The Perfect American Program Booklet

THE PILLARS

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THE PERFECT AMERICAN (a work in progress) a play by Conrad A. Panganiban

If you want to be an American, you must think and speak like one.

Put everything you learned from your old country behind you, starting with your accent.

The Heart of the American Dream beats within the FAMILY.

Notes by Beverly Marie-Spencer: ● ● ●

Keep locked doors closed.

Survival is living.

Dental care is very important.

Friday May 4th at 11:00 pm Sunday, May 6th at 6:00pm (with a meet & greet with the playwright)

Studio Theatre 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60614

Performer Bios IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE Brian Kung (Walter Bryce Spencer) is as a 2nd-ish generation Chinese American whose day job is web development. By night he is usually asleep (see: day job). Loving father of 1.5 children and growing.

Ryan Viloria (Francisco “Frank” Miranda) is just happy to be here! Ryan made his stage debut with the improv ensemble Delaware River and worked on the variety show MRS, NJ as a performer and producer. In April, 2017 he was a writer and performer for the skit comedy show Robot Girlfriend at the Annoyance Theatre. Currently he is a member of the improv troupe Pale Gale. Ryan would like to thank the cast for their art, Louie for guidance, Conrad for writing such a great play, and Ginger for this opportunity. Shout-out to CIRCA Pintig for 27 years of cultural work!

Ginger Leopoldo (Beverly Marie-Spencer) is an educator, actor/director, producer and community organizer. She is a founding member and founding Artistic Director for CIRCA Pintig a Filipino-American Theatre company in Chicago celebrating its 27th Anniversary Season. She is grateful to MPACCT Theatre for their shared vision to listen to and connect our communities, struggles and strategies for transcendance.

Sending love to all the artists involved and bless their hearts for telling this story!

Kim Fortner ( Valerie Zhanibekova) has lived in Chicago for over 15 years. Teaching has always been a part of her life in many facets. While her current full-time role is teaching English online to children in China, her part time roles in entertainment are one in the same. Teaching and acting/entertaining are amazing opportunities and a part of her life. How incredible it is when the two roles mix and come alive.

About the Playwright Conrad A. Panganiban is San Francisco Bay Area Playwright. His work has been performed in Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Scotland and in the Philippines. His full-length play WELGA had its World Premiere Production at San Francisco’s Bindlestiff Studio (San Francisco) in October 2017. He is a Resident Artist and Board Member of Bindlestiff Studio as well as a member of Theatre Bay Area and the Dramatists Guild of America. Conrad received an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Playwriting from San Francisco State University.

About the Director Louie is a long time artist-teacher with Circa Pintig and has directed several of its productions for the last fifteen years including Silencing Stigma (in partnership with UIC’s Asian American Studies Program), Allos, Looking For Darna, Gift of Tongue, Alamat (Legends), Dreamweavers and Bells of Balangiga. He is currently CP’s Artistic Director. He also works as an Independent Arts Instructor for After School Matters and an Adjunct Faculty in the Communications and Humanities Department of Waubonsee Community College. He is currently finishing his doctoral dissertation on mass communication at Ohio University.

About CIRCA Pintig Pintig which means pulse in Filipino, was founded in April 1991, with a mission to serve as a voice of the Filipino American community by engaging in active cultural work – using art as a means to celebrate the community’s rich history and culture. CIRCA was a non-profit arts organization that was founded in December 2001 by members of the PINTIG Cultural Group. CIRCA and Pintig merged in 2006 to form CIRCA Pintig, a community theater company and community education and outreach organization. For more information about CIRCA Pintig, please visit: http://www.circapintig.com/