“HALF”
HALF is a semi-biographical drama based on my mother’s life and her journey of reconnecting with her estranged father while reconciling with her grieving mother. Crafted from family interviews and reimagined for the stage, HALF explores themes of forgiveness, faith, turbulent relationships, interracial families, and belonging.
“HALF” had its first reading and workshop production at Boston University’s School of Theatre, as part of the Senior Theatre Arts Major Productions — my playwriting thesis project.
Both the reading and production were directed by the fearless Jayna Shoda Meyer, a Chamorro theatre artist from Orange County, California.
The cast included myself, Imayah Hawkins, Lachlan Boyle, Rowen Bailey, Jen Platt, Zach Kautter, Lana Breheney, Jack Essner, Annika Bolton, and Aaron Lamm.
The crew included assistant director Christian Donnerson, co-stage managers Sydney Jackson and Lucy Leahy, lighting and projection designers Rowen Bailey and Klara Ballay, sound designer Irene Wang, and costume designer Morgan Bailie.
Process Photos
“This story materialized through a series of interviews, and dances in the collective memory of my family. But it is not "based on a true story." It is based on a collection of photos, questions, lies, memories, and secrets from an ever-disputed past. It is the respirating, imperfect portrait of answers they weren't afraid to tell me and questions I wasn't afraid to ask. A "true" version of this story is the version in which the company of storytellers commits to their found truths about these characters and their circumstances.”
— HALF, “Notes on the Play”
