SKYLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY P R E S E N T S

WRITTEN BY BONI B. ALVAREZDIRECTED BY JON LAWRENCE RIVERA

STARRING: EVIE ABAT, ANGELA T. BAESA, TONI KATANO, HAZEL LOZANO,

SAMANTHA VALDELLON, SANDY VELASCO, ARIANNE VILLAREAL

SCENIC DESIGNER: CHRISTOPHER SCOTT MURILLO

LIGHTING DESIGNER: MATHEW RICHTER

SOUND DESIGNER: AUSTIN QUAN

COSTUME DESIGNER: MYLETTE NORA

PROPERTIES: LILY BARTENSTEIN

PUBLICIST: JUDITH BORNE

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: GUILLERMO PEREZ

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN

REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER: AMY PELCH

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: GISELLE TÖNGI WALTERS

OPENING NIGHT: FEBRUARY 16TH, 2019

PRODUCERS

GARY GROSSMAN AND TONY ABATEMARCO

America Adjacent was created in the MADlab - a playwriting development process produced by Moving Arts in Los Angeles, CA.

This production is dedicated to the memory of Henry Ong... who made us all stars.

Welcome!Loyal to my heritage, my work aims to include Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the American theater, shedding light on the Filipino experience – not simply as a foreign ‘other’, but specifically, how we factor into the American landscape. Filipino-Americans constitute the third largest Asian population in the U.S., just behind Chinese-Americans and Indian-Americans, yet Filipino characters are virtually invisible on stages across the country.

Several years ago, I read an article about a birthing house filled with expectant Chinese mothers in the San Gabriel Valley that had been raided. Neighbors complained of excessive trash and reported heavy traffic in and out of the house. The authorities investigated and the landlords were fined and cited with violations. The women who were still able to fly were quickly deported, while the others were detained.

In America Adjacent, I have adapted the women to be Filipino. I wanted to know who these women are who made this journey and what they risk to birth American babies. It is important to note that the expecting mothers in America Adjacent are not poor; they are women of means. This play is meant to be a peek inside the house – not to condemn, not to defend their actions, but to see and hopefully understand.

My deepest thanks to Gary, Sandee, Tony & everyone at Skylight for their support and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Much gratitude to Jon Lawrence Rivera and this wonderful cast for their fearlessness. I dedicate this world premiere to Mama Herming who believed in the dream.

Boni B. AlvarezPlaywright

Bilang manunulat ng teatro dito sa Amerika, gusto kong tankilikin sa aking trabaho ang storya ng ating komunidad, para sa lahat ng Pilipino.

As a playwright in American theater,

I want to herald in my work the story of our community, for all Filipinos.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong pagsupporta ng America Adjacent!

Thank you very much for supporting America Adjacent!

CAST(In Order of Appearance)

TONI KATANO - PAZ LOCSINANGELA T. BAESA - ROSHELYN SANDOVAL

EVIE ABAT - JANELLE MAY CABUSAOSANDY VELASCO - AIMEE REYES

ARIANNE VILLAREAL - DIVINA AYALASAMANTHA VALDELLON - SAMPAGUITA BAUTISTA

HAZEL LOZANO - ADMINISTRATOR

TIME: NOW

SETTINGA one-bedroom condo in East Hollywood - Larchmont Village adjacent.

PRODUCTION STAFF PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN

REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER: AMY PELCH

SET CONSTRUCTION: JASON FINE, GARRETT CROUCH

PUBLICIST: JUDITH BORNE

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: GUILLERMO PEREZ

PHOTOGRAPHER: ED KRIEGER

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Blake Boyd, Audrey Cain, Darin Anthony, Alana Dietze, Cory Hinkle, Tira Palmquist, Lem Thornton, Cece Tio & Alicia Tycer, CalState LA Department of Theatre and Dance Center Theatre Group, #propslife

Facebook: SkylightTheatre Instagram: skylighttheatre Twitter: @SkylightThtr

OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS

EVIE ABAT (Janelle May Cabusao) is psyched to join this all-Pinay cast for another Boni Alvarez masterpiece! Most recently, she appeared as Emilia/Brabantio in Othello at The Actor’s Center, and as supporting characters in films that ran in several film festivals. Previously, she also played Reggie Fluty in The Laramie at The Secret Rose and as Lee Lee in the premiere run of Bloodletting at Atwater Village Theater. Thanks to Jon, Boni, Raul and Skylight for having me!

