Filipino American books for young readers on AANHPI Heritage Month

By WALTER ANG
May 29, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

SAN FRANCISCO — Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is always a good time of the year to explore what books are out there that have been written or illustrated (or both!) by Filipino American authors.

It's a timely way to get a head start on not just a summer reading list but even for the rest of the year. Be it graphic novels, mysteries, romance, cookbooks, history, thrillers, you name it - a Fil-Am author or illustrator has most likely created a story in that genre.

It's also never too early to begin building your year-end gift list for the holiday season. If scrolling through online bookselling retailers is not your thing, your friendly neighborhood librarian or independent bookstore owner might be able to offer suggestions.

In the meantime, here are some randomly selected titles by Fil-Am authors for young (and young-at-heart) readers.

It Won't Always Be Like This: A Graphic Memoir
By Malaka Gharib

It's hard enough to figure out boys, beauty and being cool when you're young, but even harder when you're in a country where you don't understand the language, culture or social norms. Nine-year-old Malaka arrives in Egypt for her annual summer vacation. Then her father shares news that changes everything. Over the next 15 years, Malaka reevaluates her place in his life. All that on top of maintaining her coolness!

Rick Riordan Presents: The Spirit Glass
By Roshani Chokshi

From the author of the best-selling Aru Shah series. Corazon yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide). She has been visiting her dead parents' ghosts using a soul key. When a vengeful ghost steals the key, Corazon embarks on a quest through the spirit realms with her bloodthirsty gecko Saso. They must move quickly before the ghost gets through the spirit glass.

I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom
By Shannon C. F. Rogers

Filipino American teenager Marisol Martin and her mom were forever locked in an argument with no beginning and no end. Clothes, church, boys, no matter the topic. When her mother dies suddenly, Marisol is left with no one to fight against, with nothing but a burning anger, and nowhere for it to go. As a new friendship begins to develop with someone who just might understand, Marisol reluctantly starts to open up.

Love, Dance & Egg Rolls
By Jason Tanamor

Jamie Santiago is just an ordinary high school teenager. He has a huge crush on a girl from school, he watches a ton of sitcoms, and he is constantly trying to keep his dad from feeding egg rolls to his white friends. He also aspires to be the next tinikling folk dance master. When the last ever Asian Folk Festival falls on the same day as Homecoming, he is forced to make an important decision between honoring his heritage and salvaging what's left of his social life.

Those Kids from Fawn Creek
By Erin Entrada Kelly

When Orchid Mason arrives at Fawn Creek Middle School from Paris, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. The school might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups: the self-proclaimed "God Squad," the jocks, the outsiders. In this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing. Who will claim Orchid? Who will save Orchid? Or will Orchid save them?

Patron Saints of Nothing
By Randy Ribay

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/150557/fil-am-books-for-young-readers-on-aanhpi-heritage-month

Filipino American releases new coming-of-age graphic novel set in pre-colonial PH

By WALTER ANG
May 21, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American scribe Lauren Lola has released her debut graphic novel "Dasig."

The tome is about Dasig, a young warrior-in-training struggling to focus on her pursuits. The Datu or chief prompts Dasig to contemplate her reasons for wanting to become a warrior.

As she seeks an answer, danger approaches when invaders from an unknown land appear. As her Datu gets ready for battle, Dasig wonders if her focus is where it should be so she'll be able to fight off the pending threat.

"I was originally summoned to write the graphic novel by Kristian Kabuay," says Lola. Kabuay is an author and expert in ancient Filipino writing scripts and batok (hand-tapped) tattooing.

"He wanted to do a story set in pre-colonial Philippines. While he wrote out a treatment for me as a guide, I took it from there and developed a story around it. Influences for the writing for it include "Star Wars" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender." It took me about eight months to write it.

"It's a universal coming-of-age story with parallels to today's issues and aspirations. This historical fiction draws from actual events in Philippine history and cultural practices."

Illustrations are by Ponsi Alfonso, using a minimalist black and white color palette with red accents and a look inspired from the works of Frank Miller ("300 and Sin City") and Mike Mignola ("Hellboy").

