA.Inquirer.net 

LOS ANGELES — Filipino American actor Reuben Uy is the narrator of the audiobook format of Lysley Tenorio's award-winning debut novel The Son of Good Fortune. 

Filipino Americans Reuben Uy (left) and Lysley Tenorio. 

Released last year, it won Institute for Immigration Research's 2020 New American Voices Award, which recognizes "recently published works that illuminate the complexity of the human experience as told by immigrants, whose work is historically underrepresented in writing and publishing."

In Tenorio's young adult (YA) novel, Filipino American teenager Excel hangs out with his girlfriend Sab in one of the town's 17 cemeteries when he's not working in spy-themed pizza parlor The Pie Who Loved Me.

He wants to keep a low-profile so he can keep the secret his mother, a former B-movie action star immigrant from the Philippines turned online scam artist, has revealed to him about their family.

The book has been praised as "affecting" (The New York Times), "captivating" (Asian Review of Books), "sharp and compassionate ... powerful" (USA Today), "timely" (San Francisco Chronicle), "masterfully constructed" (Kirkus Reviews), and "mordant and moving ... a wonderful achievement" (Publisher's Weekly).

Stage to page

In a Facebook post, Uy wrote, "Extremely honored to have narrated Lysley Tenorio's 'The Son of Good Fortune.' It's a story that made me cry while narrating it!

"Every Filipino should read it as we all have either left or have a loved one who was forced to work overseas for greener pastures."

Uy had been part of a musical for composer and playwright Min Khang. During the production, he met an audiobook director who arranged for the cast to do a demo for Deyan Audio, an award-winning audiobook producing company.

"They were looking for Asian talent for upcoming audiobook projects. I auditioned for two books by Lysley Tenorio." In addition to The Son of Good Fortune, Uy also tried out for Tenorio's 2012 collection of short stories Monstress.

Uy was offered to narrate both, with co-narrating duties for Monstress with Fil-Am actress Chelsea Javier.

"The Son of Good Fortune took me three days to record and Monstress took two and a half days."

Three stories from Monstress have been adapted for the stage.

"Presenting ... The Monstress" (written by Fil-Am director Sean San Jose) and "Remember the I-Hotel" are adaptations staged by American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

"Felix Starro" is a musical adaptation staged by Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York with libretto by Jessica Hagedorn and music by Fabian Obispo.

Current

"It was a lot of fun because you get to do all the different characters," says Uy of the experience of bringing the book to life with just his voice. "You get to try a variety of accents and voices to give life to all of them." 

Lysley Tenorio's award-winning debut novel The Son of Good Fortune.

Uy's recent credits include "OliverRio" and "The Emperor's Nightingale" for Lewis Family Playhouse, "Akuma-Shin" for Sacred Fools Theatre and "Pacific Overtures" for Chromulume Theater. Television credits include a recurring character in Amazon's "Bosch."

Uy shares his own experiences of reading works by Gregorio Brillantes and Nick Joaquin in college. "As great as they are, the lives of their protagonists are in a world that I no don't or no longer recognize.

"Lysley's stories are so current that it's almost uncomfortable, like someone knows the secrets you keep inside.

"It's a very bizarre feeling to see and feel yourself in a book. Lysley loves to write about Filipinos and their obsession with America, and the constant conflict of wanting a better life, but having to make a choice between home and a new land in order to attain it."

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https://usa.inquirer.net/73086/fil-am-narrates-award-winning-the-son-of-good-fortune