Stories High XXIII

Casts

Bios

Aureen Almario (Producer, Director The Trolly Problem)
Aureen Almario began her Bindlestiff journey 19 years ago with Stories High. As the artistic director of Bindlestiff Studio she makes sure Stories High continues every year to create a platform for all levels of aspiring theater creatives. She is grateful for the facilitators, Molly, Lauren and Michelle for sharing their knowledge and taking such great care of the participants. She would like to thank her co-producer, Julienne, for the fresh promo and overall good vibes. To the cast of Trolley, she extends a heartfelt thanks for their commitment and care in portraying their characters and in each other. To the Bindlestiff creative team: Oli, Ed, D, Julie, Conrad, Joe & Lo, she would like to thank them for their consistent support. Last, but not least, to Dave & Kidlat, thanks for your love and patience .

Michelle Carroll (Hiraya in First Filipino / DR. X (A+B) in The Trolley Problem)
Writer, baby wrangler, and aspiring actor.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin (or any other Regine Velasquez song!)

Joe Cascasan (Co-Director, Once Upon A Time In Tondo)

F. Bella Chavez (Director, First Filipino / Writer, The Trolley Problem)
F. Bella Chavez is a Bay Area-based freelance writer, playwright, theater director, and filmmaker. They live in the census-designated place outside the city, outside Oakland, Ca. with their lovely wife, A'isha and several cats. When not writing or directing something, they enjoy reading, watching movies, Star Trek and Star Wars, art museums, music, comic books, and laughing at bad movies with RiffTrax and MST3K. They'd like to thank writing facilitator Molly Olis Cross and directing facilitator Michelle Talgarow for their support and encouragement, the casts of both First Filipino (the play they directed) and The Trolley Problem (the play they wrote), Yasmine Gomez for writing an amazing piece in First Filipino, Juan Berumen and Aureen Almario for directing The Trolley Problem, Raisa Donato for creating amazing fight choreography for both shows, Edu Ibazeta for creating awesome sound and music cues, Dave Ragaza for his gorgeous lighting design, Nikki Evangelista for her delightful costumes, Ed Mabasa being an top notch stage manager, the rest of the crew and staff at Bindlestiff, and his always amazing and supportive wife A'isha.

Sandra Criswell (Writer, Closer to God)
Sandra (they/them, she/her) is a non-binary Filipinx multihyphenate actor, writer, facilitator, and healing artist. They made their Bindlestiff and Stories High debut in 2022 as Samantha in Its Okay, and they are thrilled, honored, and lightly terrified to return as the writer of Closer to God. You can see them acting on stage again in October at Bindlestiff in Queer as Fuck. They dedicate Closer to God to people raised as eldest daughters, all the Filipinx/o/a queers navigating their expansiveness in the tight quarters of family dynamics and generational legacies, and the elders that love us through it fiercely, tenderly, and imperfectly. As always: Mahal kita, Inang.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Can't Help Falling in Love With You - Travis Atreo

Edu Ibazeta (Sound Designer)
Edu has been involved with Bindlestiff in various capacities, from actor to writer. This is his first time working as a sound designer and would like to apologize if the sound is too loud.

Matthew Kim (Lloyd in The Hidden Ruby)

Archie Lacanilao (JR in Once Upon A Time In Tondo)
Archie Lacanilao was born in Quezon City, Philippines and moved to America in 2002. This is his first acting gig like, evaaaar. Archie is a creative at heart, and has trained in the ways of acting through memories of Filipino/Latino soap operas. He would like to thank all the amazing people--writers, directors, actors, set techs--of Stories High for making this magic happen, and he hopes you and the amazing community continue to support future Bindlestiff projects to come.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Luna - UpDharmaDown

Lee (Captain Pedro in First Filipino)
just a guy from hong kong and having fun with theater, been here in the bay area for 6 years now, and haven’t done theater in so long thx to some friends that did stories high last year that introduced me to this theater, i was able to work with these amazing people, from doin backstage in sprung to finally get to be on stage for this year stories high, can't wait for yall to see what we all came up with.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? that tracy song she sang on Saturday karoake after party i forgot the name

Tracy Keith Legacion (Maggie in The Hidden Ruby / Maria in
Utang na Loob / Sister Mary Grace in Once Upon A Time In Tondo)
Having immigrated from the Philippines and now based in San Francisco, Tracy Keith wants to represent her culture and stay close to her roots while pursuing Theatre and Film. She made her Bindlestiff Studio debut this year in The Love Edition: Sprung Edition and is excited to be back! She’ll also be starring in an upcoming short film titled “Rude Awakening” which she’s excited to share with everyone.

She loves scary movies, Karl the Fog, her dog Peppermint Patty, and is ready for where her next role will take her!

She would like to thank her wonderful mother, family, and friends for their unconditional support. Stories High XXIII let’s goooo!!!

