Culture Night

by Amanda L. Andrei

[A Lena Bala Play] This year will be the BEST. At least, that’s what Saint and Maria, the co-heads of the Filipino American student dance troupe vow to their dancers. This year holds the promise of breaking the centuries old curse that keeps Saint bound to their college campus, as well as allowing Maria to perform in front of her parents – but only if the dance is flawless. However, the appearance of a new...

[A Lena Bala Play] This year will be the BEST. At least, that’s what Saint and Maria, the co-heads of the Filipino American student dance troupe vow to their dancers. This year holds the promise of breaking the centuries old curse that keeps Saint bound to their college campus, as well as allowing Maria to perform in front of her parents – but only if the dance is flawless. However, the appearance of a new student, Lena Bala, threatens to disrupt the traditions of the group when her presence breaks their dance props to pieces. Despite Lena’s clumsiness and lack of skill, her passion shines through, laying bare the insecurities of Saint, Maria, and the other troupe members and causing them to question who they perform for and why. In this supernatural drama, Filipino culture nights are sources of pride, chances to reinterpret diasporic stories, and ways to ask: how can we be our true selves?

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Culture Night

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: Culture Night

    I need to see this play fully produced. A perfect example of the super specific feeling totally universal.

    I need to see this play fully produced. A perfect example of the super specific feeling totally universal.

  • Anamaria Guerzon: Culture Night

    As a mixed race Filipina-American, this play hit close to home for me. In the mixed race experience, there is often a fear: am I embodying my culture enough? Am I making my family enough? Hoe can I, as a single, American person, resist colonization? Andrei tackles these questions with empathy for every character and perspective. She wields the world of Filipino-Americans, diaspora, and coming of age in college with elegance, hilarity, dance, tattoo, and an ancient curse.

    As a mixed race Filipina-American, this play hit close to home for me. In the mixed race experience, there is often a fear: am I embodying my culture enough? Am I making my family enough? Hoe can I, as a single, American person, resist colonization? Andrei tackles these questions with empathy for every character and perspective. She wields the world of Filipino-Americans, diaspora, and coming of age in college with elegance, hilarity, dance, tattoo, and an ancient curse.

  • Jay Stull: Culture Night

    Culture Night is a gorgeous meditation on inheritance and the conduits among our identity, the performance of our identity, and our ancestors. One part classic romance, one part haunting, and one part traditional dance, Culture Night exhibits a sharp theatricality and a powerful invitation to any cultural night presenters out there to integrate Amanda's brilliant play with the traditional dance program.

    Culture Night is a gorgeous meditation on inheritance and the conduits among our identity, the performance of our identity, and our ancestors. One part classic romance, one part haunting, and one part traditional dance, Culture Night exhibits a sharp theatricality and a powerful invitation to any cultural night presenters out there to integrate Amanda's brilliant play with the traditional dance program.

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Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Mixed Asian Media Festival, Year 2021