Lola is a novelist, playwright and screenwriter. She has also written and consulted on some of the comic books of Kid Heroes Productions' "Lumpia" series.

Her writing has been featured on Mixed Asian Media (formerly known as Hapa Mag), The Nerds of Color, PBS and other outlets and publications.

Lola's plays have been produced both virtually and on stage. She penned the short films "Disarm," "Breath of Writing" and "Interview with an Aswang," which she also co-directed and produced.

New Art

She's written the novels "An Absolute Mind" and "A Moment's Worth," which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

In the novel, a UCLA freshman gets to know her celebrity roommate, a man unintentionally takes the San Francisco BART to a variety of locations beyond its final stop, a fatherless girl believes in the stars and a young woman carries the burden of being human.

To commemorate the book's milestone, she is releasing it in print for the first time with a new cover design illustrated by Tian Wang. "I felt it was worth it to give the book a proper glow-up. I found Tian Wang's illustrations to be quite beautiful and the perfect vibe for the overall novel."

Lola says the decision to come out with a print edition of the book was partly borne out of many requests she's fielded. "It was a hurdle I constantly ran into when "A Moment's Worth" initially came out. People kept asking if it was available in print, only to be met with disappointment when I told them that it wasn't.

"At the time, I didn't think it would be that big of an issue. In time, I realized just how many people still prefer reading from a physical book. Not to mention the fact that not everyone has access to a device that can act as an e-reader. To expand accessibility was also key to finally making this happen, especially in time for the tenth anniversary."

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https://usa.inquirer.net/150118/fil-am-releases-new-coming-of-age-graphic-novel-set-in-pre-colonial-ph

Filipino Canadian sketch comedy show now on its 3rd season

WALTER ANG
May 16, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

TORONTO — Joy Castro is geared up to make audiences laugh in another season of "Abroad," the Filipino Canadian sketch comedy television series.

Now on its third season, the show focuses on the Filipino immigrant experience with a hilariously lighthearted point of view. Audiences will have fun with its send-ups of social issues, tech trends, celebrity culture and family dynamics with over-the-top characters.

Created by Isabel Kanaan, who was inspired by her own experiences having moved to Canada as a child, the series presents scenarios in both English and Tagalog.

The show is brought to life by an ensemble of actors. Joy Castro is one of the members and she's been with the show since the first season.

Castro's TV credits include Netflix's "Locke and Key," FX/Hulu's "What We Do in the Shadows" and Paramount+'s "Star Trek: Short Treks."

"I just submitted a self-tape audition like everyone else," she says of how she became involved with the show.

"My fellow cast member Nicco Lorenzo Garcia and I helped each other with our audition tapes. When we found out we were cast, it was the best news ever. Booking a job is great but booking a job with one of your friends is even better!"

Growing up

Castro has lived across the country. "I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia with my family at the age of 10. Currently, I'm based out of Toronto, Ontario," she says.

Castro's affinity for acting began in the third grade during a class trip to see a play about Anne of Green Gables. "I fell in love with the whole experience. I wanted to be Anne up on that stage!"

"I spent most of my younger years doing speech arts festivals, community theater and high school plays." Castro went on to graduating from a professional theater training school. "And I haven't looked back since."

Castro admits that, in the beginning, "it took some time to convince my mom that I would pursue acting at a professional level," but these days, "my mom is my number one fan."

When asked if comedy was something she's always had a knack for, she replies, "I didn't think it was in my wheelhouse at all."

"Some days, I still don't!" she adds with a laugh.

She credits her high school acting teacher for sensing her talent for it. "Mr. Hughes cast me in a small comedic role and I got my first taste at making an audience laugh."

Rewarding

Castro says that it has been rewarding to be able to act in Tagalog. "I grew up watching Filipino movies and TV shows but I never would have imagined that I'd have that kind of an opportunity here in Canada."

As for their ongoing success, "a show is only as good as its writing so I must give props to our writers! They continue to outdo themselves season after season and it truly is a rewarding experience to bring their visions to life on screen."

"I am so excited and also so grateful for Season 3 of `Abroad.' We get to revisit some favorite characters from past seasons but we also get to meet some kooky new ones," she adds.

