America Adjacent (2019)
Written by Boni B. Alvarez
Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera
Producers: Gary Grossman, Tony Abatemarco
Associate Producer: Giselle Töngi Walters
You'll laugh while your heart is breaking.
– THE STORY: In pursuit of the American Dream, six pregnant Filipina women risk everything. Confined to a one-bedroom, one-bath unit in Hollywood the women do their best to overcome fears of jail and deportation so that their children can have a better life. Playwright Boni B. Alvarez examines the promise of U.S. Citizenship and ask, “How far would you go to give your child a future?”
SCHEDULE
Skylight Theatre;
Feb 9 – March 24
Opening Night: Feb 16
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 14+
WORLD PREMIERE
2018-2019 Season
INTERVIEWS
AND ARTICLES
Boni B. Alvarez brings a rare voice to the stage: Filipino America’s
Drama Ensues: 5 Questions for Boni Alvarez
Starring an all-Filipina cast, “America Adjacent” tackles the Filipino American dream
Interview by TFCBalitangAmerica - Watch it here
‘America Adjacent’: The play’s lessons on light and love
BEYOND
CONVERSATION
Enhance
your experience.
We hope to bring more to the conversation begun by the play AMERICA ADJACENT. Informal chats with invited guests last 20-25 minutes and begin immediately after the performance.
Sun. Feb 24 - "TNT OR IN HIDING - The Mental Health Impact of being Undocumented
Sun. March 3 - ANCHOR BABIES: A Mother's Justification
Sun. March 10 - ASSIMILATION IN AMERICA
Sun. March 17 - FILIPINAS FOR EXPORT: Factors of Forced Migration
Sun. March 24 - TRAUMA AND THE FILIPINA
MEDIA
2019
THE ARTISTS OF AMERICA ADJACENT
Boni B. Alvarez
writer
BONI B. ALVAREZ is a Los Angeles-based writer-actor. His plays include AMERICA ADJACENT, BLOODLETTING, FIXED, NICKY, DALLAS NON-STOP, DUSTY DE LOS SANTOS, DRIVEN and RUBY, TRAGICALLY ROTUND. His plays has been produced at Center Theatre Group – Kirk Douglas Theatre, Echo Theater, Coeurage Theatre, Skylight Theatre Company, Theatre Rhinoceros and Playwrights' Arena. He has been a Finalist for the PEN Center USA Literary Award, Aurora Theatre’s Global Age Project, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and Clubbed Thumb’s Biennial Commission.
He is currently in Skylight Theatre's PlayLAb and Geffen Playhouse's Writers' Room, and a Resident Playwright of New Dramatists.
Jon Lawrence Rivera
director
JON LAWRENCE RIVERA is the recipient of the first Career Achievement Award from Stage Raw, a NY Fringe Festival Award, an LA Weekly Award, and is a five-time Ovation Award nominee. He is the founding Artistic Director of Playwrights’ Arena. Previous collaborations with Mr. Alvarez: BLOODLETTING (also at the Kirk Douglas Theater), DALLAS NON-STOP, and RUBY, TRAGICALLY ROTUND. Most recently, Rivera directed the following critically-acclaimed world premieres for Playwrights’ Arena: BABY EYES by Donald Jolly, I GO SOMEWHERE ELSE by Inda Craig-Galván, LITTLE WOMEN by Velina Hasu Houston, BILLY BOY by Nick Salamone, THE HOTEL PLAY (performed in a hotel), THE END TIMES by Jesse Shao (co-production with Skylight Theatre Company), @THESPEEDOFJAKE by Jennifer Maisel, CIRCUS UGLY by Gabe Rivas Gomez, PAINTING IN RED by Luis Alfaro, and THE ANATOMY OF GAZELLAS by Janine Salinas Schoenberg). Other recent works include: BINGO HALL by Dillon Chitto, FAIRLY TRACEABLE by Mary Kathryn Nagle, CRIERS FOR HIRE by Giovanni Ortega, STAND-OFF AT HWY #37 by Vicky Ramirez,
FLIPZOIDS by Ralph B. Peña (also in Manila).
Evie Abat
actor
( WOMAN #1) Evie Abat is thrilled to be returning to her Skylight Theatre home, where she enjoyed a successful run earlier this year as Janelle Mae in the all-Filipina cast of AMERICA ADJACENT. She was most recently seen on the Broadwater Main Stage during the Fringe Festival, playing the musical-loving Dr. Krupke in COME BACK, and in front of the camera in the upcoming, SAG-AFTRA web series, CRAZY. She thanks Tony, Gary, Raul, and Wendy for having her on this wonderful stage again, and send much love to Greg and Sissy for putting up with her frequent requests for line runs. Representation: Luxe Talent Agency.
Angela T. Baesa
actor
(Roshelyn) ANGELA T. BAESA's acting background is in theatre, but she is also pursuing a film and TV career. She finished a feature, 8 DAYS CARLO, filmed in Mexico. Starred as the lead in MY HAUNTED HOUSE on Lifetime (LMN), and several short films, ANITO and BICULTURAL, that have been circling the festival circuits in the US and abroad. She trained with Stan Kirsch Studios, The Second City, iO West, BGB. She loves camping, skiing and hiking with the bears of the Sequoias.
