Filipino American theater group Circa Pintig is hosting Chicago’s first-ever Filipino American Theater Festival. CONTRIBUTED

CHICAGO – Filipino American theater group Circa Pintig is hosting the first-ever Filipino American Theater Festival in the region from Oct 11 to 26.

“This cultural extravaganza coincides with Filipino American History Month, showcasing the best of Filipino and Filipino American theater while emphasizing identity, heritage and social justice,” says artistic director RJ Silva.

The festival will feature staged readings of 28 plays, by both established and emerging playwrights. The plays were selected from 70 submissions from across the US and Philippines which resulted from the festival’s call for entries in July.

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The plays are intended to be 10 to 15 minutes each, otherwise, excerpts from full-length plays will be performed.

Audiences can engage in post-show talkbacks with playwrights, directors and actors.

The applicants range from their early 20s to early 40s with about an even split between women and men.

Themes

Each week of the festival features a different theme. Week one is “Pilipinas! Loud and Proud KNB?” showcasing “queer stories from the diaspora.”

Performances for the first week of the festival will be held at PrideArts, an LGBT performance space and theater organization currently led by Filipino American artistic director Jay Españo.

From Oct. 18 to 20, the theme is “Coming Home: Mga Dula sa Ating Bayan” and from Oct. 24 to 26, the theme is “Saling Lahi: The Next Generation.”

On Ot. 19, there will be a “Special Tagalog Night” to “celebrate Filipino linguistic heritage” with plays in Tagalog and Waray.

The remainder of the festival will be held at the Rizal Center, a Filipino American community center, on West Irving Park Rd.

Vibrancy

“This festival is a testament to the vibrancy and resilience of Filipino American theater,” says Ginger Leopoldo, executive director.

“From award-winning plays to emerging voices, we’re showcasing the depth and diversity of our community’s stories.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the richness of Filipino American theatre and be part of CIRCA Pintig’s continuing legacy of storytelling and community engagement!”

CIRCA Pintig’s productions aim to educate, entertain, and inspire audiences about the rich tapestry of Filipino American experiences, perfectly embodying this theme through their diverse selection of plays and storytelling.

Apart from organizing the festival, Circa Pintig has also been staging productions that are part of its regular season.

Recent shows include “Panther in the Sky” by Lani T. Montreal, which deals with poverty, violence and racism in Chicago; “Sama Sama: Solidarity in the Fields” by director and playwright Giovanni Ortega, which is about Filipino Amerian labor activist Larry Itliong.

Conrad A. Panganiban “Daryo’s All American Diner,” which was staged by the group last year, was mounted again due to popular demand. The play focuses on a Filipino American family that struggles to keep a business open at the height of the pandemic.

Visit circapintig.org. Walter Ang is the author of “Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History.” Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.

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