The Umbrella Stage Company is thrilled to commission its first full-length play, created by local playwright Hortense Gerardo.

Middleton Heights is a dark comedy that follows Meena and her Filipino family as they assimilate to life in a fictional Midwestern suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The play traces historical events from 1967 to 2014 and the pursuit of the American Dream, refracted through the intersectional lens of the Asian American Pacific Islander immigrant experience.

In the world premiere of an original play commissioned by The Umbrella Stage Company, Hortense Gerardo’s Middleton Heights unravels a wry, charming and honest tale that follows Meena and her Filipino family as they assimilate to life in a fictional Midwestern suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The play traces historical events from 1967 to 2014, examining transformative social moments from the Hough riots to the Robert Kennedy and MLK assassinations to the protests in the aftermath of the killing of Tamir Rice, refracted through the intersectional lens of the Asian American Pacific Islander immigrant experience and the pursuit of the American Dream.

A writer, choreographer, filmmaker, and anthropologist, Gerardo is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and The International Center for Women Playwrights, and Director of the Anthropology, Performance and Technology Program UC San Diego. From 2018-2020, she served as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s artist-in-residence, promoting creative placemaking and community resilience through art throughout MAPC’s 101 cities and towns.

This production is directed by Michelle Aguillon, who has helmed several popular productions for The Umbrella Stage, including this season’s sold-out run of Kate Hamill’s Dracula, Fences, Joy Luck Club, To Kill a Mockingbird, and True West, which earned a DASH Award for Best Production (Play). Aguillon and Gerardo have collaborated frequently on recent projects, including last season’s Incantation for The Umbrella Stage @Home New Works series and Scensation for the Boston Theater Marathon XXIII, among others.

Running March 31-April 23, 2023 (press opening April 2, 3PM), this world premiere features Steve Bermundo, Justin Budinoff, Cheryl Daro*, Lisa Fermin-Granada, Jenine Florence Jacinto and Jude Torres.

Special community engagements include moderated talkbacks, a Kid Care-option performance, and
Filipino dance and music demonstrations by community partner school, Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston.

Adult $45.00, Senior $40.00, Student $20.00

The Umbrella is ADA accessible, a proud partner in the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s EBT Card-to-Culture program, and provides free parking and free admission to its visual arts galleries. The Umbrella is in Concord Center, easily accessible from the Walden exit of Route 2, and a 2 block walk (about 0.4 mi., 7 minutes) from the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Concord Station stop at 90 Thoreau Street.

Special Associated Programs

Sunday, April 2 – Trish Fontanilla post-show Talk Back with Playwright and Director, in partnership with BosFilipinos
Saturday, April 15 – Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP) Indigenous Dance Group performs pre-show
Sunday, April 16 – Kid-Care Performance*, Post-show Talk Back with the cast
Sunday, April 23 – Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP) Tinikling Dance Group performs pre-show
Friday, March 31 – Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP) Rondalla Ensemble performs pre-show

* The Umbrella is pleased to announce our new Kid-Care Show Program, a pilot program to give parents an opportunity to attend select performances while their child(ren) engage in art activities inspired by the production. This is a new pilot program aimed at providing better access to arts and culture events and creating a shared experience opportunity for families. Spaces are limited and can be reserved alongside ticket purchases.