"`Abroad' is such a fun show to be a part of so my hope is that our audiences can feel that from watching us and will continue to tune in week after week!"

The cast also includes Justin Santiago and Aldrin Bundoc, with guest appearances by Christian Smith, Jon Blair, Nile Seguin, Natalie Metcalfe, Paloma Nuñez, Jillian Welsh, Sharjil Rasool, Carolyn Fe, Adelio Moras, Byron Abalos, Li Chen and Alanis Foroughi.

Produced by Longhope Media and airing on OMNI Television, the show's third season is set to premiere on May 26.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

Filipino American lawyers' literary anthology debuts on West Coast

WALTER ANG
May 14 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — The literary stylings of Filipino American lawyers from across the United States have been collected and published in an anthology of essays and poetry.

Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva (right) with
Jennifer Sta. Ana of Pinay Powerhouse at
the West Coast launch of "Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law." 

Titled Rooted in Practice: Pinays in Law, the book recently had its West Coast launch.

A collaboration between Pinay Powerhouse and Sawaga River Press, the publication's 28 entries written by Pinay-identifying attorneys touch on a wide range of topics including decolonizing practices, career advice, identity, motherhood and community work.

"This affirming collection represents Pinays engaged in all aspects of the law-practicing and non-practicing attorneys, paralegals, law students, judges, activists - as they balance work, identity and family life," said Sawaga River Press publisher Justine Villanueva.

Powerhouse

Pinay Powerhouse is a women's collective focused on empowering attorneys, future attorneys and legal professionals as leaders in the law.

It was founded in 2016 by Christine Start, Mari Bandoma Callado, Lorna Garcia De Guzman, Vanessa Candelaria and Jennifer Sta. Ana.

Rooted in Practice

The collective had its inaugural conference in 2017 with over a hundred attendees. Since then, its conferences have provided opportunities to learn about current legal issues, network and celebrate achievements of Filipina legal professionals.

Pinay Powerhouse is already planning for its eighth conference, slated for next year.

Synergy

Villanueva had started attending Pinay Powerhouse's monthly support circles in 2021 during the pandemic.

"Although I was attending as a Pinay attorney, as I listened to the stories being shared at these events, the publisher in me thought it would be a worthwhile project to gather our stories and create a book because the same goal applies: to honor our stories and experiences," she says.

"As both an attorney and a publisher, I thought this was a good way to synergize my passions and identities."

Womanifesting

After a few discussions and a call for submissions, the anthology was completed in about a year. It had its East Coast launch during Pinay Powerhouse's sixth conference last year.

At the recent launch for the West Coast, which was done with a Kamayan Feast prepared by chef Yana Gilbuena, Villanueva expressed appreciation to the Powerhouse founders.

"Thank you to the Pinay Powerhouse co-founders for envisioning this collective and `womanifesting' our collective dreams. We look forward to more storytelling collaborations in the future," she said.

Inspiration

"Since the publication of this anthology, I have received much interest from various kinds of readers and community members who appreciate that a book like this exists," said Villanueva.

"I've met young women who are thinking about going to law school and are excited to know that there are many Pinay attorneys they can connect with. Adults who said they know young women who could be inspired by a book like this.

"All these inspire and instruct me as a publisher who wants to be attentive to the needs and wants of the Fil-Am community that I serve. I hope that more community members will pick this up, even if they're not attorneys or in the legal field."

"Rooted in Practice" is the first of a projected series of anthologies. "Plans for the next one are already underway," Villanueva added.

Visit sawagariverpress.com. Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149738/fil-am-lawyers-literary-anthology-debuts-on-west-coast

Filipino American crafts punk rock sci-fi dystopia concert

By WALTER ANG 
May 10, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American theatergoers who are interested to know if art can survive in a post-apocalyptic world might find out in a new "concert narrative" to be staged at Bindlestiff Studio.

In "Darkheart," Mary searches for the source of liberation while navigating a dystopic authority-controlled corporate kingdom with "inner-dimensional" entities named Art, Artist and Heart.

