Play on mixed-race identity is first in Utah with a majority Fil-Am cast

From left: Jayna Balzer, Carlos Nobleza Posas, April Fossen and Joy Asiado, in a scene from Melissa Leilani Larsons’s play “Mestiza, or Mixed,” playing June 9-19, 2022, at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, produced by Plan-B Theatre. (Photo: Sharah Meservy)

A Filipino American playwright in Utah explores her mixed-race identity in “Mestiza or Mixed,” the first production in Utah to have a majority Filipino American cast.

Set in present-day Salt Lake City, the play’s protagonist is Lark Timon, who experiences a career-changing moment that has her dealing with questions of her own identity as a queer mestiza.

Larson told Salt Lake Tribune that people “looking at me from afar and kind of guessing at what I am … everything except Asian, which is what I am” spurred her to write the play.

Adding urgency to the play is the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. A week after the production’s first table read, the Filipino-owned Yum Yum food truck was vandalized with anti-Asian graffiti in Layton, Utah.

The play’s director Jerry Rapier, artistic director of Plan-B Theatre, said that “there’s been a lot of strides made in terms of Latino and Black representation on American stage. [But] Asian representation is way behind and the acceptable homogeneity of Asian-ness, rather than being specific, is something that is prevalent.” “Mestiza” has three Filipino actors, one Korean and one white actor.

“Mestiza, or Mixed” caps off Plan-B’s 31st season and will be shown in person at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center from June 9-19, and streaming from June 15-19. Tickets are $25 each, for shows on June 17, 18 and 19; the rest of the run is sold out.

Seating is at limited capacity with social distancing; audience members are required by Plan-B to wear an N95 or KN95 mask for the full length of their visit to the Rose Wagner, and must have proof of vaccination (including the first booster) against COVID-19.