Asian Story Theater
BIG MONEY!
(the title, not the budget)
It's the world-famous "You're O-K, I'm O'Keefe" Dance Spectacular, the story of Irish-American Adventurer David Dean O'Keefe! How he rescued an island that barely survived for 2000 years without him! At least until the dancers take over. Then it's the truth of this very real, probably magical island, surviving pirate raiders, a religious crisis requiring the Pope to intercede, and unique island tradition of stone money: disks up to 4 meters across and 4 tons. Yap adopted the real O'Keefe, and together, incredibly, they ruled the entire world's copra industry for nearly a quarter of a century.
2026 Performances
San Diego International Fringe Festival, based in Balboa Park.
Shows:
5/15 @ 9PM, 5/16 @ 6PM, 5/19 @ 7:30PM,
5/21 @ 9PM, 5/23 @ 7:30PM
TICKETS HERE
Preview/promo video
Highlights
Complete show (fixed camera)
Program
Cast
Rio Dael
Angellyne DePerio
Kalí Kamaria
Amy Pfleeger
Frankie Taitingfong
Gingerlily Lowe
Kent Brisby
Creative Team
Co-Director ~ Rhys Greene
Stage Manager ~ Suanne Pauley
Costume Design ~ Cheryl Lindley
Choreography ~ Lynnsey T. Pedro
Dance Consultants ~
Rosemary Mantanoña, Edie Heali'i Stanley
Story by Lynnsey T. Pedro & Kent Brisby
Written and Directed by Kent Brisby
About the Company
Rio Dael
Angellyne DePerio is an improv comedienne, sketch writer, and filmmaker. She originates from the Philippines but have called San Diego home for most of her life. She performs on stage regularly and teaches at Finest City Improv.
Kalí Kamaria is a visual artist with a broad background in theater and dance. Stage performances began with Teatro Máscara Mágica, and favorite roles include FA MU LAN and KAHUA with Asian Story Theater, performing in San Diego and San Francisco. She has trained 6 years in Balinese dance and 12 years with Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue.
Amy Pfleeger is a Filipina-American actor, singer, and dancer. She has been acting since the age of 17, and has been in numerous theatre productions.
Frankie Taitingfong is a mystery, a cipher, and a chameleon. Whether standing in as The Wolverine at Comic-Con or a Sinatra-obsessed karaoke star in the Covid-ravaged VOICE LESSON, details of this man's personal life and backstory are generally a mystery.
Gingerlily Lowe is an actor, director, writer, songwriter, teaching artist, and founding member of Asian Story Theater. She previously founded San Diego’s first Asian American Theater company, Pacific Asian Actors’ Ensemble, as well as the Magic Machine Children’s Theater. She is proud of the decades of multi-ethnic theater she has been a part of, celebrating Asian American art and culture, and bringing new faces, voices, and stories to the community. The Education Director for Asian Story Theater, she has also been a teaching artist with Young Audiences/Arts for Learning, and Institute for Arts Education, and is currently a teaching artist for Guitars in the Classroom.
KL (Kent) BRISBY, Byers/O'Keefe; Co-Writer, Co-Director
Kent has a broad background with diverse narrative and performing arts traditions from around the world, often featuring music. He recently directed and produced THE LAST CENSUS for Asian Story Theater, and upcoming projects include REVOLUCIÓN and BECOMING AMERICAN. Past projects include RED, WHITE & BLACKLISTED and THE MUSICAL PAUL GAUGUIN, as well as leading development on STORIES OF THE SUN CAFE, HALO HALO, and the anthology series THE COFFEE PLAYS. Originally from Nebraska, Kent grew up on various Micronesian Islands, with some time in Hawaii, before returning to the states, settling in San Diego first as a performer and director with the San Diego Street Theater.
Lynnzey T. Pedro lives and works on Yap, a small island in Micronesia sometimes called the Island of Stone Money, with her husband and two young daughters. Her passion for writing led to inclusion in the “Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia” anthology from University of Hawai’i Press, and fuels her career as a teacher of elementary and high school students as a way to give back to her community. Ms. Pedro has her BA from College of Micronesia and plans to pursue her Masters degree from the University of Hawaii.
Rhys Green is co-founder and Artistic Director of the San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre. He has been a teaching artist with the La Jolla Playhouse, and toured for Disney, National Theatre for Children, Traveling Lantern, and more. Local appearances include BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL at Ion Theatre and FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WAR with Intrepid. Mr. Greene is an Associate Artist with the Asian Story Theater and is on the board of Chronos Theatre and Teatro Máscara Mágica. He is the proud owner of Mr. Green’s Coffee Beans, a small coffee roasting business bringing custom roasted coffee beans from around the world (mrgreenscoffeebeans.com).