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Ang Huling El Bimbo- Eraserheads

LO (Co-Director in Once Upon A Time In Tondo)
LO is back in Stories High to co-direct with Joe as her partner in crime in the streets of Tondo. Although based in Union City, she is a dedicated community volunteer in Soma Pilipinas. This year to date featured collabs with Shadowlight Productions, TLE: Sprung Edition, EMP Films, Panama and Pistahan Festival Livestream show- yet LO has more in store with the Granny Cart Gangstas’ 10 year anniversary show and Queer As Fuq. This Sat 9/16 at Undiscovered, join us and sing your favorite karaoke jams as LO returns to host SideCaraoke with TNT Traysikel!

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Eraserheads’ Pare Ko

Alexander "AJ" Lugue (Johnny in Closer to God / Arnel in Utang na Loob /
Petty Officer Santiago Alfonso in The Trolley Problem)
A.J. is a burgeoning actor, new to the '23 Bindlestiff stage with aspirations to work in stage and film. Catch him as Fuck Boy #1 in Miss Hot Mess directed by Amyra Soriano.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Glue Song - Beabadoobee

Ed Mabasa (Stage Manager)
Ed Mabasa is Bindlestiff’s go to Stories High Stage Manager (the 11th production if he remembers correctly), House Manager and resident playwright dealing with the occult, noir, and science fiction genres. Recent writing credits include his first published short play The Old Market in the Liwanag Vol 3 Anthology and Chooney and The Skin Arranger in Stories High 2022. He has finished his first full length play Three Rules, in which two lovers are invited to a speakeasy theater hosted by vampires.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Manila Sunrise by Eskapo

Allen Ocampo (Arsing in
Once Upon A Time In Tondo)
With over a decade of experience educing counter-narratives in classrooms and higher education administrations throughout the Bay Area, Allen is determined to translate that same passion for humanizing the stories and narratives of our Asian and Asian American communities through the performing arts. This is his first role with Tagalog lines, please be gentle with him.

Jordan Ong (Director, Utang na Loob)
Jordan is thrilled to make his directorial debut with Stories High. Trained at the Beverly Hills Playhouse (ZA Studio), Jordan has played a number of theatrical roles with Theater Rhino, SF Olympians, Queer as Fuck, Pianofight, as well as roles in independent film and commercials. Jordan would like to thank his partner, Milo, his family, friends, and his yorkie, MinnieMinaj, for their support.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Bebot by Black Eyed Peas

A-ron Orpilla (he,him) (Daniel in Closer to God)
A-ron Orpilla is so excited and honored to be a part of Stories High 2023. A-ron has been waiting to participate in Stories High for so long and now that moment has finally come! Ayeee! Some of his previous work with Bindlestiff include: Welga (2017), Queer as Fuck (2018, 2020, 2023 - Coming soon in October), and Inay Dalisay’s World Famous Lechon (2022). A-ron would like to thank everyone who came out to see the show, and also everyone who put in work to make sure Stories High 2023 is successful! He never knows what to write in these bios, so he hopes you all enjoy the show! Follow him on Instagram - @aaronjustin

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Unti-Unti - Up Darma Down, Selos - the vowels they orbit

Jack Patena (Director and Jessie, in
The Hidden Ruby)
BiG SHOUT OUT to Bindlestiff for always putting on! To those I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside with and learn from, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! Supreme Love to my family, as always.

Andrew Rogge (John-Lennon in Once Upon A Time In Tondo)
Beyond the Farthest Star and the Nekrit Expanse, lie the Outer Limits and the Truth you want to believe. If you are the Last Starfighter, or even just an ensign standing by for transport, stories await the adventurous shape-shifter, warrior, linguist and plasma conduit scrubber who grace the hallowed grounds of this beloved theatre space. We eagerly anticipate exchange with all of you! Thank you so much for the support, truly.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Deep Space Nine

Alexis Royeca (Director, Closer to God)
Alexis (she/they) is a Filipina storyteller born and raised in the Bay Area. They’ve studied with Studio A.C.T., Berkeley Repertory Theater, and Bindlestiff Studio. They proudly credit City College of San Francisco as their primary source of training. She made her acting debut with Bindlestiff in Stories High 22 and returns this year as a first-time director! She is grateful to her cast, crew and the incredible community that is Bindlestiff.

Colin Skerritt (Father Martin in First Filipino / Bart in
The Hidden Ruby)
Colin is thrilled to make his Bindlestiff debut! It has been a pleasure for him to have worked with such an excellent group of kind, creative artists! Colin would like to thank his roommates, his family, and his friends for their love and support.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? If It's Magic - Stevie Wonder

Michelle Talgarow (Directing Facilitator)
Michelle is a Kalmyk/Filipina performance maker in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She is beyond excited to facilitate the Directing workshop for Stories High this season! More so, she’s grateful for the opportunity to share back with a community that has helped shape the artist she is today. Her most recent directing credits are, THE CHINESE LADY by Lloyd Suh with Capital Stage in Sacramento, MAN OF GOD by Anna Ouyang Moench with Shotgun Players in Berkeley, and BALIKBAYAN BOX by Jeffrey Lo with TheatreFIRST. Michelle is a proud member of Shotgun Players’ artistic company and a proud member of the all AAPI Bay Area theatre collective, Ferocious Lotus. Michelle is currently an adjunct professor at University of San Francisco.