ANGELA T. BAESA (Roshelyn Sandoval) Angela’s acting background is in theatre, but have been pursuing film and TV. 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 (Paz Locsin) Toni is proud to be a Filipino-American actor and producer native to Southern California. She studied at the Strasberg Theater Institute. Toni produced Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train and more plays with Sixty-Six Theater Co. as well as short films. She can be seen in the upcoming films The Florist and Nanay Ko alongside Cinderella’s Paolo Motalban. A million thanks to Mom, Dad, Boni, Jon, Gary and the entire Skylight team for having me!

HAZEL LOZANO (Administrator) is a 1.5-generation Fil-Am theater artist. Nagdakulo iya sa Bicol, tapos lumipat siya sa Washington State (UW PATP 2017). She is honored to help bring this baby into the world! Thank you for supporting unheard voices! 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). @atypicalhaze

SAMANTHA VALDELLON (Sampaguita Bautista) Sammy 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. 

WHO’S WHOCAST

SANDY VELASCO (Aimee Reyes) 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 (Divina Ayala) is thrilled to be making her LA theatre debut with these amazing FilAm 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

WHO’S WHOPRODUCTION

BONI B. ALVAREZ (Writer) is a Los Angeles-based writer-actor and a resident playwright of Skylight’s PlayLAb where he developed his plays Dusty de Los Santos and Bloodletting (World Premiere at Playwrights’ Arena with subsequent production as part of CTG’s Block Party 2018 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre). His plays include Fixed, Nicky, Dallas Non-Stop, Driven, Ruby and Tragically Rotund. His work has been produced/developed at Playwrights’ Arena, Center Theatre Group – Kirk Douglas Theatre, Echo Theater, Coeurage Theatre, Chalk Rep, Moving Arts, Artists

At Play, 2g (NYC), Theatre Rhinoceros (San Francisco), PFP (Seattle), InterAct Theatre (Philadelphia), and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 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 a Resident Playwright with New Dramatists.

JON LAWRENCE RIVERA (Director) returns to Skylight having directed the world Premiere of The End Times and Obama-ology . Jon is the recipient of the first Career Achievement Award from Stage Raw. Previous collaboration with Mr. Alvarez: Bloodletting (Playwrights’ Arena and The Kirk Douglas Theater), Dallas Non-Stop, and Ruby, Tragically Rotund 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 an actual hotel), @atthespeedofJake 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, Cries For Hire by Giovanni Ortega, Stand-off-at-Hwy #37 by Vicky Ramirez, Flipzoids by Ralph B. Peña (also in Manila). Recipient of a NY Fringe Festival Award, an LA Weekly Award, and a five-time Ovation Award nominee, Rivera is the founding artistic director of Playwrights’ Arena.

CHRISTOPHER SCOTT MURRILLO (Scenic Design) is a scenic designer, artist, and educator based in southern California. Recent Skylight Theatre credits include: The Madres and The End Times. His work has been seen at Native Voices at The Autry, International City Theatre, Chance Theater, The Kirk Douglas Theater, and the Getty Villa (to name a few). He is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 and the Television Academy. Christopher is a 2016 recipient of the Princess Grace Fellowship- Pierre Cardin Award.

MATT RICHTER (Lighting Design) is an award-winning designer based in Los Angeles. He is the resident designer for the LA LGBT Center, where he also works full time. Designs for the Center include Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe; Revisited (Ovation nomination), and  Hit The Wall  (Ovation Nomination, LADCC Award). Recent designs for Sacred Fools include Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play  (Ovation nomination) and The Value of Moscow. Other recent designs include Oppenheimer and Finks, both for Rogue Machine and  I’m Not A Comedian, I’m Lenny Bruce  Off Broadway.  Matt also serves as half of the experimental ambient folk duo Lanfair Field (lanfairfield.com) and creates his own audio strangeness as autodealer (autodlr.net). For more information, please visit mattrichter.net.

