Re-Indigenizing the Colonial Mind: A Celebration of Leadership & Service with Giovanni Ortega
As an artist and academic, Giovanni Ortega is committed to nurturing artists in ensemble integrity, artistic diversity and to provide an outlet for performing artists in theatre to garner social and cultural awareness in promotion of tolerance and acceptance. The main focus is to bring productions that are centered on Fil-Am and Filipinx expression, social justice and multiculturalism to communities, educational arenas as well as collaborating with other performing arts institutions in Los Angeles and around the globe.
Giovanni Ortega (SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA) is honoured to become the Artistic Director of FilAm Arts Teatro. “Gio” is a multi-disciplinary artist who develops narratives for marginalized voices nationally and internationally. Directing credits include: Scrimmage (East West Players), Lena Passes (Pasadena Playhouse), The Secret Sharer (DNA Works) Pogi Boy, The Hotel Play (Associate Director, Center Theatre Group/ Playwrights’ Arena), La Madre de Todos los Exilios (Bogotá), Cabaret, The Musical, The House of the Spirits, Spring Awakening, Urinetown, In the Next Room, The Government Inspector, Convergence Zone, Siti Rubiyah (Singapore). Benches and Palindromes (Poetry Festival Singapore). Directing Film Credits: Kanto Cuentos: Stories from the Pandemic, Cuentos from My Barrio, Belonging (Poetry Festival Singapore), A Hero of Our Time, Upon the Fragile Shore (LA Asian Pacific Film Festival).
As an actor he originated the role of President Marcos in Imelda, The Musical (East West Players), Romance of Magno Rubio (Inside the Ford - LA Weekly award nomination), Dogeaters, The Refugee Hotel (Center Theatre Group). He performed as Tumao in the operetta Aswang, Ibrahim in Zenaida (AFI) and the Dance Theatre piece Lakbai Diwa (Kularts).
In addition, he recently finished The Pinoy Trilogy: The Butterfly of Chula Vista (San Diego Rep), Criers for Hire (EWP), ALLOS, the Carlos Bulosan Story (EWP). Additional written works: Goddess of Mt. Banahaw, El Pescador y La Lluvia and Fugaz de La Piel Canela – Fleeting Cinnamon Skin. He is the author of “Leaves from the Silverlake Barrio,” “Ang Gitano” (Carayan Press) and various Climate Change Play anthologies including “Where is the Hope” and “ Lighting the Way” as well as “Completely Mixed Up: Mixed Heritage Writing and Art.” Giovanni is currently an Assistant Professor in Pomona College’s Department of Theatre for the Claremont Colleges.
"Halika na sa FilAm Arts" is a monthly programming series presented by FilAm Arts Teatro at different Historic Filipinotown, HiFi locations in collaboration with Filipinx performers and artists. It aims to bring people together with intersectional and thematic shows that enhance and elevate the Philippine narrative in the diaspora. The focus is to bring cultural programming that are centered on Fil-Am and Filipinx expression, social justice and multiculturalism to communities as well as collaborating with other performing arts institution in Los Angeles and the U.S. The implementation of these programs by Filipinx creatives will utilize mixed media format which infuses live theatre, music, dance and filmmaking. The goal for this project is to continuously represent our voices especially this year (2021) which commemorates the Quincentennial
Commemorations in the Philippines.
Filam Arts together with friends and esteemed individuals in the theater community collectively celebrate Giovanni Ortega as we pay tribute to his prolific career in the community.