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February 7, 2026

The Art of Belonging​

Flyer of The Art of Belonging theater performance dates and ticket prices. Logos representing CIRCA Pintig, FAHNS, FAHSC, Illinois Humanities, Rizal Center, and National Film Preservation Foundation.

Theatre Performance + Archival Film Presentation + Talk back

Dates:

Wed–Fri, Feb 11–13, 2026 — 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb 14, 2026 — 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sun, Feb 15, 2026 — 2:00 PM
Thu, Feb 19, 2026 — 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb 21, 2026 — 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Location

Rizal Center 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago

The Art of Belonging celebrates Filipino immigrant experiences in the Midwest through theater, archival film, and community dialogue. The project presents three stage adaptations of short stories by Bienvenido Santos alongside restored 16mm home movies by Nicholas “Uncle Nick” Viernes, documenting Filipino American life from the 1930s–1970s.

Tickets

General: $15
Students/Seniors: $12
Theatre Week: $10 (Hot Tix)
Pay-What-You-Can options available
Purchase Tickets on Hot Tix
Purchase Tickets on Zeffy

CIRCA Pintig is proud to announce the cast of THE ART OF BELONGING, an experimental performance presentation in celebration of the Chicago Theatre Week.

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THE ART OF BELONGING is an evocative adaptation of three short stories by acclaimed Filipino American writer Bienvenido Santos, reimagined for the stage by CIRCA Pintig’s own Larry Leopoldo. The production is interwoven with rare home films from the Estrella Alamar Collection, featuring migrant Filipino families in the Midwest from the 1950s through the 1970s; bringing memory, migration, and identity into vivid dialogue.⁠
This project is fiscally sponsored by an Illinois Humanities Grant, supporting CIRCA Pintig’s mission to preserve and uplift Filipino American history and storytelling in the Midwest.
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We are honored to collaborate with the following artists in bringing this powerful work to life:
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Rich Adrian Lazatin
Mari Joy
Mikael Silan
Daphne Nitsuga
Arvin Jalandoon
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THE ART OF BELONGING will be presented at the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago and the Rizal Center⁠
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This ensemble aims to explore what it means to build home across generations and oceans using story, movement, and archival memory to illuminate the Filipino American experience in the Midwest.
A flyer of the Art of Belonging "Trilogy of One Acts and Home Movies. Featuring the literary gems of Bienvenido Santos, in dialogue with 16mm home movies of Nicholas Viernes. As well as 3 photos showing 16mm still images of the videos.

Partners

CIRCA Pintig · Rizal Center · Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC) · Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Greater Chicago · National Film Preservation Foundation

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