CIRCA PINTIG ANNOUNCES YEAR TWO LINE-UP FOR THE CHICAGO FILIPINO AMERICAN THEATRE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 11 THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2025.
Following the successful inaugural event, the company presents 13 readings at the historic Rizal Community Center and the Hoover-Leppen Theatre.
CHICAGO, IL (September 25, 2025) CIRCA-Pintig is thrilled to announce the second annual Chicago FilipinoAmerican Theatre Festival playing October 11 through October 26, 2025 at the Rizal Community Center and the Hoover-Leppen Theatre. The festival coincides with Filipino American History Month in October and highlights the work of Filipino and Filipino American playwrights, artists, and writers from all around the world. The three-week festival will feature 13 new plays from multi-hyphenate and award-winning artists, as well as a continued partnership with PrideArts for the second weekend.
“After last year’s success at the inaugural Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival, we wanted to keep the momentumgoing by focusing on a smaller selection of plays,” says newly appointed Artistic Director RJ Silva. “In selecting our 13 shows, we are able to dedicate 2 nights of performances for each piece for not only our actors to be able to sink into these stories, but for our audiences to have more opportunity to enjoy original Filipino theatrical works.”
The first weekend will present staged readings at the Rizal Community Center on Saturday, October 11 at 7PM and Sunday, October 12 at 2PM. The shows featured in the first weekend include:
“August” by M Manalastas
“The Fire in Me” by Thelma Virata de Castro “Paboreal” by Matt Ordonez
“Diaspora Daughter” by Allison E Crisostomo “If I’m Lucky” by M Oliveros
“Lola’s Banig” by Fran de Leon
The total run time of presentations will be approximately 2 hours, including one 10-minute intermission.
Following the success of last year’s reading of “The Butterfly of Chula Vista” by Giovanni Orteg, CIRCA Pintig continues its partnership with PrideArts Chicago presenting another queer Filipino story. The companies will present “Debut” written by Nate Cozens, a play about a 29-year-old Filipino gay man who decides to throw himself a Filipino “debut” traditionally celebrated when Filipina girls turn 18. This performance will run for two performances, SaturdayOctober 18th at 7PM, and Sunday October 19th at 2PM at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Following each performance, there will be a talkback discussion on the intersections of “coming out celebrations” for the queer community in different cultures.
The third weekend will see the festival return to its home stage at the Rizal Community Center for performances on Saturday October 25th at 7PM and Sunday October 26th at 2PM. The readings presented for this weekend include:
“Bisikleta” by Joy Regullano “Pag-asa” byTimawa Pintado
“Sebastian” by Miguel Barretto-Garcia
“Lychee, or Other Exotic Fruits” by Georgie Morvis “What is Your Spouse’s Name?” by Ron Anahaw “Anniversary” by Nelsito Gomez
The total run time of presentations will be approximately 2 hours, including one 10-minute intermission.
Comments Silva: “One of the biggest inspirations to continue the festival was from our artists who have never performed with an all-Filipino (or sometimes all-Asian or all-POC) cast before. Our playwrights were able to see their playsperformed by all Filipinos or authentically cast for the first time, not having to write with limitations of their communities.”
Tickets for the festival are currently available and can be purchased by visiting circapintig.org/cfa- theatre-festival via email at ginger@circapintig.org. Please also email to explore financial assistance or pay-what-you-can options. Singletickets are available for $15 and $10 for seniors and students. Festival passes for all three weekends of performances can be purchased for $40.
“We hope for CIRCA Pintig and the rest of the Chicago theatre industry to see the festival as a way to learn about theFilipino stories, meet new Filipino performers and playwrights, and hope to see Filipino talent to be discovered through our intimate readings,” says Silva.
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR THE FULL LIST OF SELECTED PLAYS & PERFORMANCES
August
By M Manalastas
Oct. 11 at 7PM, Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Two Filipina women in a bathtub fight in this postmodern play where nothing makes sense.
The Fire in Me
By Thelma Virata de Castro Oct. 11 at 7PM,Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Excerpt of a full play based on interviews exploring domestic violence in San Diego’s Filipino American community.
