Summary

Founded by its three Co-Artistic Directors Ely Sonny Orquiza, Krystle Piamonte, and Alan S. Quismorio, The Chikahan Company’s mission is to explore Filipinx history, politics, psychology, and diaspora through the craft of theater and the performing arts. Reclaiming and revealing the multifaceted experiences of the Pilipinx and Filipinx American communities is a fundamental vision of The Chikahan Company in order to amplify the complex and dynamic narratives that have long been pushed to the margins and to actively challenge the stereotypes about our kababayan (people), our kuwento (story), and our kasaysayan (history).

We invite you to support The Chikahan Company's inaugural production The Act of Care by Bay Area Filipinx playwrights, Lauren Andrei Garcia and Conrad A. Panganiban. This new work will premiere at Potrero Stage in San Francisco as part of PlayGround's Innovators Showcase from November 19 - 21, 2021 (Friday & Saturday at 8pm PST; Sunday at 3pm PST).

(The Act of Care playwrights:
 Conrad A. Panganiban and Lauren Andrei Garcia)

Quick Synopsis:

When an unexplainable virus begins to infect several patients and nurses at a local hospital, a reserved Filipina nurse, Olivia, is visited by creatures who lurk in the shadows of the illness. Are they the cause or the cure? The Act of Care is a horror drama that explores the humanity and inhumanity of the American Healthcare System.

Our project is fiscally sponsored by PlayGround through their Innovators Incubator program and funded by a Ca$h Grant from Theatre Bay Area; however, we are asking our community to help supplement the costs of presenting this story.

The entire company for The Act of Care is a collaboration of artists who are all of Filipinx heritage and local to the Bay Area.

The cast features Rae Yuen, Lynie Abadilla, and Louel Señores.

The creative and production team includes Alan S. Quismorio, Director; Brian Batugo, Movement Director; Krystle Piamonte, Dramaturg; Noa Batle, Set Designer; Spenser Matubang, Lighting Designer; Josh Icban, Sound Designer; Mia Jue, Costume Designer; champoy, Mask Designer; Marissa L. Ampon, Props Master; Felicia Chanco, Broadcast Director; and Emilio Racinez, Stage Manager.

With this production, we hope to bring attention to the talented artists within our Filipinx and theatre arts communities in the Bay Area.

(Cast of The Act of Care L-R: Rae Yuen, Lynie Abadilla, Louel Señores)

What We Need & What You Get

Our goal is to reach $20,000. This amount will fully fund costs and expenses for our inaugural production premiering in November 2021. Your generous support will fund:

• Artistic & Production team costs including: Playwrights, Designers, and Stage Manager.
• The incredible Actors who are inhabiting these characters and bringing this story to life.
• Production costs including: Set Materials, Props, and Costumes.
• Marketing and Administrative costs 

All funds raised for this campaign will directly go towards supporting this production.

As a token of our appreciation, all donors to the campaign will be acknowledged on our social media profiles, our website, and in our digital program* for our in-person and livestream production. 

Your contributions are also tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor PlayGround.

*Digital playbill acknowledgement only applicable to donations made before the final performance. 

The Impact

Commissioning this play is The Chikahan Company’s tribute to Filipino nurses and their complex history and often overlooked significance in the American healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic brought heightened attention to the disproportionate toll it took on Filipino nurses and how the US relied on them as frontline workers in the most critical units. In addition, the pandemic has also brought an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, so it’s even more important for us to humanize our people and to highlight the impact of Filipinx artmakers in the theater and performing arts community.

To make this production accessible to the Pilipinx and Filipinx American communities, communities of color, and non-traditional theater attendees in the Bay Area, we have intentionally made our show low-cost on a sliding scale basis. The average cost of a theatre ticket in San Francisco is $30; however, at The Chikahan Company, we firmly believe that financial barriers should no longer be an issue to access community-based, culturally-specific art and it takes a diverse set of generous, compassionate, and willing individuals to make that happen!

We believe in providing space for and fostering the talents of our local art makers and building a repertoire of Pilipinx and Filipinx American artists for the American Theater. The Act of Care is just the beginning of our artistic journey at The Chikahan Company and we hope you will be a part of that journey.

Will you support The Chikahan Company and the Pilipinx and Filipinx American creative team behind The Act of Care?  

Risks & Challenges

A couple of the challenges that have brought us to this moment:

• The Chikahan Company is small and mighty, however, we are short-staffed and wear multiple hats to operate this new company. It has been challenging building up our little theatre “start-up” in the middle of pandemic and have had limited resources to help along our journey. We are doing this show for our community and are hopeful for community support.
• Since we are a brand-new theatre company with no production history, we weren’t qualified for a lot of the grant opportunities available in the Bay Area. Being limited to these financial opportunities has made production plans difficult to organize, but we are determined to share the work of the incredible artists who believe in the story of The Act of Care.

Other Ways You Can Help

We acknowledge that we are living in unprecedented times, in the midst of an evolving global pandemic, so we completely understand if you are unable to make a contribution at this time; however, you can still show support by doing the following:

• Please share our campaign! If you're not able to donate, we would love it if you could like and share! 
  • Feel free to use the Indiegogo share tools!
• Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/ChikahanCompany).
• Follow us on Instagram @ChikahanCompany.
• Come to the show! Attend a showing of our inaugural production in-person at Potrero Stage or online via livestream. Celebrate this momentous undertaking with us! 

Thank you for reading, sharing and engaging with us as we make our artistic dream a reality. Thank you for believing in us! Maraming salamat po!

(Co-Founders & Co-Artistic Directors of The Chikahan Company L-R: Ely Sonny Orquiza, Krystle Piamonte, Alan S. Quismorio)

The Chikahan Company is a fiscally-sponsored project of PlayGround (Federal ID 94-3336399). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.