PERSONAL STATEMENT

I’m a writer and arts administrator currently based in the Washington, D.C. area. My writing encompasses journalism, criticism, essays, marketing copy, and creative work. In all of my writing, I explore performances both on and off the stage—and how these performances are targeted for audiences of multiple demographics.

My theater criticism is dedicated to being completely honest, while still extending grace, on how the art form treats marginalized communities. As someone who is gay, Filipino American, and Gen Z, my goal as a writer is to take the deep conversations that occur privately within communities of color, and carefully share them in a more public way.

I’m currently working on an essay collection that investigates the history of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) through theatrical plays set and produced in the area.

THEATER JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

3Views on Theater, Guest Curator/Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (July 2023–Present)

• Interviewed playwright David Henry Hwang for feature on the Broadway production of Yellow Face

• Guest curated issue on Woolly Mammoth’s world premiere play The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes: selected the show, hired three writers, edited all articles, wrote editor’s note

• Wrote “Unnecessary” as part of 2023 essay series, led group review of Ford Theatre’s Something Moving

Theatrely, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (May 2021–Present)

• Review Washington, D.C./East Coast theater productions across 12 theater companies, contribute opinion articles

• Profiled productions in N.Y.C. (Slave Play, Richard III) and D.C. (Come From Away, Seven Guitars, Marys Seacole), contributed Tony Awards coverage

DC Theater Arts, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (July 2022–Present)

• Write playwright profiles, interviewing Martyna Majok, Dave Harris, Benjamin Benne, Doug Robinson

• Wrote opinion essay on Asian American theater, contributed Capital Fringe Festival reviews

DCist, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2022–Apr. 2023)

• Wrote eight theatre production reviews under 500 words across seven D.C. area theater companies

• Wrote local theater performance guide for 2023

GENERAL JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

Smithsonian Magazine, Freelance Writer, Washington, D.C. (May 2024–Present)

• Wrote profiles for Smithsonian exhibitions on James Baldwin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and “The Print Generation” 

• Interviews curators (Hilton Als, Kit Brooks), scholars (Alicia Volk, Soyica Diggs Colbert), and artists (Adam Milner)

NPR, Code Switch/It’s Been a Minute Intern, Remote (Oct. 2021–Apr. 2022)

• Wrote Code Switch article on musical A Strange Loop that was shared on X by playwright Michael R. Jackson

• Pitched and booked It’s Been a Minute (IBAM) episode with actors Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz

• Wrote three entries of Code Switch newsletter for 50K subscribers, adapted three IBAM episodes into website profiles

• Pre-interviewed guests, produced episode segments, fact-checked scripts

The Wesleyan Argus, Editor in Chief, Middletown, CT  (Dec. 2020–May 2021)

• Edited 10–15 articles for weekly publication, managed the newspaper production process and the community of 50 writers and editors

• Conducted pre-semester training and discussions of anti-racism goals.

• Created new social media and podcast editorial positions, instituted Argus Slack.

• Publicly interviewed Wesleyan University President at State of the School Address

• Previously Arts & Culture Editor (Sep. 2020–Dec. 2020), Assistant Arts & Culture Editor (Sep. 2019–May 2020)

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT (Graduated May 2021)

Bachelor of Arts, Majors: English (Concentration: Race/Ethnicity), Theater, GPA: 3.81/4.00

Day Eight’s National Arts Journalism Institute, Washington, D.C. (June 2022)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Wesleyan University English Department, Teaching Apprentice, Middletown, CT (Sep. 2019–Dec. 2019)

• Helped teach ten contemporary plays in class “Award Winning Playwrights” with Prof. Rashida Z. Shaw McMahon

• Facilitated class discussions, conducted office hours for help with papers

• Taught one class period with a presentation on Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Fairview. Wrote review on Woolly Mammoth Theater Company’s Fairview production featured on syllabus