Photo Flash: Jessica Hagedorn, Ching Valdes-Aran, Alan Ariano And More Celebrate FELIX STARRO Opening Night
Ma-Yi Theater Company's world premiere of Felix Starro, a new musical by Jessica Hagedorn and Fabian Obispo, opened at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd St.) last night. Scroll down for photos of the opening night party at The Brazen Tavern.
Based on a powerful short story by acclaimed Filipino American writer Lysley Tenorio, who was in the house for opening night, Felix Starro marks the first-time-ever a musical created by Filipino Americans is being presented Off-Broadway.
Directed by Ma-Yi's Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña (The Chinese Lady, Among The Dead) and choreographed by Brandon Bieber (FX's "Fosse/Verdon"), Felix Starro also marks the long overdue return to New York stages of novelist and playwright Hagedorn whose critically-acclaimed Dogeaters (The Public Theater, 2001) was called "imaginative and fluidly impressionistic" (New York Times). Felix Starro began previews on August 23 and performances will continue through September 15.
The cast for Felix Starro includes Alan Ariano (King and I, Miss Saigon) as Felix Starro, Caitlin Cisco (Hundred We Are) as Crystal, Francisca Muñoz as Mrs. Delgado, Ryan James Ortega as Bobby/Ramon, Diane Phelan (School of Rock) as Charma, Nacho Tambunting (NBC's "Rise") as Junior, and Obie and Lortel award-winner Ching Valdes-Aran as Flora.
In Felix Starro, protagonist Felix is a famous faith healer in the Philippines, whose clients once included celebrities and big politicians. After falling on hard times, Felix decides to go to San Francisco for one last healing mission with ailing Filipinos in the Bay Area. Junior, Felix Starro's nineteen-year-old, orphan grandson, goes along as his assistant. Unbeknownst to Felix, Junior has plans of his own.
Felix Starro explores issues of faith, family, love, loss, betrayal, and what it means to be an undocumented immigrant in America.
The creative team also includes Obie award-winner Marsha Ginsberg (scenic design), Becky Bodurtha (costume design), Oliver Wason (lighting design), Julian Evans (sound design), Paulo K. Tiról (orchestrations), Ian Miller (musical director), Cristina Sison (production stage manager), and Jorge Z. Ortoll (executive producer)
Tickets, priced at $52-$102, can be purchased by visiting ma-yitheatre.org or by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200.
Photo Credit: Lia Chang

Composer Fabian Obispo, Playwright Jessica Hagedorn

Composer Fabian Obispo, Playwright Jessica Hagedorn, Author Lysley Tenorio, who wrote the short story the musical is based on

Diane Phelan, Ching Valdes-Aran, Alan Ariano, Nacho Tambunting, Francisca Muñoz, Ryan James Ortega, Caitlin Cisco

Nacho Tambunting, Francisca Muñoz, Ching Valdes-Aran, Caitlin Cisco, Diane Phelan, Ryan James Ortega, Alan Ariano

Jessica Hagedorn and Ching Valdes-Aran

Lysley Tenorio, Ching Valdes-Aran

Caitlin Cisco, Francisca Muñoz, Alan Ariano, Nacho Tambunting, Diane Phelan, Ryan James Ortega

Nacho Tambunting, Ryan James Ortega, Caitlin Cisco

Ching Valdes-Aran, Diane Phelan, Alan Ariano, Francisca Muñoz

Musical Director Ian Miller and Orchestrator Paulo K. Tirol

Director Ralph B. Pena, Musical Director Ian Miller, Alan Ariano, Ching Valdes-Aran, Orchestrator Paulo K. Tirol

Han Ong, Esther Woo, Jessica Hagedorn, Ching Valdes-Aran and Paloma Woo.

Lia Chang and Jessica Hagedorn. Photo by Garth Kravits

Composer Fabian Obispo, Playwright Jessica Hagedorn, Author Lysley Tenorio, who wrote the short story the musical is based on

Tazewell Thompson, Jorge Z. Ortoll, Ralph Pena, Fabian Obispo

Jessica Hagedorn with her daughters Esther and Paloma

Garth Kravits, Alan Ariano

Dax Valdes, Nicole Ponseca, Jake Poulos

Mirirai Sithole, Caitlin Cisco and Lauren N. Chou

Brian Kim, Caitlin Burke, Joan Almedilla, Alan Ariano, Diane Phelan

Daniel Le, Diane Phelan, Cheeyang Ng

Shannon Tyo and Anastacia McCleskey

Dax Valdes, Ching Valdes-Aran

Alan Ariano, Joan Almedilla

Dax Valdes, Ralph Pena, Alfredo Narciso

Jessica Hagedorn, Ian Miller, Caitlin Cisco, Ryan James Ortega

Associate Producer Sarah Hanlon and Production Stage Manager Cristina Sison

Melanie Joseph, Ching Valdes-Aran and Morgan Jenness

Melanie Joseph, Fabian Obispo, Ching Valdes-Aran and Morgan Jenness

Alan Ariano, Choreographer Brandon Bieber, Ching Valdes-Aran

Ching Valdes-Aran and Lia Chang

Ching Valdes-Aran, Jorge Ortoll, Francisca Muñoz

Lia Chang, Mirirai Sithole, Diane Phelan and Brian Kim. Photo by Garth Kravits

Alan Ariano and Francisca Muñoz

Eli Zoller and Alan Ariano

Assistant Stage Manager Samantha McCann and Ching Valdes-Aran