Conrad Ricamora stars in David Henry Hwang’s ‘Soft Power’

LOS ANGELES — Conrad Ricamora and other Filipino American actors are part of the cast of Center Theatre Group’s world premiere of “Soft Power.”

Ricamora plays a Chinese executive who visits the US and falls in love with an American leader as the power balance between the two countries shifts after the 2016 US election.

This “play with a musical” is written by David Henry Hwang with music composed by Jeanine Tesori and directed by Leigh Silverman.

Tesori composed the music for the musicals “Shrek the Musical” and “Fun Home.” (Lea Salonga performed in the 2016 Manila production of “Fun Home.”)

Hwang is most known for his play “M. Butterfly.” (Alec Mapa took over the lead role of Song Liling from BD Wong in the original Broadway run and went on to play the role in the play’s national tour.)

Hwang has also written a revised version of the musical “Flower Drum Song” that starred Salonga and Jose Llana on Broadway.

The other Fil-Am actors in the cast of “Soft Power” include Billy Bustamante (whose Broadway credits include “Miss Saigon”), Jaygee Macapugay (“School of Rock”), Maria-Christina Oliveras (“Amelie”), and Geena Quintos (“Miss Saigon”).

WATCH: Conrad Ricamora invites theatergoers to watch “Soft Power.”

The term “soft power” is used to describe a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving the use of cultural influence.

The play is described as “rewinding recent political history and plays it back, a century later, through a Chinese East-meets-West musical.”

Brilliant

Ricamora is known for his portrayal of Oliver Hampton on the television series “How to Get Away with Murder.”

His theater credits include playing Lun Tha in the Broadway production of “The King and I” opposite Jose Llana, who was one of the actors who played the King of Siam during the show’s run (and is currently playing the role in the production’s national tour).

Ricamora also played Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., in the musical “Here Lies Love”—a musical about the life of Imelda Marcos—in New York and in Seattle.

“It’s been incredibly moving and challenging, because they are so brilliant and work so fast,” says Ricamora of collaborating with Hwang and Tesori.

“They can write brilliant new dialogue and music on the spot so it can be hard to keep up with that level of genius.

“Luckily, they are also very kind and generous collaborators so they are patient when I need extra time to implement new script or score changes.”

From scratch

Unlike Ricamora’s previous theater assignments, the role he is stepping into this time has to be crafted from the ground up.

“It’s challenging, because there is no template to work from,” he says. “When I did ‘King and I’ three years ago, it was a show and character that had been done for decades. There were multiple recordings and movies to reference.”

Since “Soft Power” is a new play, actors have the opportunity to have a hand in building their characters. “Sometimes doubt can creep in when you feel like you are trying to do something the ‘right’ way.

“But then you remember that there is no ‘right’ way and that becomes very freeing. That’s also what is so fun. It’s never been done before, so you don’t have to compare yourself to anyone else.”

Current and catharsis

Meanwhile, he is enjoying working with colleagues from previous productions of “Here Lies Love,” namely Bustamante, Macapugay and Quintos.

“They are family at this point. Plain and simple,” he says.

“There is an instant level of comfort and a deep bond there. We have all been through so much with each other over the years that it’s nice to have that feeling of safety in the room.”

Ricamora believes that “Soft Power” exposes “so many current political and racial themes that are very pressing in our world right now.”

He hopes that theatergoers will “experience some relief in that they can laugh at some of those things in our show. But also some kind of catharsis in that they can let go and experience some of the deep emotional things that we are feeling as a nation and a world right now. And maybe carry a different awareness of those themes afterwards.”

Honoring

“Soft Power” is produced by Center Theatre Group in association with East West Players (EWP).

On April 30, EWP will hold its 52nd anniversary Visionary Awards dinner and silent auction to recognize “the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American community through their craft.”

Filipino American actor Jon Jon Briones is included in this year’s group of Visionary Award honorees.

Briones joined the original London cast of “Miss Saigon” in 1989 and went on to play the role of the Engineer in several countries, including the recent 2014 London revival and 2017–18 Broadway revival.

Credits with EWP include “La Cage Aux Folles” and “A Little Night Music.” Recent television credits include playing Modesto Cunanan, the father of Andrew Cunanan, the murderer of fashion designer Gianni Versace in “American Crime Story: Assassination of Gianni Versace.”

Previous Filipino American recipients of EWP’s Visionary Award include Tia Carrere, Reggie Lee, Alec Mapa and Lea Salonga.

Other Filipino American performers joining the evening include EWP board member Reggie Lee and actors Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall.

East West Players’ Visionary Awards dinner and silent auction is on April 30 at Hilton Universal City, 555 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City, CA. For tickets and table sponsorships, contact +1-213-625-7000 or [email protected].

“Soft Power” runs May 3-June 10 at Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles and June 20-July 8 at Curran Theater, San Francisco. Visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.

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TAGS: “Soft Power”, Center Theatre Group, Conrad Ricamora, David Henry Hwang, Filipino American stage actors, Jon Jon Briones, music, stage production, theater, Walter Ang

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