AUSTIN QUAN (Sound Design)  is the owner of Circular Rhythm Productions and a UCLA Alumni. His sound designs include: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Last Train to Nibroc, See Rock City, Gulf View Drive, A Carol Christmas Musical, and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Austin’s nominations/awards include: LA Weekly’s Nomination, Broadway World Nomination, StagesceneLA Scenie Award, Ovation Nominations, and an Ovation Award for Best Production in a Large Theatre for the show, Gulf View Drive. 

MYLETTE NORA (Costume Design) has won the NAACP Theatre Award for best costumes and is listed in the honors edition of the Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women. Her work, which consists of television, film, and stage, was seen nightly on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. The famed artist Synthia St. James noted Mylette as being the inspiration for her world-renowned painting “Ensemble” which graced the cover of the best-selling novel Waiting To Exhale by Terry McMillan. Mylette’s talents continue with her creative line of heirloom dolls called My Mind’s Eye and a line of designer doggie wear called From the Heart Doggie Wear. www.FromTheHeartDoggieWear.com

CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN (Stage Manager) Christopher recently performed in Skylight’s World Premiere of Hostage. He is Skylight’s resident Production Stage Manager and Production Coordinator. He has been building sets and running light boards ever since high school. During college he worked at LATC and for the Los Angeles Opera as well as on the running crew for countless shows at The Shrine Auditorium. In New York, Chris got to work in a ton of great theaters as well as building half a dozen or so shows from the ground up on Theater Row. During his years working for the Skylight Theatre Company, he has worked on the world premieres of Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, Church & State, Lord of the Underworld’s Home for Unwed Mothers, El Grande CIRCUS de Coca-Cola, Pray To Ball, Forever House, The Wrong Man, The End Times, Tomorrow, Beautified, Hermetically Sealed, A Death in Colombia, The Jesus Hickey, along with La Ronde de Lunch, Bulrusher, Obama-ology, and the Rogue Machine’s Dirty Filthy Love Story.

GUILLERMO PEREZ (Graphic Design) Has designed promotional graphics for Skylight Theatre Company for over two years, including I See You Made An Effort, El Grande Circus de Coca-Cola, Skylight Salute Honoring Ed Asner, How We Are Different From Animals and Shades of Disclosure among many others. He also creates graphics for the non-profit art program Art Division and has been part of group shows at the USC Fisher Musuem of Art and the Annenberg Community Beach House. You can see more of his work at: guillermoperez.myportfolio.com

GISELLE “G” TÖNGI (Associate Producer) is a familiar and respected figure in the Filipino community. She has long been active in the entertainment industry with over two decades of entertainment experience in both the Filipino and FilAm market. Primarily recognized for her acting in film, television and theater in the Philippines, winning several awards & nominations for her work, Töngi is also a proud Bruin, graduating with Honors from the Communications department with a double minor in Television, Film, Digital Arts and Theater.She is most recently defined by her activism work as a Malaya convener has actively campaigned for Reproductive Rights for Philippine women. She is thrilled to be an Associate Producer of America Adjacent as this is the kind of theater that delves into the forced migration that so many Filipina women face on a daily basis. She would like to thank Boni Alvarez for such a beautiful and important piece of theater and Jon Lawrence Rivera for having her collaborate on their work.

WHO’S WHO

GARY GROSSMAN (Producer) is the recipient of Stage Raw’s 2016 “Career Achievement Award.” He started his career in New York owning two theaters and a theatrical lighting company by the age of 23. Gary worked at the Public Theatre, Café La Mama, and Sheraton Square Playhouse before traveling west in the 70’s to join up with the emerging theatre moment in Los Angeles. He has produced over 300 stage plays, including more than 50 world premieres. Among his celebrated productions are Rotterdam (3 LADCC Awards including Best Production) Church & State, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea (Steinberg/National Theatre Critics Citation), El Grande CIRCUS de Coca-Cola, Wrong Man (3 Ovation Awards), Obama-ology, Pray To Ball (1 Ovation Award), Years to the Day, Hermetically Sealed, Bullrusher, Sexsting, Mad Women (LA Weekly Award), Romeo and Juliet directed by Milton Katselas (3 LADCC Awards), Dylan (3 LADCC Awards), AIDS/US Portraits In Courage, Influence, Open House, Dream Man, Balm In Gilead, Visions & Lovers, Rabbit Hole, Beautified and La Ronde de Lunch.