Rae Yuen (Tina in The Hidden Ruby / Alyssa in The Trolley Problem)

Yaz (Yolanda Alfonso in
The Trolley Problem)
Yaz is a Bay Area born / raised artist who thrives in the realms of inspiration, expression, and collaboration. She loves magic, workshops, and books.

Yasmine Gomez (Writer,
First Filipino)
Yasmine is a writer, director, producer, playwright, and Bindlestiff Stories High alum. She directed the award-winning short films PARTY FAVOR, TERRA COTTA, ASIAN AMERICAN JESUS, CONSUMED, and LEA SALONGA: WHO I AM INSIDE. She would like to thank her auntie Eloisa, whose Filipino historical research discoveries inspired this play.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Do You Miss Me - Jocelyn Enriquez

Sarah Abbett (Writer, The Hidden Ruby)

Amanda Pabalan (Writer, Utang na Loob)
Made and delivered in San Francisco with original parts from the Philippines, Amy L. Pabalan was forged in Daly City fog. The writer, editor, professional auntie – and now playwright! – continues to dream, create, and craft. Not necessarily in that order.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Kapalaran by Rico J. Puno

Felicia Isya Chanco (Board Operator II)
Felicia Isya Chanco is excited to be joining another Stories High as Board Operator II. Having previously acted in Stories Highs, Felicia Isya is excited to be learning this new skill set with Tech and Crew. Felicia Isya is a member of Granny Cart Gangstas, a Bindlestiff Studio resident comedy sketch group, as well as a seasoned Karaoke host. She resides under a California Coastal Redwood behind a 99 Ranch.

Favorite Filipino/Filipino American song? Tell Em - JOWY

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Blood Lush Films

PRODUCTION CREW:

Creative Director/Video Producer: Carla Grace Fajardo

Acting Director/Location Manager: Aureen Almario

Director of Photography: Phil Elleston II

1st Assistant Camera: Sophia Morocco

Production Sound Mixer/Boom Operator: Cheyanne Bachmeyer

Gaffer: Conner Wong

Production Designer: Caitlyn Cota

Costume/HMU: Carla Grace Fajardoo

Set Dresser/Production Assistant: Alex Vaheid

POST-PRODUCTION CREW:

Editors: Phil Elleston II and Carla Grace Fajardo

VFX/Color: Phil Elleston II

Sound Design: Cheyanne Bachmeyer

CAST:

Petty Officer Santiago Alfonso: Alexander "AJ" Lugue

SHOW SOUND DESIGN:

Monz

AMIHAN Live at Bindlestiff Studio Streaming Watch Party!

September 29, 2023, 7pm
Exclusive Online Event

It’s been a year! Join us in celebrating her 25th birthday with a very special streaming of “Amihan’s 24th Revolution” live show at Bindlestiff Studio featuring SF-raised artists—DJ Kevlo, Katrina Liwanag, Nickel, and Shara. Vibe along as Amihan performs her unreleased album from beginning to end for the very first time. All music produced by Amihan with keys by Julian Lopez.

The show took place September last year to also commemorate the 50th anniversary of martial law in the Philippines. Now as we commemorate 51 years in lead up to Filipino American History Month, there’s no better time to hear and uplift the struggles of the Filipino people - shared by the experiences of these local cultural workers and community organizers.

100% of the proceeds are going to support human rights activists in the Philippines, with an option to make additional donations!

Starting September 29th, the full live show will be available for streaming for a limited amount of time only.

QUEER AS FUCK 2023: OUR VILLAIN ERA

October 12 - 21, 2023, 7:30pm
Bindlestiff Studio

A QTPOC show with comedy, drama, and queer f*ckery that will make you question what a villain looks like.

Tickets (On Sale Soon):
Regular: $20
Discounted: $15
Support the Artist: $40

SAVE THE DATE - Oct 15, 2023:
Don’t Call Me Ate

CELEBRATING JOYCE JUAN MANALO

Sunday, October 15th, 2023
Bindlestiff Studio

Joyce Juan-Manalo will be forever remembered for her integral role in shaping and strengthening Filipin@ arts and culture in San Francisco and beyond. Please join us in celebrating her life, love, and no-bullshit humor in an afternoon of music, comedy, theater, and creativity.

Tickets available soon, proceeds and donations will go towards the Joyce Juan-Manalo Legacy Fund for Pinay Theater Artists.

SAVE THE DATE - Oct 28, 2023:

A Special Musical Presentation…

DARKHEART,
A Concert Narrative

October 28, 2023, 8pm
Bindlestiff Studio

Join us for a Special Musical Presentation of DarkHeart, A Concert Narrative by Bindlestiff Artist, Golda Sargento.

This fundraising event will offer a sneak-peak at the brand new music being created for this ambitious show, with live performances by THE NONSPACE.

Plus insights into the decades-long creative process, and excerpts from the play (world-premiere scheduled for May 2024).

Tickets for the Oct 28th fundraiser coming soon!