Toni Katano
actor
(Paz) TONI KATANO is proud to be a Filipino-American, Southern California native who became enamored with acting at a young age performing in school plays. She studied at the Strasberg Theater Institute. Toni has produced plays with Sixty-Six Theater and can be seen in the upcoming films THE FLORIST AND NANAY KO alongside Cinderella’s Paolo Motalban. Toni is thrilled to join the cast of AMERICA ADJACENT and wishes to thank her parents and the entire production team.
Hazel Lozano
actor
(Administrator) HAZEL LOZANO is a 1.5-generation Fil-Am theater artist. Nagdakulo iya sa Bicol, tapos lumipat siya sa Washington State (UW PATP 2017). Since moving to LA a year ago, Hazel has played Iago in OTHELLO (Griot Theatre), an Australian misfit in GOT YOU (Exit Strategies/Raze the Space), and a wannabe mermaid in OF GOVERNMENT (Son of Semele). She is honored to help bring this baby into the world! Thank you for supporting unheard voices! @atypicalhaze
Samantha Valdellon
actor
(Sampaguita) SAMANTHA VALDELLON is a proud NY native, actress and violinist. Other theatre credits include TWELFTH NIGHT, FAILURE: A LOVE STORY (Coeurage Theatre), FLUFFY BUNNIES IN A FIELD OF DAISIES (The Infinite Monkey Project) and THE BRAHMIN AND THE TIGER (here&now theatre company). Recent film credits include LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED? (Genius Pictures) and BIRTH PANGS (Stink Films USA). Maraming salamat po to the America Adjacent family for this amazing experience. Love and gratitude to family, friends, and Danny.
Sandy Velasco
actor
(Aimee) SANDY VELASCO is an actor, writer and comedian. She’s the proud creator of the award-winning comedy webseries, “MISS GUIDANCE” and has performed as an improviser at UCB and Improvcity. She can also be seen performing stand up comedy at the famous Ice House Comedy Club. Theatre credits include: Coeurage Theatre Company, Artists At Play, Playwrights' Arena, East West Players and Company of Angels. “Blessed to be back on stage representing another Fil-Am story, thanks to Boni!” @thesandyvelasco
Arianne Villareal
actor
(Divina) ARIANNE VILLAREAL is thrilled to be making her LA theatre debut with these amazing Fil-Am women! A daughter of immigrants, she grew up in the Cincinnati area. Regional credits include: THE 25TH…SPELLING BEE (Actors Theatre Indiana); THE PILL, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, 4000 MILES (Phoenix Theatre); SOUTH PACIFIC (Beef & Boards); 4000 MILES (JET Theatre). BA Theatre/Music, U. Indianapolis. Thanks to the creative team and Raul Staggs Casting, and to her friends, family, and mentor for their unending support. More at: ariannevillareal.com @villareally
DESIGNERS
SCENIC DESIGN: Christopher Scott Murillo
LIGHTING DESIGN: Mathew Richter
COSTUME DESIGN: Mylette Nora
SOUND DESIGN: Austin Quan
PROPERTIES: Lily Bartenstein
PRODUCTION STAFF
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: Christopher Hoffman
REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER: Garrett Crouch
CASTING DIRECTOR: Raul Clayton Staggs
PUBLICIST: Judith Borne
MARKETING ART AND PROGRAM DESIGN: Guillermo Perez
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHER: Ed Kreiger
VIDEO PRODUCTION: MM Studios, Maxwell Morro
Skylight Theatre Company is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
SPECIAL EVENTS
REVIEWS
HUMOROUS and COMPASSIONATE, America Adjacent is NOT TO BE MISSED. America Adjacent not only serves as an eye-opening look at how many people in the world view America — it is also an ode to strong women. - RECOMMENDED, TOP TEN - Stage Raw
One to CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER. Captivating and compelling hot-button-issue dramedy. PITCH-PERFECT performances… seven gifted comediennes every bit as capable of eliciting tears as they are adept at inspiring laughs. WOW! - StageSceneLA
With America Adjacent, A SPECIAL BONUS AWAITS THE AUDIENCE. - Asian Journal
SOULFULLY DIRECTED… Proves that this Filipino-American playwright's POWERFUL VOICE must exist in the American theatre. Alvarez LOVINGLY, HEARTBREAKINGLY and HUMOROUSLY illuminates - Annenberg Media
REFRESHING... This ensemble is TERRIFIC, playing off each other with seamless, boundless energy, filling the stage with PATHOS and JOY. I loved them. - Theatre Notes
ADDRESSES THE QUESTION HEAD-ON No matter which side of the immigration debate you are on, America Adjacent is a sympathetic look at the reasons behind why some women are willing to do whatever is necessary to give birth in America. - BroadwayWorld.
FINE ACTING. The play tells Human Stories, URGING US TO FEEL COMPASSION for our fellows. We recognize them as people we know. Sometimes as ourselves” – Zahir Blue/Night-Tinted Glasses
Slice of life that ILLUMINATES, WITHOUT JUDGMENT... explores high cost of American Dream. IMPRESSIVE... - People's World