INTERVIEW: Faith healer travels from Philippines to Bay Area in ‘Felix Starro’
Photo: Alan Ariano, Nacho Tambunting, Caitlin Cisco, Francisca Muñoz, Ryan James Ortega, Diane Phelan and Ching Valdes-Aran star in Felix Starro at Theatre Row in New York City. Photo courtesy of © 2019 Richard Termine / Provided by Everyman Agency with permission.
Felix Starro, a new off-Broadway musical, details the unique stories of a faith healer in the Philippines who used to have celebrities and politicians as his clients. Today, his star doesn’t shine so bright, so he decides to head to San Francisco and take care of aging Filipinos in the Bay Area.
The show, which recently began performances at Theatre Row in New York City, comes to the Big Apple courtesy of Ma-Yi Theater Company. The musical is based off a popular short story by Lysley Tenorio and features a book and lyrics by Jessica Hagedorn and music by Fabian Obispo. Ralph B. Peña directs, while Brandon Bieber choreographs.
According to press notes, Felix Starro is the first musical created by Filipino-Americans to be presented off-Broadway. Performances run through Sept. 15.
Ma-Yi Theater Company has been a trailblazer for a number of years, and the Felix Starro production marks the 30th anniversary of the company.
Hagedorn is an accomplished novelist whose works include Toxicology, Dream Jungle, The Gangster of Love and Dogeaters. Her theatrical credits include the musical Most Wanted, Fe in the Desert and Stairway to Heaven. The Public Theater and La Jolla Playhouse presented the stage adaptation of Dogeaters a number of years ago. In the 1970s and 1980s she led the band The Gangster Choir (their signature song is “Tenement Lover”).
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Hagedorn about the new show. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired you and Fabian Obispo to create Felix Starro the musical?
The original short story by Lysley Tenorio — also titled “Felix Starro” — has always been one of my favorites. I was drawn to the conflicts of its two main characters: Felix, the disgraced faith healer from the Philippines, and Junior, his 19-year-old grandson who narrates the story. When the opportunity arose to adapt it for the stage, I felt that a dark musical would serve the story well. And who better to collaborate with than the brilliant composer Fabian Obispo?
What was the working relationship like between the two of you? How would you collaborate?
I’ve known Fabian for many years and was always interested in working with him on a theatrical project. Felix Starro seemed the perfect fit. In terms of our ways of collaborating — we sometimes worked together in the same room, throwing ideas around and diving into writing lyrics. Sometimes we worked by email. We did what we had to do.
How excited are you to finally see the show come to life in New York City? Is there any nervousness?
Very excited. And yes of course — nervous.
Do you feel there are enough opportunities in the theater world to tell unique stories like this one?
No, I don’t.
When did you first become interested in theater?
I was drawn to all forms of storytelling and theater as a child growing up in Manila. Fortunately, my family encouraged and nurtured my artistic self.
Does writing for the theater rely on a completely different creative muscle than writing books or screenplays? Are there similarities? Differences?
Theatre is a live experience and can involve so many wonderful elements and collaborators — actors, designers, music, scenery, video, etc. That gives the writer many different ideas and textures to explore in telling a story. And certainly, one can tell a story through action and in utter silence, with no set, no costumes, maybe just a dangling lightbulb. I’m a fan of both extremes. I enjoy working in all genres of writing. And while you might flex different creative muscles when writing a play as opposed to a novel or screenplay — it always boils down to the story as far as I’m concerned.
Do you look back fondly at your years in The Gangster Choir?
Absolutely. Making music, performing for tough audiences, taking big risks night after night.
What has the experience been like working with the Ma-Yi Theater Company?
Culturally important and personally meaningful.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Ma-Yi Theater Company’s production of Felix Starro continues through Sept. 15 at Theatre Row in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
