Asian American Playwright Collective

Director; Playwright

MICHELLE M. AGUILLON (Luz and Urduja) has been based in the  Boston area for 25+ years as a director, producer, designer, actor, and playwright; and is the Executive Director at Creative Arts in Reading, an arts, music, and theater school.

Playwright 

ROSANNA YAMAGIWA ALAFARO (Letting Go) Rosanna’s short plays were put on this year by the Burlington Players and AAPC in Dragonfly Plays, the Boston Theater Marathon, and the SAATH Festival. She has been produced at the Huntington, Pan Asian Rep, and East West Players. alfaros@comcast.net 

Brick Eager (PUNCH THE PINK), Technician (LANDLORD SPECIAL)
Steve Bermundo (he/him/his) has worked as a professional dancer in Los Angeles for most of his life. A Concord, MA resident since 2018, he gave acting a try a few years later.  Previous roles include parts in local productions of Middleton Heights, Chagrin Valley, and The Elephant Man.

Sound Designer

Juan is excited to be back doing sound design for AAPC. This is Juan''s second production with AAPC doing sound. Other activities Juan does outside of sound includes acting in shows and cooking whatever recipe he wants to experiment with! Juan hopes you all enjoy these amazing plays.

Playwright 

CHRISTINA R. CHAN (Punch the Pink) is a playwright and AAPC Co-founder. She is a multi-awardee of the LAB Grant and is a recipient for this year's 2024 grant. Her first play was a Semi-Finalist for the O'Neill National Theater Conference. Christina and David Valdes co-wrote Punch the Pink for Fresh Ink Theater’s Mad Dash the night before Barbie opened and during the writers’ strike. crosechan@live.com 

Dad (KITH AND TELL); First Watchman (JULIET'S POST CREDITS SCENE

Kai is thankful and excited to join AAPC again this year... this time on stage!  Kai has directed for AAPC in the past, and enjoys sharing his experiences as a 1st generation Asian American.  He has also performed regionally with Lyric Stage of Boston, Reagle Music Theater, The Umbrella, and with Disney Entertainment.  Thanks for the love and support Al!

Director; Death (DEATH AND THE MATRON); Mister Donovan (LANDLORD SPECIAL)

Mordecai SooJae Choi is honored to be re-joining the Annual Asian-American Playwright Collective Playfest, both as a director and actor. He would like to express his graditude to all the tirelessly working community memebers that help bring diverse art and voices to a public stage. He is blessed and better to be apart of such a healthy and growing community. He would like to thank his family, friends, and mentors for the love, energy, and guidance. Mordecai invites you to seat back and enjoy the show.

Sara (THE FIRST BIRTHDAY); Margaret (LANDLORD SPECIAL)

Mandy rediscovered her love of acting a few years ago and has never looked back.  So excited to be a part of such an amazing, talented and diverse community and bring the stories of the AAPC to life on stage.  Thank you to everyone for all the support as I relearn what makes my heart happy (PS - it's acting)

Playwright 

HORTENSE GERARDO (Kith and Tell) Director of the Anthropology, Performance, and Technology (APT) Program, University of California, San Diego, a Mass Cultural Council Fellow in Dramatic Writing, and Elliot Norton Award nominee for Outstanding New Script for Middleton Heights.  www.hortense gerardo.com 

Lighting Designer

Ellen (LETTING GO); AI (PUNCH THE PINK)

Naomi Ibasitas is an actor/stage manager/director and excited to participate in AAPC’s PlayFest once again! Acting credits include Disenchanted! with the Walpole Footlighters, Mrs. Hawking: Lady’s Champion of London with Breaking Light Productions, and 7 Rooms: The Masque of the Red Death with Flat Earth Theatre.

Juliet (JULIET'S POST CREDITS SCENE); Ruby (THE FIRST BIRTHDAY)

Jenine Florence Jacinto (they/them) is a nonbinary California raised AAPI actor/creative now turned New England native. The Smith College graduate has been seen throughout Boston theatre and TTRPG podcasts. Recent projects include Middleton Heights by Hortense Gerardo, Lyric Stage’s Back Stage program, queeRPG’s Of Kith and Pen podcast. @jenine.florence

Horatio (JULIET'S POST CREDITS SCENE); Donald (KITH AND TELL)

Kris Kim (he/they/she) is excited to be joining the AAPC playfest for the first time! Recent productions include T@F's Marian, Or The True Tale of Robin Hood (Marian) and Entropy Theatre's The Moors (Agatha). Much love and many thanks for everyone putting this show together and all of you for coming to see the show!

Playwright 

GREG LAM (Juliet’s Post Credits Scene) is a playwright, screenwriter, and  board game designer who moved from the Boston area to the  Bay Area. He is the co-founder of the Asian-American Playwright  Collective.

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Greg humbly asks people interested in his work to support his creative partners, including AAPC: https://greglam.wixsite.com/home/call-for-support

Luz (LUZ AND URDUJA); Mom (KITH AND TELL)

Karla Goo Lang previously performed in AAPC PlayFests 4 and 5 and is grateful for another opportunity to help share Asian-American stories. Recent credits include Festival@First 12: Love is Love (Theatre@First), Boston Theater Marathon XXVI, and The Dragonfly Plays (AAPC and Burlington Players). Love to S and J.

