LOS ANGELES – Eight of the actors among the cast of East West Players’ show “Chess the musical” are Filipino Americans. East West Players’ CHESS – directed by Tim Dang, musical direction by Marc Macalintal and choreographed by Marc Oka – portrayed a political aspect which was not as highlighted on Broadway.
Left to right: Cesar Cipriano, Shay Louise, DT Matias, Victor E. Chan, Joan Amedilla, Justin Vasquez, Ray A. Rochelle
East West Players (EWP) is the nation’s largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country.
Dang and EWP decided to hold an open call for the 15-person cast. Approximately 600 people showed up hoping to land a part in which 8 Fil-Ams nailed.
The Fil-Am cast included Joan Almedilla (Florence), Victor E. Chan (Fredrick), Ray A. Rochelle (Molokov), Cesar Cipriano (Ensemble), Jasmine Ejan (Ensemble), Shay Louise (Ensemble), DT Matias (Ensemble), Justin Vasquez (Ensemble).
The characters portrayed the multicultural and global exploitation of the game in an interesting love triangle set in the middle of a international chess battle of which the US and Russia battle to be the best. Joan Alemdilla’s character Florence is the manager of Freddy, an American grandmaster. Florence falls for Freddie’s strategic Russian Championship contender Anatoly.
The players are treated like diplomatic representatives of the US and Soviet or as Victor E. Chan’s character Fredrick puts it “I am democrat and you are Communist!”
“Chess in Broadway wasn’t as political, but this one is in which I think shows the political climate and what is happening in the world today,” states Chan.
It was presented in a musically entertaining way for the current and innovative 21st Century.
Challenges of Fil-Am in entertainment industry
“It is still hard to get casted, unless it is something specific” states Victor E. Chan.
EWP Filipino American casting breaks down other barriers in light of casting controversies across the nation. “The more popular Asians, such as Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, are more likely to be booked. Some Filipino American actors go as far as changing their last name to sound more like a popular “yellow Asian,” stated Ray A. Rochelle.
Tim Dang, EWP Producing Artistic Director boasts: “It enriches our theatre growing experience, reflects the community in which we live, and offers opportunities to talented artists of color who might not have access to these roles elsewhere. CHESS is usually performed as a concert focusing on its music and is rarely done as a full theatrical production.”
“Traditionally, my parents paid for college while I was still studying in the Philippines and I majored in economics,” Joan Amedilla who played Florence explained the challenges of being a Filipino American in the entertainment industry. “They still encourage me to try other things more popular to our culture like Physical therapy.”
“Something I can say to the youth today: Acting changed my life. Acting is my passion. If you go for what makes you happy, you are happy! Do what you love to do,” says Amedilla. “Embrace your personal journey!” added Cesar Cipriano (ensemble).
“After college I told my dad that I want to go to a conservatory to improve my skills in acting and he said ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ My mom and dad said to me after watching Chess and the scene where I was only in underwear: ‘Oh! You have been working out huh!,’” stated DT Matias of his experience of opening up dialogue about acting with his parents.
“Learn as much as you can! I realized after acting that I was interested in science and I am currently in college as a Pre-Med student. I want to do both acting and medicine,” said Shay Louise, the youngest Fil-Am in the cast.
The multicultural production and cast create a newness of the 27-year-old musical Chess. This version was worth a spin around the world.