Learning How to Read by Moonlight

Under the moonlight...

six-year-old Eddie imagines a dragon eating moons and an imaginary friend teaching him English. His mother smokes as she prays to a statue of the Santo Niño. His father waits alone in Manila for their daily phone calls. Songs from a mythical giant turtle travel across oceans, but are drowned by the voices of Duterte and Trump on the television. As fantasy and reality become indistinguishable, the family is forced to learn how to articulate unspoken truths that will either break them or heal them. How will the weight of living undocumented in New York City force them to reevaluate their understanding of “community", “dreams”, and "home"?

To assist the actors, a new narrator (a fellow artist, community organizer, or elected official) joins the cast every night. The narrator reads the play aloud to the audience, having neither seen the play nor read the entire script. The cast performs original music and songs to help tell the story. The play is spoken in English and Tagalog with subtitles.

2021 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist
2021 E.A.G. Barbour Award Finalist

Care Advisory

We will sing, laugh, and dance as a community! The play is hella Pinoy. Note that it also explores mental health, racism, government sanctioned police violence, and xenophobia. With intentionality, we approach the subject matter with tenderness and open hearts. We encourage each other to explore these themes as a community and be witness to each other's humanity. Let us lean in with empathy and love so that we may support each other through the performance.

Cast

(in alphabetical order)
SERGIO MAURITZ ANG
CLARO DE LOS REYES
PATRICK ELIZALDE
KRISTIAN ESPIRITU
VANESSA RAPPA

Creative + Production Team

written by..... GAVEN D. TRINIDAD
directed by..... MAURICIO SALGADO + MARIA CAMIA
original music and lyrics by..... GAVEN D. TRINIDAD
projection and scenic design by..... CINTHIA CHEN
lighting design by..... ALEX ALIPIO
sound design by..... JORDAN BERNSTEIN
puppet design by..... MARIA CAMIA
language and cultural consultation by..... LYDIA GASTON + BING MAGTOTO
stage management by..... MARS NERI

executive producer + artistic director of Leviathan Lab..... ARIEL ESTRADA
producer..... JENNIFER OGASIAN
producing organizations.....
LEVIATHAN LAB + EPISCOPAL ACTORS' GUILD

Help make a Difference

At each performance of Learning How to Read by Moonlight we raise money towards Churches United for Fair Housing, an organization that services and advocates for immigrants of all statuses. We are hoping to raise 1K! Donate now, CLICK HERE.

Performances + Tickets

RSVP Tickets Here

Reserve your tickets now.
Tickets are set at tiered pricing, from $10 to $25.

RUN TIME: approx. 90 minutes

GUEST NARRATOR SCHEDULE

Location

Guild Hall at the Episcopal Actors' Guild
1 East 29th Street, NYC 10016
(midblock between Madison and Fifth, between #3 and #9 East 29th Street) on the second floor of the Church of the Transfiguration (aka the Little Church Around the Corner)

READ E.A.G.'S COVID SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
+ ACCESSIBILITY INFO BY CLICKING HERE.

Transportation

The closest subways are the R/W or 6 at 28th Street or the B/D/F/M or N/Q/R/W at 34th Street/Herald Square. If you are arriving by bus, take the M1, M2, M3, M5, M6, or M7.

Read playwright's Invitation to audiences (Jan '23)

Dress rehearsal Photos

Photos taken by Yuko Kudo.