TONY ABATEMARCO (Producer) Skylight Theatre Company. Awards: Ovation (Lead Performance - Irma Vep), LA Weekly (multiple), two NEA Directing Fellowships, and 3x LA Drama Critics’ Nominee (Lead), most recently for Rothko in Red at ICT, Long Beach. Former member of Antaeus. Director: A&E TV & Broadway (Julie Harris in Lucifer’s Child) & London West End (Robyn Peterson’s Catwalk Confidential). On camera: 68 appearances – film & tv combined. Teacher: USC (Drama/ retired) & SMC Emeritus. His plays have won LA Weekly & DramaLogue awards. His play Beautified had its World Premiere at Skylight in 2012, and Forever House had its World Premiere here in 2015.

SKYLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY is honored to be presenting their multi-award winning production of Rotterdam at Center Theatre Group’s Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre March/April 2019. The production won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in 2018 for Best Production. Additional LADCC awards for Rotterdam include Writing and Lead Actress. It also received top honors at the 2018 Stage Raw Awards, winning Production of the Year and Leading Actress awards. Recognized as a powerhouse of new play development by Dramatist Magazine, many of Skylight’s World Premieres have gone on to be performed nationally and internationally; Church & State opened Off Broadway in 2017, has had 44 productions with 18 more scheduled in 2019; Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea (a co-production with Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble) received the prestigious Steinberg American Theatre Critics Association Citation. Skylight’s resident writers PlayLAb, helmed by Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Tony Award nominee Lee Blessing, includes alumni that have enjoyed productions nationwide, the prestigious USA Ford Fellowship in Theater and Performance (Sigrid Gilmer, 2014), and a winner in the Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize winner (Louisa Hill, 2015 – Lord of the Underworld’s Home for Unwed Mothers).

WHO’S WHO

SKYLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY STAFFPRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: GARY GROSSMANCO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: TONY ABATEMARCOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: SANDEE GROSSMANARTISTIC ASSOCIATE: MICHAEL KEARNSPLAY LAB DIRECTOR: LEE BLESSING PLAY LAB ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: TIM FURLONGARTISTIC LEADERS: SHANIA ROSENTHAL, JOSHUA GERSHICK, CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN, VICTORIA PEARLMAN, CELIA RIVERALYRIC PROJECT PROGRAM DIRECTOR: JOHN J. TORRESLITERARY MANAGER: JOSHUA GERSHICK PUBLICIST: JUDITH BORNEGRAPHIC DESIGN: GUILLERMO PEREZPROGRAM COORDINATOR: CHRISTOPHER HOFFMANSTAGE MANAGERS: COLIN GROSSMAN, BEN ALTMAN, GARRETT CROUCHBOX OFFICE: CARLEE WILSON, AMY PELCH, JILL ABATEMARCOVIDEO PROMOTION: MAXWELL MORROBEYOND CONVERSATION: JOSHUA GERSHICK

BOARD OF DIRECTORSFR. GREGORY GOETHALS CHAIR

DALE RAOUL SECRETARY

FORD AUSTIN, BRADFORD BANCROFT, GARY GROSSMAN, WENDY KOUT, WILLIAM SLOCUM

ARTISTIC ADVISORY BOARDAndy Ackerman, Brooke Adams, Ed Asner, Dan Bucatinsky, Marcia Milgrom Dodge,

Scott Ellis, Johnny Galecki, Peter Gallagher, Buck Henry, John Benjamin Hickey, Winnie Holzman, Dr Jorge Huerta, Robert Israel, Sheryl Kaller, Stacy Keach, Sharon Lawrence, Eric McCormack, Terrence McNally, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Nauffts, Billy Porter, Joan Rater, Jeffrey Richman, Thomas Sadoski, Don Roos, Chip Rosenbloom, Marc Shmuger, Joe Spano.

WE DON’T JUST “PUT ON PLAYS,” WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, HELP LAUNCH CAREERS, AND SOMETIMES WE CHANGE MINDS.

At Skylight Theatre Company We Are Dedicated To The Idea That Artists Can Create Change. Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than multi racial casting. It’s telling stories that would go unnoticed or could be controversial. It’s taking a chance on someone without regard for age, gender, ethnicity or zip code. It’s also about who’s in the audience.

