Asian Story Theater
Not Working Program
CAST
Vivien Ariola – Maria, others
Christian Clark – Valentín, others
Honey Durruthy – Sugar, others
Patrick Mayuyu – Earvin, others
Annabelle Ramos – Anqa
Claudette Santiago – Nurse, others
Ronnie Williams – Nate, others
Songs, Composers, Singers
1. 2020 Hindsight
Music by Dave Scott
Performed by the company
2. American Dreamer
Music by Annabelle Ramos, Lyrics by Annabelle Ramos & Kent Brisby
Performed by Belle
3. Cuidado
Music & Lyrics by Luis Aragón
Performed by Christian Clark?
4. Monday Morning
Music by Marc Macalintal, Lyrics by Gingerlily Lowe
Performed by Patrick Mayuyu & Belle
5. Smile
Music & Lyrics by AJ Rafael
Performed by Claudette Santiago
6. You’re Essential
Music & Lyrics by Howard Ho
Performed by Patrick Mayuyu
7. Run, Fly
Music & Lyrics by Leonard Patton
Performed by Ronnie Williams
8. Virtual Goodbye
Music & Lyrics by Raya Heart Pearson
Performed by Claudette Santiago
9. POLITICAL SCIENCE
Lyrics by the World
Performed by the company
10. People’s Anthem
Music & Lyrics by Antonio TJ Johnson
Performed by Honey Durruthy & Ronnie Williams
11. Voxine
Music & Lyrics by Gingerlily Lowe
Performed by the company
12. No Covid
Music by Creative Spés, Lyrics by DaJahn Blevins,
Performed by Honey Durruthy
13. American Dreamer Reprise
Music & Lyrics by Annabelle Ramos,
Performed by Annabelle Ramos
14. Maria’s in the Fields Today
Music & Lyrics by Luis Aragón
Sung by Vivien Ariola, Christian Clark & the company
15. Live Your Life
Music & Lyrics by Dave Scott
Sung by Company
BAND
Delores Fisher – Keyboards
Rhys Green – Percussion, guitar
Nick Abadilla – Guitars
Carlos Cuervo – Bass
Dwight Love – Guitars
PRODUCTION
Stage Manager & Technical Director – Suanne Pauley
Video projectionist & camera – Kalí Kamaria
Forums Director – Gingerlily Lowe
Costumes – Cheryl Lindley-Lopez
Publicity – Frank Sabatini
Social Media – Chrysanne Lowe-Rafferty
Choreo Assistants – Patrick Mayuyu, Teresa Adams
Co-Directors – Rhys Green, Gingerlily Lowe, William Virchis
Written & Produced by Kent Brisby
THANK YOU
Thelma Virata de Castro, concept for “Virtual Goodbye”
John Highkin of Fern Street Circus, for hospital garb
Eusevio Cordoba for showing us the light(s)
Jess Barron & Guitars in the Classroom
Aurora for El Salon House Management
SPONSORS
This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency.
This program is made possible in part by a grant through the City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Performing & Visual Arts Grant.
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego through the Commission for Arts and Culture.
More Company Information
Vivien Ariola
(Maria/Ensemble cast) Vivien has participated in local community and college musical productions in various roles onstage and backstage, including YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN (Lucy), WEST SIDE STORY, LI’L ABNER, GOLDEN BOY, MATADOR, NIGHT SHRIEK, and in the original quarantine-busting workshop cast for NOT WORKING. Vivien is honored to be part of the diverse and exemplary cast of NOT WORKING and working with the Asian Story Theater, Teatro Mascara Magica, and the San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre. She looks forward to working on projects in the future.
Ronnie Williams
Ronnie is a vocalist, writer, arranger and performer from Chicago area. He has performed with various choirs, bands and musicals for over 30 years. He has also recorded and directed an acapella gospel choir in the early 90s by the name of the Rainbow Community Singers. Ronnie has performed with other community theater groups including The Ira Aldridge Repertory Players and Community Actors Theatre (C.A.T.) and now lends his talents to The Asian Story Theater. Ronnie is a member of allcasting talent agency.
Patrick Mayuyu
Patrick is a native San Diegan with a background in musical theatre, modern dance and pageantry arts. An actor, singer and choreographer, he’s performed on many local stages, national television and most recently on film in the short dark comedy We All Die Alone, which is currently touring the festival circuit. NOT WORKING marks Patrick’s return to the stage after a two year pandemic-induced hiatus. Many thanks to Kent and Gingerlily for the opportunity!
Delores Fisher
Delores is an educator, published poet, actress, musician, and blogger. She has appeared in various productions in the San Diego area including Rev. Sandra Prophet’s LAST MAN STANDING, award-winning playwright Clarence Cuthbertson’s FAITH’S JOURNEY, and SDSU’s Drama Dept. production of A RAISIN IN THE SUN.