According to the show's makers, their endeavor "pushes the boundaries of the stage to immerse the audience in a world filled with revelry" and "Filipino futurism punk rock sci-fi multiverse."

At the nexus of this multiverse is Golda Sargento, who wrote the script of the show and its songs, is co-directing it and performing in it.

Michelle Talagrow co-directs. Music will be provided by Chris "Burd" Quines on guitar and bass, Carlie Mari on bass and blair switch drums. Mari will also handle sound design. Puppetry by Aureen Almario and projection design by Joan Osato.

Singer, songwriter, poet

Sargento has been active in the Bay Area since moving from Alaska in the late 1990s.

Primarily a musician, she has performed with bands Golda + the Guns, DeathGlam, and post-punks The Soft Stars as a singer and songwriter. She's also a poet and does theater.

"My stage work developed through the community of Bindlestiff in the early 2000s with [Fil-Am playwright] Jeannie Barroga`s `Gadgets.'"

Her most recent acting work was in Oliver Saria's "Inay Dalisay's World Famous Lechon." Other credits include "My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre" and Jessica Hagedorn's "The Gangster of Love."

Sargento has braided her multidisciplinary arts practice into this production. "It is my first full length play and is itself an album," she says.

"Though a music play, the production is not a musical. Forfeiting the formula of songs which echo plot, the atmosphere, the stakes and the characters of `Darkheart' are all drawn from the world of the music."

Sargento says she coined the term "concert narrative" to highlight the music's storytelling and worldbuilding. Creating something new is no easy task. It took Sargento over a decade to complete this show but "I was encouraged to nurture [it] by some of the Bay's most generous and talented creatives."

Collaboration, liberation

Talagrow has been a theater maker for more than two decades and has worked with groups such as The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep, Central Works, Impact Theatre, Ferocious Lotus, Cutting Ball Theatre, Magic Theatre and Shotgun Players.

"I love supporting new works and the community at Bindlestiff. My initial reactions to the script were basically `What the `bleep' is this world?' and `I want to know more!'" After hearing the music, it was immediately a `Yes! I want to play!'"

Talagrow says that during rehearsals, she has been working together with Sargento to flesh out how music can take the lead. "It's different from a musical where the narrative drives the show and song is an extension of the story. In `Darkheart,' it's the song that drives the script. It's about a visceral experience than a linear story."

"But it's not just Golda and me, it's really the collaboration with the designers, producers and actors that bring this work to life! My hope is that our process reflects the beautiful way Bindlestiff brings community together."

Sargento adds, "At the core of `Darkheart' is a liberation story told from the margins of a dystopic diaspora. In writing this, I hope to uplift the survivors of the apocalypses that have already happened, to inspire creatives and to unite all freedom fights."

"Darkheart" runs May 16 to June 1 at Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street, San Francisco. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149538/fil-am-crafts-punk-rock-sci-fi-dystopia-concert

Fil-Am illustrator releases new children's books, surprises mom

WALTER ANG
May 8, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net

NEW YORK — Filipino American illustrator Lynnor Bontigao has just released not one, not two, but three children's books. One of them even contains a surprise for her mother.

She is the talent who crafted the visuals of Kailani's Gift by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, At the End of the Day by Lisl Detlefsen and Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer.

"I could never have imagined having three books coming out in one year, so it's completely mind-blowing to have three in one month," she says.

"I am so excited for each one of them to finally be here. They're all so different from each other, each one has its own vibe. It's a very exciting time for me!"

Bontigao herself has written and illustrated Sari-Sari Summers, where Nora comes up with a brilliantly delicious way to attract customers after a heat wave to her lola's empty store.

Her other illustration work includes You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and Jack & Agyu by Justine Villanueva (which is written in English and different Filipino languages.)

Always loved drawing

Bontigao was born in the Philippines and moved to the US in her early 20s. "I've always loved drawing as a kid. I thought I'd grow up to be a designer, perhaps of shoes since my parents used to have a shoe factory or a landscape architect because we had a plant nursery later on."

While she was in college taking up visual communications, Bontigao joined a children's book illustrators group. "That was when I realized I wanted to make children's books."

