Fil-Am journalist’s play featured in US theater festival

The play of Filipina-American arts and entertainment journalist Summer Dawn Hortillosa, who also happens to be a playwright, was featured in a theater festival recently in the United States. Hortillosa, 22, told GMA News Online that she has already written other plays aside from "Before, After, and Always," which was recently featured in New Jersey. According to the Asian Journal news site, Hortillosa's play "Before, After, and Always" was set to be part of STAGEfest 2013 at the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre in New Jersey. STAGEfest is a "three-day festival of live drama, musicals, revues & dance by artists from throughout the region," the article said. It also noted that the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre is a “beautiful, breathtaking, historic movie palace.” Hortillosa is currently a reporting covering the arts and entertainment beat for the Jersey City Independent. She is also the founder of an outfit called 68 Productions, and a co-founder of a group called the Rudesby Algorithm Youth Acting Company.  Hortillosa is also an actress, and appears in some of the plays she has written, including "Before, After, and Always." "In 'Before, After and Always,' we went in expecting to shape our characters but found their outlines hidden in the text itself. And then when it's finally performed and you see all the emotions, thoughts and work that went into first actually living the life that inspired the piece and then into writing, producing and rehearsing it--there's really nothing like it," she said. "And when the audience applauds? That's the icing on the cake," Hortillosa continued. Aside from having Filipino blood, Hortillosa said she also has a mix of Chinese and Spanish in her genes. She said she also speaks some Spanish, Japanese, and Ilonggo. Hortillosa was originally from Colorado but grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. Finding own voice "Theatrically, I'm focusing more on finding my own voice than emulating anyone else's but I do like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Henrik Ibsen and many others. I'm also influenced by other writers and artists who don't necessarily write in the same forms I do," Hortillosa said. "I actually feel very "underexposed" to great writing and theater and am always trying to consume more text and find more unique influences," she continued. She said one of the recent plays she thoroughly enjoyed was one that was performed along with her work at the Loew's, because it had the qualities she wanted in her own play-writing. "'The Racketeers' by the Berkeley Light Orchestra by David Claypoole and John Centenaro was one of my favorites at the festival. It was a wacky play they likened to a live-action Warner Brothers cartoon about a mobster and his Batman-pajama wearing son trying to hide their illicit operation from a visiting IRS agent," Hortillosa said. "It was funny, creative, witty and well-executed--all the things I aim for with my work! The whole festival was really great and I'm hoping to do it again next year," she said. Creative process Hortillosa also shared how her creative process works, in which her work ethic combined with her concepts combine to produce output. "There really is nothing like bringing a story literally to life. My work usually starts with a concept, an emotion or in the best case scenario, both," Hortillosa said. "I then look at the work more as an editor and rework it, making it the best it can be. It's really difficult to put on a good play unless you're working with a really strong, well-written piece, so I put the most time and effort into this stage of the process. I use my experience as a director and actress to really make sure each play could work on stage and that the lines sound natural, clear and powerful," she continued. She also said some of the little things that she takes for granted actually provide a significant role in her work. "After I am satisfied (or mostly satisfied) with the work, I go into production and that's where most of the magic happens. With all the rehearsal, collaboration and exploration of the work's deeper meaning, you start finding how all the little things that you thought only had a passing influence on your work actually tie together and make it stronger," she said. - VVP, GMA News