Dwight Love
Dwight has performed and choreographed since 1989. Dwight has played the “Monkey King” character in all Asian Story Theater productions. Dwight is an endorser for Peerless Guitars. He has been playing for over 40 years. Dwight’s other love is Kung Fu in which he has trained for over 56 years and has taught in San Diego over 40 years.
Nick Abadilla
Nick is a relative theater novice, with THE GOLDEN RULE his first on-stage appearance. He previously worked with Mo’olelo Theater as a photographer and graphic designer. He retired in 2021 after nearly forty years in the creative industry, first in graphic design/art direction, then as a professional photographer specializing in commercial assignment, editorial, and custom portraiture (www.nickabadilla.com). Nick now spends his time indulging in the local live music scene, playing guitar, sailing, and always on the lookout for creative inspiration.
Carlos Cuervo
Carlos was born in Cuba. He began his musical journey playing the French horn at age 12, later moving on to guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, and keyboards. He has toured with several performers and has been playing clubs with the Pacific Flyers. He is also part of the Hui O Hawaii San Diego Kanikapila musical group.
Rhys Greene
Rhys is co-founder and Artistic Director of the San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre. He earned his BFA in acting from the California Institute of The Arts, after which he joined the creative arts team out of New York University, teaching conflict resolution. He was a teaching artist with the La Jolla Playhouse, North Coast Rep, The Institute for Arts and Education, and The San Diego Black Ensemble Theatre. Mr. Greene has toured with Disney, Asian Story Theater, National Theatre for Children, Fights r’ Us, La Jolla Playhouse, Traveling Lantern, and numerous productions in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and San Diego. Mr Greene is very proud of performing in two critically acclaimed productions, one was THE BALLAD OF EMMETT TILL at Ion Theatre Co. and FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WAR with Intrepid Theatre. Mr. Greene is an Associate Artist with the Asian Story Theater and serves on the board of Chronos Theatre and Teatro Mascara Magica. Currently he teaches theatre at Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach. Mr Green is the proud owner of Mr Green’s Coffee Beans, a small coffee roasting business bringing the public great custom roasted coffee beans from around the world. You can order at mrgreenscoffeebeans.com. You can also listen out for Mr. Greene when he’s playing drums around town with any number of Jazz Cats.
Marc Macalintal
is a Los Angeles native who has been involved in LA theatre as a music director (MAMMA MIA, ALLEGIANCE, URINETOWN, THE LAST FIVE YEARS), composer (KRUNK FU BATTLE BATTLE) and actor (MASTER CLASS, THE KING AND I, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN). During the lockdown times, he produced music for virtual events – Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s production of THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON, AJ Rafael’s CRAZY TALENTED ASIANS, and East West Player’s VIRTUAL VISIONARY AWARDS GALA. He most recently music directed INTERSTATE and ASSASSINS at East West Players. Marc was nominated for several LA theatre honors in music direction: an Ovation Award in EWP’s production of NEXT TO NORMAL, a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in EWP’s LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, and an NAACP Theater Award in EWP’s THE WHO’S TOMMY. Much love and thanks to Gingerlily & KL for bringing me along on this journey!
Howard Ho
Howard is a writer, composer, and YouTuber. His YouTube channel “Howard Ho Music” has over 100,000 subscribers and has been recognized by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He was an O’Neill Playwrights Finalist and had his original musical featured in the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. His journalism has been published in the LA Times, Entertainment Weekly, Howlround, and American Theatre magazine. He has sound-designed over 50 theatrical productions and has been nominated twice for Ovation Awards in sound design. He’s studied improv with Freestyle Love Supreme and Cold Tofu and holds degrees from UCLA & USC.
AJ Rafael
AJ is a Filipino American singer/songwriter from Moreno Valley, CA. AJ started his YouTube channel in 2006, as a pioneer in the Asian American indie artist scene, and has amassed over 1 million subscribers on the platform. His debut album, Red Roses, charted on Billboard and at #4 on the Pop iTunes Charts. In 2018, AJ was recognized as a Fil-Am Game Changer by the City of Los Angeles for his work in the music industry and within the Filipino American community. He is also active in the theatre world, acting and music directing in theaters around the nation such as East West Players & American Repertory Theatre.
Gingerlily Lowe
Gingerlily is an actor, director, writer, songwriter, teaching artist and a founding member of Asian Story Theater -formerly Chinese Story Theater. She was a founding member and past president on San Diego’s first Asian American Theater company–Pacific Asian Actors’ Ensemble, and also the Magic Machine. She is proud of the decades of multi-ethnic theater she has been a part of and able to help produce, celebrating Asian American art and culture, and bringing new faces, voices, and stories to the community. She has been a teaching artist with Young Audiences/Arts for Learning, Institute for Arts Education, and currently is on the teaching artist staff for Guitars in the Classroom, and the Education Director for Asian Story Theater.