She currently works using digital tools. "But I think I want to go back to traditional methods in my next project, like using watercolor or colored pencils. Let's see."

Culture

Seashell Key is the first of a young chapter book series from Bontigao and author Lourdes Heuer about a community of kids living in a beautiful seaside town.

"The setting is similar to many of our beaches in the Philippines with coconut, mango and banana trees around."

(There is no rest for Bontigao, she just recently completed artwork for the second book in this series.)

In Kailani's Gift, Kailani has a hard time keeping up with her siblings as they practice a traditional Filipino dance. With Daddy's help, will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola for their anniversary party?

The book celebrates family, Filipino heritage, and dance, showcasing the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with one's gifts and talents.

"I did not hesitate to take on this project. I've wanted to work with Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young since reading her Cora Cooks Pancit many years ago. I'm thankful for . this dream come true," she says.

Meaningful

At the End of the Day chronicles a busy, exhausted and loving family dealing with one obstacle after another in the run-up to bedtime.

When the book was released this past April, it held a special significance for Bontigao. April is the Month of the Military Child. "Guess what? That's me! My brave mom was an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. She was a military nurse and she was in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. She would often be in combat boots and uniform. She rose to the rank of colonel," Bontigao says.

To honor her mother, Bontigao worked with the author and book editor to illustrate the family in the book as a military family.

"Being in the military was such a big part of my mother's life and I hope she knows that we appreciate her sacrifice. We are so proud of her accomplishments."

"I didn't tell nanay until [the book came out]. I wanted to surprise her. Oh, she loved it!"

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

Filipino American artists explore memory in 'Glass Menagerie'

By WALTER ANG
May 3, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American theater artists are exploring memory and psychology in a staging of playwright Tennessee Williams' classic "Glass Menagerie."

Filipino American theater makers (from left)
Jomar Tagatac, Jeffrey Lo and Nicole Javier
working on a scene in "The Glass Menagerie." Photo by Juan Rebuffo

In the play, Tom longs to evade his monotonous day job and his mother Amanda. Recalling her debutante days, Amanda toils to find a match for her debilitatingly shy daughter Laura, who escapes the realities of her world through her collection of glass animal figurines.

Jomar Tagatac takes on the role of Tom while Nicole Javier will play Laura. Jeffrey Lo directs.

Williams is known for his other plays as well, including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," which was adapted for the big screen starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, and "A Streetcar Named Desire," which was also adapted into a film starring Marlon Brando.

Challenging

Tagatac relishes the opportunity to work on a well-known American classic. "`The Glass Menagerie' is a memory play, specifically from the [viewpoint of] the character Tom. Tennessee uses beautiful language to talk about the past. So the challenge is to activate the language in a way that feels present, that feels alive," he says.

"The writing is so deep and there are a million things to explore in a single line or passage of text. It's been deemed a classic for a reason. The writing and the themes in the piece are of the highest caliber, and it bravely explores big ideas of class structure, family dynamics, the pursuit of a dream to be the person you desire to be."

Tagatac has had several plays under his belt at the San Francisco Playhouse. He's also performed with Theater Mu, American Conservatory Theater, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, California Shakespeare Theater and Magic Theatre, among others.

Timeless

Javier, on the other hand, is making her debut performance at the Playhouse. She's performed with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, La Jolla Playhouse, San Jose Repertory Theatre, South Coast Repertory and Shakespeare Orange County, among others.

She talks about the play's timelessness. "Sharing the play with this cast of players in 2024 continues to feel relevant even though it was set nearly 100 years ago, especially with the topics it floats to the surface," she says. "It's pretty cool that we get to consider how we've changed and grown as a society over this amount of time."

She is also enjoying the challenges of fleshing out her character. "The story itself echoes some very relatable family dynamics. I've loved finding the ways our characters can push each other's buttons as well as give comfort with just one glance," she adds.

"As the actor who is playing Laura, who is often being spoken to or talked about, I've been given the wonderful challenge of discovering the nuances of how she absorbs the world around her without directly voicing it. My hope is that the audience can see both the finesse and strength that it requires to create anything that resembles `glass.'"

