2021/2022 BRIClab Performing Arts resident Ariel Estrada will present a developmental production of his new piece, FULL CONTACT (work-in-process).
FULL CONTACT is writer/performer Ariel Estrada's journey to reclaim his body and spirit as a 20-year survivor of a brutal martial arts cult. Directed by Gaven Trinidad (Rising Leader of Color, Theatre Communications Group).
In the play, Estrada embodies his late father and himself as boys and young men, and discovers how the history of colonialism in Southeast Asia affected them both. Through their stories, he brings to life the emotional conflict between father and son, his coming-of-age at the height of the AIDS crisis, and his ongoing battle to take pride in himself as a gay Filipino American man against all odds.
FULL CONTACT was a 2020 finalist for the National New Play Network Commission Grant. The play has also received residencies at The Orchard Project, Space on Ryder Farm, and Barn Arts Collective, as well as work-in-progress showings at The Tank and Cloud City.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
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Photo: Gene Silvers Photography
Ariel Estrada - Writer/Performer (he/him/his) is an actor, writer, arts administrator, and Founder/Producing Artistic Director of Leviathan Lab, a creative studio for Asian American performing artists. As a performer, Ariel has performed on TV, film, commercials, industrials, new media, Off, and Off-Off-Broadway. The New York Times hailed his "fine emotional shadings" in the critically acclaimed musical with puppetry MADE IN CHINA. He has performed on Film/TV in “Blue Bloods”, “Bull”, “The Americans”, and the award-winning short film “Title VII”. His arts leadership has been recognized by artEquity, New York Foundation for the Arts, and Theatre Communications Group. He is currently a member of the Marketing and Development staff at Mabou Mines, and was the immediate past Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for Actors’ Equity Association. He is also the Marketing Manager for the Consortium of Asian American Theatres & Artists. www.arielestrada.com | www.leviathanlab.org
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Gaven Trinidad - Director (he/they/siya) is a first generation Filipinx American theatremaker from NYC and is currently New York Theatre Workshop’s Community Engagement Associate. His artistic work examines the intersections of race, immigration, queerness, ritual, and community. He's collaborated with folx in various administrative and artistic positions at places such as The Juilliard Drama Division, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and National Queer Theater. His first full-length play LEARNING HOW TO READ BY MOONLIGHT was recognized as a 2021 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist. TCG recently named him as a member of the 2021 Rising Leaders of Color Cohort. www.gaventrinidadtheatre.com
ABOUT BRICLAB
BRIClab is a multi-disciplinary residency program created to advance opportunities for visual artists, performers, and media makers. BRIClab offers emerging and mid-career artists essential resources, mentorships, and opportunities to share their work. The residency aims to build a stronger and more diverse artistic community in Brooklyn by supporting long term growth and fostering relationships across disciplines.
The program's four tracks are Contemporary Art, Film + TV, Performing Arts, and Video Art. Each track offers unique resources designed to meet the needs of varied artistic practices. Residents receive additional financial support, mentorship, skills-based learning opportunities, and documentation of their work. In-process public programs for the 2021/2022 cohort will take place from September 2021 through April 2022.
Venue Information:
The intimate, flexible studio space within BRIC House is dedicated to emerging and mid-career artists, with an audience capacity of 50-75 for rehearsals and performances in a workshop setting.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2022, attendees of any BRIC House programming will no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email Safety@bricartsmedia.org