Raya Heart Pearson
Jumping into community theatre in 2000 (most endearingly with San Francisco’s Bindlestiff Studio) as well as voiceover (clients include Asian Art Museum), then turning heads with her commanding lead vocals for a handful of blues bands in East Bay clubs, restaurants, and homes, Raya is a self-proclaimed “utility creative” delighted with the challenge of songwriting and performing in and for these times. Heartfelt gratitude to HP, my family, friends, teachers, the arts communities, and my inspirations.
Antonio TJ Johnson
Antonio is an actor/Director/Producer/Teacher/Singer/Songwriter, with more than forty years of diverse theatre adventures in San Diego. I am fortunate to be able to contribute one of my Songs to this project and I feel the true collaborative is the future of live Theatre. BRAVO.
Howard Ho
Howard is a writer, composer, and YouTuber. His YouTube channel “Howard Ho Music” has over 100,000 subscribers and has been recognized by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He was an O’Neill Playwrights Finalist and had his original musical featured in the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. His journalism has been published in the LA Times, Entertainment Weekly, Howlround, and American Theatre magazine. He has sound-designed over 50 theatrical productions and has been nominated twice for Ovation Awards in sound design. He’s studied improv with Freestyle Love Supreme and Cold Tofu and holds degrees from UCLA & USC.
KL (Kent) BRISBY
Kent is a writer and producer with a broad background in adapting diverse narrative and performing arts traditions from around the world into new works, often featuring music. Upcoming projects include a new musical set during the Mexican Revolution, REVOLUCIÓN, as well as a new anthology THE COFFEE PLAYS. He recently wrote and produced THE GOLDEN RULE for Asian Story Theater, and other 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 WHAT ARE YOU? Originally from Nebraska, Kent grew up on various Micronesian Island groups, with some time in Hawaii, before returning to the states. He graduated from Whitman College in the Pacific Northwest before settling in San Diego, first as a performer and director with the San Diego Street Theater.
Dave Scott
Dave is well known in San Diego for his last 30 years on KUSI, where he has created, written, and hosted numerous shows including “More of the Wild” with Joan Embery, “On the Edge” Science series, San Diego Backroads, “Dave’s World of Wonder,” and as our KUSI weekend weatherman who has won numerous Emmy and Associated Press Awards. As a musician, Dave picked up a Jazz Artist of the Year nomination at the 1998 San Diego Music Awards and leads his own groups “Monsoon”, “Mambo Trombo Trio, and The New Slide Quartet.” He has also had the chance to sing and share some unique musical moments with the likes of Steve Allen, Robert Goulet, Mel Torme, Bill Watrous, Toni Tenille, Ed McMahon, Jimmy Buffet, Carol Channing, and even Wayne Newton and CNN’s Larry King. His compositions have been featured on radio and television including KSDS Jazz 88 and KIFM’s Morning Drive Show, KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego, and San Diego Backroad’s.
Luis Aragón(Composer)
Luis is the Managing Director of Teatro Máscara Mágica (TMM) and the President of the Board of Directors of Border Angels. Aragon has served as Director and Vice President of the San Diego County Bar Association; President of San Diego’s La Raza Lawyers Association; Vice President of San Diego County’s Child Abuse Foundation; Director and Secretary of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Association and as Director and Vice President of San Diego’s Balboa Park, “Centro Cultural De La Raza”. He’s received the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Public Lawyer of the Year”; the San Diego Theatre Arts Counsel’s “Star” Award and the San Diego District Attorney’s “Outstanding Prosecutor” Award. Of his work with Teatro Máscara Mágica (TMM) and Border Angels, Aragon said, ‘I am privileged to serve with two iconic organizations, TMM that historically has given voice to multicultural communities through its programming and Border Angels that has given voice and hope to migrants and DACA recipients. Border Angel’s mission is one of love and fearless rejection of racism, nativism, and hate.” Aragon has served as Director and Vice President of the San Diego County Bar Association; President of San Diego’s La Raza Lawyers Association; Vice President of San Diego County’s Child Abuse Foundation; Director and Secretary of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Association and as Director and Vice President of San Diego’s Balboa Park, “Centro Cultural De La Raza”. He’s received the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Public Lawyer of the Year”; the San Diego Theatre Arts Counsel’s “Star” Award and the San Diego District Attorney’s “Outstanding Prosecutor” Award. Aragon earned his B.A. degree from Yale University and studied law at Georgetown Law School and Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Luis has two children.
