First Filipino American musical to hit the boards Off-Broadway met with welcoming reviews

FELIX STARRO

Broadway has never seen anything like Felix Starro. The first Filipino American musical to be staged Off-Broadway was hailed by most critics as a new voice and perspective to theatergoers.

The Sept. 3 debut of Felix Starro was put into context by New York Times theater critic Jesse Green:

"That's no small thing, if the (musical) form is to keep from shrinking into a souvenir of itself. And there is much to like about a work that brings the tropes of classic musicals to a story about people usually ignored by them. But you may also find yourself wondering whether those time-tested techniques are really capable of doing justice to a story so unlike the ones for which they were devised."

Felix Starro originally was to run through Sept. 15 at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, Manhattan) after an opening night of Sept. 3. After the mostly positive reviews came out, the production was extended an extra week to Sept. 21.
The musical was adapted to the stage by author and playwright Jessica Hagedorn and Fabian Obispo from a Lesley Tenorio short story. Directed by Ma-Yi's Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña (The Chinese Lady, Among The Dead) and choreographed by Brandon Bieber (FX's Fosse/Verdon), Felix Starro marks the 30th anniversary of the Ma-Yi Theater Company, which started as a Filipino American company but has since expanded its productions to include works of other Asian Americans. 

Directed by Ma-Yi's Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña (The Chinese Lady, Among The Dead) and choreographed by Brandon Bieber (FX's Fosse/Verdon), Felix Starro also marks the long overdue return to New York stages of novelist and playwright Hagedorn.

In Felix Starro, protagonist Felix is a famous faith healer in the Philippines, whose clients once included celebrities and big politicians. After falling on hard times, Felix decides to go to San Francisco for one last healing mission with ailing Filipinos in the Bay Area. Junior, Felix Starro's 19-year-old, orphan grandson, goes along as his assistant. Unbeknownst to Felix, Junior has plans of his own.

Besides exploring issues of faith, family, love, loss, betrayal, the timely musical touches on what it means to be an undocumented immigrant in America.

"Still, a strength of the musical, ... is the authentic feeling glimpse into a world seldom seen on a New York stage," writes Jonathan Mandell in New York Theater. "That impression is enhanced thanks to a spot-on seven-member cast, who invest the characters with psychological credibility. Not so incidentally in a musical, they also sing powerfully enough to make the most of a well-orchestrated if not especially memorable score that mixes pop, rock, tango, and a kind of staccato, Sondheim-sounding musical theater."

The cast of the world premiere is made up of Alan Ariano, Nacho Tambunting, Caitlin Cisco, Francisca Muñoz, Ryan James Ortega, Diane Phelan, and Ching Valdes-Aran.

Rounding out the creative team are choreographer Brandon Bieber, scenic designer Marsha Ginsberg, costume designer Becky Bodurtha, lighting designer Oliver Wason, and sound designer Julian Evans. Orchestrations are by Paulo K Tiról, Ian Miller is the musical director, Cristina Sison is production stage manager, and Jorge Z. Ortoll is executive producer.

The only other musical with a Filipino theme and characters that hit Off-Broadway was the hit Here Lies Love, about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos. That production, which had an extended run at the Public Theater, was created by nonFilipinos, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, both Broadway veterans.

To read the complete reviews:

• New York Stage Review (Michael Sommers and David Finkle)
• The New York Times (Jesse Green)
• New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
• Time Out New York (Raven Snook)

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