Contributing To Positive Change, But We Can’t Do It Alone.The stories we tell start conversations, opening doors to new ideas and new people. We offer free programs to Artists, Teens, Young Adults and lifetime learning for Audiences with Beyond Conversation.

Your Gift Makes A Big Difference.As a nonprofit intimate theatre, ticket sales cover only 25% of our annual costs. Contributions from individuals like you make up the difference and have a real impact.

Will You Help Us? You can contribute online at SkylightTheatre.org, by mail or by phone.

NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED THE COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT LIVE THEATRE PROMOTES.

“The Skylight Theatre Company [is] known for creating stories to that help stimulate conversation, raise our consciousness, and expand our hearts.”

(BroadwayWorld)

Skylight Theatre: 1816 ½ N Vermont,

Los Angeles CA 90027 Call our local Box Office:

(213) 761-7061SkylightTheatre.org

Thank You to Our 2018 Contributors (January - December) SUSTAINER $25,000+CGLC Charitable Trust

ANGEL 10,000+Nancy E Barton Foundation Paul & Monica Bancroft Family Foundation, Bradford BancroftLos Angeles County Arts CommissionSteven and Julie KaricDwight Richard Odle

SPONSOR $5,000+Dale Raoul and Ray Thompson

LEADER $2,500+John RothmanRichard PhillipsBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Inc Robyn Peterson and Albert SurprenantLoyola High School of Los Angeles

SUPPORTER $1,000+Craig KapsonLoganCaplin Foundation Charlotte GulezianDavid TrainerDiane Cary and James ParriottEdlow Foundation FundHuman Family Education and Cultural InstituteIrene Ramp and Buck HenryJan MunroeJennifer RowlandPatricia Glaser

PARTNER $500+Jo Beth Williams and John PasquinWilliam SlocumAnonymousCarol & Craig KapsonPeter LevinDiane Frolov and Andrew SchneiderJeff Heglin and Randy SheriffJohn TaylorKen LarsonContinued Life of New Plays FundMary and Randy ArneyRolin JonesJean Christensen and Steven Warheit

ADVOCATE $250+The Joelson Foundation Dan Frischman

Tom LavagninoDoris HessMaud Winchester and Lucas ReinerAnonymousRhea MacCallumAndrew SchneiderAnonymousJoey and Anthony RichAnonymousAnonymousDoug SavantJeffrey RichmanAntioch University, Los Angeles

PATRON $100+Barnet KellmanDonna Pall and Mitch KlebanoffKate VolpeSkye and Liisi LaFontaineAnonymousFran FeinmanJudith MarlinKatherine SherwoodLee BlessingTim FurlongEve Gordon and Todd WaringEileen T’Kaye and David BischoffJeffrey Fischer-SmithNorma Anne HarrisStephanie Waxman and Dennis HicksYvonne and Jason LeeCarol and Robert NaceChris and Alex WrightAnita NaglerAnonymousArmando MolinaCheryl BodeEllie Herman and David LevinsonDennis NolletteIAMA Theatre CompanyJames FawcettJames FreedJames SteinJay BevanAnonymousJoel MintzJohn DensmoreJohn FleckJohn Flynn and Ann BronstonJordan Baker-Kilner & Kevin KilnerKatie MitchellKitty Swink

Larry and Meryle GellmanLynda and Stan LevyMartha DemsonMary AdairMatthew GoldsbyJacqueline and Michael KafkaMichelle Kholos Brooks and Max BrooksNanci ChristopherNeely SwansonAnonymousNina and Tony BorwickPacific Resident TheatreRob NagleSteven OngTheresa DavisTom Jacobson

FRIEND $50+Anonymous24th Street TheatreDr. Amy Gelfand and David MischNoreen ReardonWhitefire TheatreTom BryantWilliam KaiserAlan ShearmanDarcy Vebber and Andy RomanoffAnonymousBrian DoughtyBruce FrenchCarrie ArmstrongFountain TheatreTom and Fran FrancisAustin’s AsylumMaria Gobetti and Tom OrmaneyMary Ann CherryMeredith BesserMichael MichettiRambart TheatreRichard HochbergRoland PalenciaAnonymousStephanie Kerley Schwartz