NEW YORK—The Filipino American stars and crew of “Here Lies Love,” the immersive musical event by David Byrne and DJ Fatboy Slim, will gather for an afternoon of drinks and conversation with the public on Saturday, July 20, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ugly Kitchen restobar (103 1st Ave., New York, NY).
Filipino Mundo-NYC, Filipino American Press Club of New York and Ugly Kitchen are honoring the Filipino-American theater artists whose ensemble commitment has made “Here Lies Love,” currently performing at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, the most acclaimed musical production of the season.
The “Here Lies Love” cast and crew are Renée Albulario, Carol Angeli, Melody Butiu, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Natalie Cortez, Debralee Daco, Joshua Dela Cruz, Jose Llana, Kelvin Moon Loh, Jaygee Macapugay, Jeigh Madjus, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Clint Ramos, Conrad Ricamora, George Salazar, Trevor Salter and Janelle Velasquez.
Within a pulsating dance club atmosphere, composers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim deconstruct the astonishing journey of Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos retracing her meteoric rise to power and subsequent descent into infamy and disgrace at the end of the 1986 People Power Revolution.
“Here Lies Love” is neither a period piece nor a biography, a play nor a traditional musical, but an immersive theatrical event combining songs influenced by four decades of dance music, adrenaline-fueled choreography, and a remarkable 360-degree scenic and video environment to go beyond Imelda’s near-mythic obsession with shoes and explore the tragic consequences of the abuse of power.
“This gathering is not a panel discussion. It is a Kapihan, a coffee break,” says Randy Gener, an award-winning editor/writer, curator/organizer of Filipino Mundo-NYC and the only Asian American recipient of George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism.
Gener explains that the event takes the form of a long table, using the intimate form of a klatch, as a structure for public conversation. He says aspiring young actors and musical performers are “most especially welcome to come” to meet the show’s original cast and share professional experiences with them, before the Public Theater’s engagement officially ends on July 28.
On the menu: Marcos history; theatrical performance; cultural legacy; Philippine pride; Filipino house specialties by chef Aris Tuazon of Ugly Kitchen restobar. RSVP is a must, says Gener (E-mail randygener@hotmail.com. Or RSVP on the website of Filipino Mundo-NYC located at https://www.meetup.com/FilipinoMundo-NYC/events/128902652/. Participants are subject to change. Although free appetizers will be served, be prepared to pay if you decide to eat a full meal.)
Filipino Mundo-NYC is a meetup group of young professionals and visual/performing artists group, which aims to cultivate a connected Filipino community (www.meetup.com/FilipinoMundo-NYC).
Filipino American Press Club of New York, founded in September 2011, is the first organization for Fil-Am journalists in New York. Its members are traditional and online journalists as well as bloggers. A monthly kapihan is one of its activities.
Now fully owned by Filipinos, Ugly Kitchen is relaunching this month (July 2013) as permanent bar/restaurant in the East Village. It is the brainchild of chef and owner Aris Tuazon who was most recently the chef at Krystal’s Cafe 81. Tuazon established the popular Filipino pop-up venue Bar Kada, which had taken up a Sunday residence at Ugly Kitchen. Having now changed its menu, Tuazon serves a fusion of Filipino-American food every day. Visit theuglykitchen.com.
“Here Lies Love” received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; an Obie Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics; Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Music, Lighting Design and Projection Design; and Theater World Awards for Ruthie Ann Miles (as Imelda Marcos) and Conrad Ricamora (as Ninoy Aquino).