Director

Jenny S. Lee (she/her/hers) is a Boston-based Korean American director, actress, and producer at CHUANG Stage. Select directing: Emma (AD, Actor Shakespeare Project), The Heart Sellers (AD, Huntington Theatre), Luz & Urduja (CHUANG Stage). Select acting: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Watson, Central Square Theatre), Yellowface (Jane Krakowski & Others, Lyric Stage), Troublemaker (May Yu) and Takeover (Pansy) at Asian American Playwrights Collective. IG: @_jennyslee_

Composer

John is an organist, pianist, and a composer. He graduated from Berklee College of Music and Boston University. John teaches piano, choir, and is the musical director a Creative Arts School in Reading, MA.

Director; Playwright 

JAMIE LIN (The First Birthday) is a Taiwanese-American theater artist  originally from the Bay Area. Produced works: The Ghost of  Keelung (AATAB / Chuang Stage / Pao Arts Center); Bee, Plus  One (BTM XXV/Chuang Stage). mslin93@gmail.com 

Playwright 

MICHAEL LIN (Landlord Special) is a Brighton-based actor, playwright, and Foley artist. Most recently, he wrote for Fresh Ink's Mad Dash 2024. His current project is adapting the Arsène Lupin stories to audio drama. michael.tsai.lin@gmail.com 

Harriet (LETTING GO); Page (JULIET'S POST CREDITS SCENE)

Vivian is a Boston based actor/writer/director who has performed with Moonbox Productions, the Asian American Playwrights Collective, Asian American Theater Artists of Boston, the Newton Theatre Company, TC Squared, the Nora Theater Company, the Umbrella Stage Company, Company One, Chuang Stage, Fresh Ink, Pao Arts Center, the Boston Theater Marathon (BTM), and the Boston One Minute Play Festival. She is proud to have her play Secret Menu selected for BTM XXVI. You can see examples of her work at rebrand.ly/vliusomers 

Playwright 

DEV LUTHRA (Death and the Matron) is a  theater maker of South Asian and European descent. Produced works include Macbeth’s Children (with Michael Bettencourt), Secret Asian Man and Weighting the Wait.  devluthra@gmail.com 

Lucy (KITH AND TELL); Nicky (LANDLORD SPECIAL)

Mavis Joy Manaloto (she/her) is excited to be part of this year’s AAPC Playfest! Recent credits include SAATh Festival’s Happy Daughter (Carol), BU Fringe Festival’s Ginkgo Express (Lady Plum Blossom), and AAPC Playfest 6’s Funny Drone (Morty). Many thanks to her loved ones for their support!

MC/Host

Jobelle Mesa has her MA in Arts Administration, her MBA, and experience with arts nonprofits of all sizes. The daughter of Filipino immigrants who have always given back to their community, Jobelle believes in art as the ultimate form of communication and thus a powerful pathway to a more just society.

Urduja (LUZ AND URDUJA); Woman (DEATH AND THE MATRON)

Elisabet Ober is honored to be performing with the AAPC and repping her Filipina heritage in these deeply meaningful works. She was last seen in the South Asian American Theatre Festival as Rita in HAPPY DAUGHTER, also with the AAPC. Other recent credits include Head Trick Theatre's R.U.R. (Helena); Dream Role Player's OTHELLO (Desdemona); TWELFTH NIGHT MUSICAL (Olivia); Roundabout Productions MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Hero), Boston Theater Company's A​ MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Hermia/Snug); Umbrella Stage Company's DRACULA: A FEMINIST REVENGE FANTASY, REALLY (Mina); Boston Theatre Marathon XXV and XXVI. Many thanks to Michelle and Dev for this opportunity.

Stage Manager

Sarah O’Neill is a Boston/Metrowest-based stage manager who is excited to join AAPC for her fifth PlayFest! She has also stage managed at Arlington Friends of the Drama, DreamRole Players, the Umbrella Stage Company, New Rep Theatre, Chuang Stage, Theatre III, A Common Thread Theater, Sound & Spirit Choir, and TCan Players.

Maya (DEATH AND THE MATRON); Ghost Daughter (LUZ AND URDUJA)

Cara Yzabela Payumo (10 yo), played Gamay, the Tiniest Titik, last June 2024 during the World Premier of Iskwelahang Pilipino’s Kalipay and Gamay: The Musical. Her theater debut was in 2022 with Cinderella the Musical from Acting Out. She performs and shines with the North Andover School of Dance’s Pre-Comp Team and loves playing soccer for her town. Cara is honored and excited to be given this opportunity to be part of the AAPC 7th Annual Playfest.   

Playwright 
DAVID VALDES (Punch the Pink) is a playwright and novelist who focuses on LGBTQ and BIPOC lives. Writing this play with Christina Chan is the most fun he’s had working on a short play!