Ma-Yi Theater Hosts Li'L Brown Brothers At Grove Street Playhouse, Opening May 7 As a part of the Asia Society's celebration of the Philippine people, Ma-Yi Theater Company premieres the drama Li'L Brown Brothers/Nikimalkia (I've Been To America) May 7 at the Grove Street Playhouse.
Chris B. Millado's Brothers is about the attitudes of Americans and Filipinos at the turn of the century as a group of indigenous people are brought to the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904 to be put on display. While the Americans looked on them as the "Li'l brown brothers," the Filipinos saw themselves as invited guests of the United States, reflected in "Nikimalkia," meaning "I've been to America."
Born and raised in Manilla, Millado has often taken political and theatrical positions with the peoples theatre network [sic], the Filipino Migrant Workers' Cultural Programmer in Amsterdam and the Ma-Yi Theater Ensemble. His plays include peregriNasyon, America Is In The Heart, Buwan at Baril sa Eb Major (Moon and Gun) and Coup-media.
Li'L Brown Brothers features Art Acuna, Miguel Braganza (Miss Saigon), Paul Buckner (Sweeney Todd), Tom Fenaughty, Lydia Gaston (The King and I), JoJo Gonzales, Yvonne Jung (How I Learned To Drive) and Eileen Rivera.
Designing the show are Mio Infante (sets), Chris Dallos (lighting), Favian Obispo (music/sound) and Christianne Myers (costumes). Tickets are $15. The Grove Street Playhouse is located at 39 Grove Street. For reservations, call (212) 581-8896.
-- By Christine Ehren