In addition to directing at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Lo has also helmed productions at Capital Stage, Hillbarn Theatre, Los Altos Stage Company and Palo Alto Players.

"There is so much to mind in every word of the script and we're still discovering more and more layers every day of rehearsal," Lo says.

"We have been so inspired as a team by the incredibly poetic and vivid stage directions that Tennessee Williams provides. We are leaning into . what it means to be stuck inside of your past and trying to write your way out of it in order to move forward with your life."

"The Glass Menagerie" runs until June 15, 2024 at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., San Francisco. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149125/fil-am-artists-explore-memory-in-glass-menagerie

Filipino American playwright responds to gun violence in Chicago

By WALTER ANG
May 2, 2024 | USA.Inquirer.net 

CHICAGO — Filipino American playwright Lani Montreal believes that art and advocacy are tools that can be used to help end gun violence.

Fil-Am actress Nina Mae Vidal Howard (left) in rehearsals
for Lani Montreal's play, "Panther in the Sky."

Her play, "Panther in the Sky," was written specifically because of and as a response to troubling statistics on gun-related incidents and deaths in her area.

It will have its world premiere this May from a collaboration between Filipino American theater group Circa Pintig and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.

The play is about four mothers dealing with the murders of their teenage sons on the streets of Chicago. The sons meet in the afterlife and grapple with the reality of their abrupt demise, while their mothers cope with grief and struggle to understand it all.

Lani Montreal

Fil-Am playwright Lani Montreal believes that art and advocacy are tools that can be used to help end gun violence. Image: Lani Montreal/Facebook

Despite the subject matter and premise, Fil-Am actor James Macapagal says, "I love the bits of humor woven into the serious topics of the play. I believe comedy is how we make sense of the world, and tragedy provokes us into action. There are so many great moments in our show where both work together to create meaning and hopefully inspire action. I'm excited to be part of it!"

Compelled

Among Montreal's plays are "Sister Outlaw," "Nanay," "Alien Citizen" and "Looking for Darna."

Montreal started writing "Panther in the Sky" in 2009. "That year, there were record numbers of 290 shootings and 34 gun-related deaths of public school students in Chicago," she says.

At the time, Montreal was living in Albany Park. "Though not as frequent as in the south side, we also had shootings there," Montreal says.

She had started teaching English Composition at Malcolm X College, where students would share, until now, "their experiences of loss and trauma from gun violence."

"As an educator, a writer and a new foster mother, I felt compelled to respond to the issue by writing a play about it."

More than a decade later, "The issues are still the same!" she says.

Encouraging change

Even while she was seeking funding to stage the play over the years, Montreal was already doing her part to encourage change by getting the message on gun violence prevention out to the public.

She would arrange to have readings and excerpts of the play performed. One was held at Fil-Am visual artist Cesar Conde's 2016 exhibit "The Bang Bang Project," which was his response to police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system.

Circa Pintig executive director Ginger Leopoldo says, "At every reading and performance, the diverse audiences, many of whom have been impacted by gun violence, gave positive feedback and believed the play should be shared with a wider audience."

For this world premiere, there will be community tables at the theater to allow audiences to write a letter or sign a prefilled postcard about gun violence prevention. The letters and postcards will then be sent to local, state and national politicians.

Fil-Am actress Nina Mae Vidal Howard plays one of the mothers. "I'm so honored to have been given [a voice] to help stir up a call to action. As parents, co-parents and grandparents, we must protect our children. They are all our children. Let's stand together and take action to help stop and end gun violence. We dedicate this show to all of our friends and family who have lost their loved ones due to gun violence," she says.

Montreal adds, "There is still a lot of work to be done to get guns off the streets of Chicago, and gun violence is still a big issue, unfortunately. This is why the play is just part of a bigger campaign to end gun violence."

"I had a student in a previous Circa Pintig workshop who was killed in a drive-by. If you live in Chicago, [gun violence is] something you cannot escape or ignore."

"Panther in the Sky" runs May 3-18 at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, 1650 W Foster Ave, Chicago. Visit danztheatre.org. 

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https://usa.inquirer.net/149034/fil-am-playwright-responds-to-gun-violence-in-chicago