Debut of queer Filipino American play takes center stage in San Diego

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Inclusivity protrudes these days, making this Filipino American play centering on LGBTQIA+ issues just in perfect timing. “Every Day Vanilla” is not your usual sweet story but one that highlights the conflicts of living a queer life.

Making its grand debut at MOXIE Theatre in San Diego last December 14 with ongoing shows until December 29, 2023, “Every Day Vanilla” is the brainchild of writer-actor Lani Gobaleza, showcasing a rollercoaster of emotions in a coming-of-age narrative with a dash of Filipino culture.

Playwright and playing Frankie in the play, Gobaleza will bring you back to 2006 when Frankie Robles, a 17-year-old Filipina American dreamer, seeks to break free from his “vanilla” life in San Diego. Fast forward to ten years, Frankie re-examines her roots through her family, friends and even lovers.

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This Filipino American play’s stellar casting

Alongside Gobaleza is the play’s director Earl Paus, actress and producer Hillary Soriano, TV reporter now playwright Sasha Foo, producer and educational director Gingerlily Lowe, actress Gretchen Conrad, Kate Nguyen and Kyle Blaine to name a few.

Transcending his artistic limits is Earl Paus, a queer Filipino who doesn’t just direct, but also harnesses the wonders of theater and film spreading truth so others can freely live theirs. With a background in Theatre social change at SFSU, Paus has been liberating and creating art, film and theater in the Bay Area for more than 10 years.

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If you’re curious about the masterminds behind this theatrical wonder, Jessica Falstad of Sunset Projects and Miki Iwasaki are the brains behind the design. Filipino American filmmaker Marissa Roxas shows her skills in cinematography while Vietnamese-American artist Anie Quynh provides original art masterpieces.

Sharing the inspiration behind his first stage play, “I went about it with clear goals — I wanted to include everything I wish I saw in stories growing up: single mothers, mother figures, representation of Filipinos who aren’t Catholic and Southeast Asian representation,” playwright Gobaleza shared in an interview.

Adding to these driving forces Gobaleza also saw how introverts battle the “feeling punk rock” but appearing more like a pushover, depression, first-generation guilt, sapphic love not ending in death and anxiety even in it’s purest form — all these unspoken struggles are what inspired his story.

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Although it’s no doubt a good watch that could open the viewer’s eyes to the grayer area of life, this Filipino American play includes mild language, LGBTQIA+ narratives, intergenerational struggles touching topics of suicide and domestic abuse and making it appropriate for audiences ages 14 and up.

Hurry and purchase your tickets as the show is selling out fast. Industry Night is sold out but you can still catch it on other nights. Also, discounts are up for grabs for all students, seniors, educators and the military.

For tickets, you can check their website.