Paboreal
by Matt Ordonez
Oct. 11 at 7PM, Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Retiring actor Mon is receiving a lifetime achievement award for his work. A young man, Martin, touches up his makeup backstage.
Diaspora Daughter
By Allison E Crisostomo
Oct. 11 at 7PM, Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
A monologue from a young woman who gets asked, “Where are you from?”
If I’m Lucky
By M Oliveros
Oct. 11 at 7PM, Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Boyfriends Enrique and Miguel celebrate their anniversary with cake, and possibly a new step in their relationship.
Lola’s Banig
By Fran de Leon
Oct. 11 at 7PM, Oct.12 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
When Gina, a single working mom, sits down to a Filipino breakfast with her daughter, Ligaya, flashbacks take them toa childhood in the Philippines when every Sunday was spent with relatives at her Lola’s house. It takes Ligaya to unlock Gina’s memory and pass down long-forgotten family traditions.
Debut
By Nate Cozens
Oct. 18 at 7PM, Oct. 19 at 2PM
Hoover-Leppen Theatre (3656 N Halsted St., Chicago)
Twenty-nine-year-old Filipino gay man drag queen Jomar decides to throw himself a Filipino “debut” traditionally celebrated when Filipina girls turn 18. His family does their best to make his debut perfect much to his demands butultimately celebrates the love he has received from his loved ones in order to love himself.
Bisikleta
by Joy Regullano
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Filipina mom Mina, in her 60s, decides to finally learn how to ride a bike, with the help of her daughter Jobelle.
Pag-asa
By Timawa Pintado
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Caridad and her friend Aleth prepare the house for son Junior’s arrival, who is bringing his girlfriend Sigrid for the first time.
Sebastian
By Miguel Barretto-Garcia
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Selections from a spoken word poetry of queer exploration inspired by St. Sebastian.
Lychee, or Other Exotic Fruits
By Georgie Morvis
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Excerpt of a full play about Matty who, amidst DOGE cuts and a changing country, visits his home in Hawai’i.
What is Your Spouse’s Name?
By Ron Anahaw
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Newlyweds Ruby and Josh rehearse for their upcoming immigration interview.
Anniversary
By Nelsito Gomez
Oct. 25 at 7PM, Oct. 26 at 2PM
at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
On the anniversary of his wife’s death, Rob visits the cemetery, where a chance encounter with May, an outspoken elderly woman, sparks an unexpected conversation. As their lives intertwine, buried grief, unspoken regrets, and deep-seated beliefs come to the surface.
CIRCA Pintig Announces Year Two
Presented by CIRCA-Pintig with partner PrideArts Chicago October 11-October 26, 2025
Performances October 11-12 and 25-26 will be at the Rizal Community Center (1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago)
Performances October 18-19 will be at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre (3656 N Halsted St., Chicago)
CIRCA-Pintig presents the second annual Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival playing October 11 through October 26, 2025 at the Rizal Community Center and the Hoover-Leppen Theatre. The festival coincides with Filipino American History Month in October and highlights the work of Filipino and Filipino American playwrights, artists, andwriters from all around the world. The three-week festival will feature 13 new plays as well as a continued partnership with PrideArts for the second weekend.
Tickets for the festival are currently available and can be purchased by visiting circapintig.org/cfa- theatre-festival viaemail at ginger@circapintig.org. Please also email to explore financial assistance or pay-what-you-can options.
ABOUT CIRCA-PINTIG
CIRCA-Pintig (CP), a Chicago-based organization for over 30 years, is dedicated to empowering immigrant communitiesthrough arts-based and community-centered programs. With a mission deeply rooted in the Filipino term “Pintig” — meaning “heartbeat” or “pulse” — CP embodies a dual focus: offering essential resources and grassroots services toimmigrants through its Immigrant Resources (IR) initiative, and fostering a community arts (CA) aesthetic that reflects and celebrates the multicultural American landscape and the diverse cultural histories of America. CP’s guiding principles of education, organization, and mobilization (E-O-M) have historically driven its efforts in education and advocacy through community performances and workshops.
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