A Filipino Birthday Party on Stage at CIRCA Pintig’s New Play “Debut”

CHICAGO - CIRCA Pintig cordially invites Chicago to the Midwest premiere of a brand new play by playwright Nate Cozens. Debut: Coming of Age in Filipino America is a comedy about a 29-year-old Filipino drag queen, Jomar, who decides to make his family throw him a “debut” party - traditionally for Filipino girls when they turn 18 as they enter womanhood - as a way to start fresh after a sad and flailing drag and musical theater career in his twenties. But as the party gets closer, plans continue to fall apart, and the flashy Broadway-level Filipino extravagance Jomar wants at his debut gets harder to achieve. Ultimately, Jomar’s family show him the love and support he may have forgotten, as they celebrate his birthday in a heartfelt and flamboyant way, just like any Filipino party turns up! Debut brings sass and sweetness in a romp of a one-act play.

Playwright Nate Cozens drew on his own experience of turning 30 to create a story about reinvention at every age. “If anything, I felt like I was just getting started,” he says, reflecting on the changes he and his family were navigating. Director RJ Silva sees that same possibility in Jomar’s journey: “At any age, we can always find ourselves and find our home.” For Silva, the exuberance of a Filipino birthday party makes the perfect setting for a story about rediscovering the people who love us.

For AJ Lingad, who plays Jomar, the role resonates personally and artistically. “It has always been my mission as an artist to tell stories that represent the queer/Asian community,” Lingad shares. Steven Cristi, who plays Zack, hopes audiences feel the warmth of the relationships onstage: “I hope the audience feels loved.” And Nina Mae Vidal Howard, who portrays Lola Corazon, distills the play’s heart into a simple wish: “That we should all love no matter what and love unconditionally.”

CIRCA Pintig will close out its season with Debut at three different venues: opening at Filament Theatre during its Community Jam season, November 5-9, before moving to the cabaret-sized stage of Bughouse Theater for three performances, November 12-14. An encore run closes out the year at the Rizal Center, CIRCA Pintig’s home in the Chicago Filipino community, December 3-4, with a special Gala performance on December 4 celebrating the season’s end - complete with a true Filipino party feast. Tickets range from $18 to $60 throughout the run, with the December 4 Gala performance at $50, including dinner and a season announcement. All ticket links are available at circapintig.org/productions/debut.

The heartbeat of Filipino American theatre, CIRCA Pintig brings Filipino and Filipino American stories to the storefront stages of Chicago for more than 30 years. The theatre company and community arts organization creates powerful, socially relevant productions that educate, entertain, and inspire by developing new works and addressing pressing social issues through the power of theatre. CIRCA Pintig boasts a Filipino American acting ensemble, commissioned playwrights, and reimagined theatrical works through the Filipino lens.