Filipino talents at Factory Theatre

Filipino talents at Factory Theatre

By Catherine Hernandez

As announced at the Mabuhay Festival, Factory Theatre is inviting all amateur performers at its first ever Filipino Culture Night on Sept. 20th.

The goal of the evening is to offer young talented Filipino Canadians the chance to learn from established artists about what it takes to be a success in the entertainment industry.

The evening starts at 8pm with a performance of the hit play Banana Boys, written by Leon Aureus and directed by Nina Lee Aquino – both proud Filipino Canadians.

Following the show, an intimate discussion with Leon and Nina will take place where audience members can ask questions such as:

• How did you get to where you are in your career?
• Can you make a living being a performer?
• If I would like to break into the entertainment industry, what should I do?
• If I would like to start my own theatre company, what can I do?
• What is it like being a Filipino performer?
• How did you create Banana Boys?

Filipino Culture Night at Factory Theatre will take place on Sept. 20th at 8pm at 125 Bathurst Street (at Adelaide) Toronto.

Call 416.504.9971 and ask for tickets to “Filipino Culture Night” and get tickets for only $12 each! Tickets include a performance of Banana Boys and a chance to meet with Nina and Leon.

About Leon Aureus: His play, Banana Boys, is returning to Factory Theatre after an award-winning run in Ottawa’s Magnetic North Festival. This gutsy stage adaptation of Terry Woo’s novel explores the lives of five Asian-Canadian men who struggle through racism, drug abuse and the death of a friend. Leon is now one of the hottest, most talked about playwrights in Toronto — not to mention a proud Filipino-Canadian. Inspired by his father, Leon J. Aureus, whose family newspaper was shut down under the iron fist of Philippine Martial Law, Leon endeavors to be an active community member while rising to the top of the theatre entertainment world.

About Nina Lee Aquino: Nina has guided the Banana Boys show into a dynamic, in-your-face statement on what it’s like to be a twenty-something Asian in Canadian society. As the artistic director of fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, Nina is leading the next generation of Asian theatre professionals into onstage success. Nina recently received the Ken McDougall Award for Emerging Director, and was chosen as one of NOW Magazine’s “Best of Toronto: Critics’ Pick for the Stage” and “Top Ten Artists of 2004.”

(PRESS RELEASE)