Leviathan Lab

04/19/2026

Thank you for the shoutout Lia Chang and Backstage Pass with Lia Chang for our reading tomorrow of Gaven D. Trinidad's MERCURY MAKES THE SKIN GLOW, directed by Roger Q. Mason!

SOLD OUT, but RSVP for the waitlist here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEf2G09Cb7AxG0ZNRBH3XxDiabZR0YDGAukVR47W9AGfma-w/viewform

Leviathan Lab presents an industry-staged reading of MERCURY MAKES THE SKIN GLOW, a new play by Gaven D. Trinidad (Learning How to Read by Moonlight), directed by Roger Q. Mason (Lavender Men, The …

04/18/2026

Rehearsals have been electric! We are excited to share our work at our NYC Industry reading this Monday, April 20th. We’re overwhelmed by your interest to experience this play-in-development.

Link to join the waitlist in bio.

The cast features ARIANNE RECTO, LIZ CASASOLA, NACHO TAMBUNTING, DEL GONZALES, MATTHEW DE LORME, and KARL JINGCO.

Additional creative team: Stage Manager: MARS NERI. Production Assistant: SOOMIN SUN. Produced by ARIEL ESTRADA (Producing Artistic Director, Leviathan Lab) and Associate Producer NACHO TAMBUNTING.

ABOUT THE PLAY
Filipinos love love.
Filipinos love beauty.
Filipinos love beauty pageants.

Veteran pageant queen Carmelita establishes a new circuit of pageants for the Filipino American community in New York City. Against her daughter Jesca’s wishes, Carmelita coerces her seven-year-old grandson, Ernesto, to participate, which then unearths troubling questions of race, identity, colorism, and the Global South’s obsession with the multi-billion-dollar industry of skin whitening. Part unhinged teleserye (telenovela), part beauty pageant, and part historical reckoning, the play begs the question of how the dangerous pursuit of “whiteness” is more than skin deep.

04/15/2026

Thank you for the shoutout BroadwayWorld for our upcoming reading of Gaven D. Trinidad's MERCURY MAKES THE SKIN GLOW!

RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEf2G09Cb7AxG0ZNRBH3XxDiabZR0YDGAukVR47W9AGfma-w/viewform

READ THE PR:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/industry/article/MERCURY-MAKES-THE-SKIN-GLOW-to-Have-Staged-Reading-at-Leviathan-Lab-20260414

04/12/2026

Leviathan Lab presents an industry-staged reading of MERCURY MAKES THE SKIN GLOW, a new play by Gaven D. Trinidad (Learning How to Read by Moonlight), directed by Roger Q. Mason (Lavender Men, The Pride of Lions, The Duat). Following a celebrated developmental reading in Manila, Philippines, in January 2026, this marks the play’s first public reading in New York.

MERCURY MAKES THE SKIN GLOW is a 2025 finalist for both the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

“[An] inventive exploration of colorism and identity… a revelatory unraveling for the audience…” - Pilar Gonzales, Lifestyle Asia 

The cast features ARIANNE RECTO, LIZ CASASOLA, NACHO TAMBUNTING, DEL GONZALES, MATTHEW DE LORME, and KARL JINGCO.

Additional creative team: Stage Manager: MARS NERI. Production Assistant: SOOMIN SUN. Produced by ARIEL ESTRADA (Producing Artistic Director, Leviathan Lab) and Associate Producer NACHO TAMBUNTING.

RSVP in bio.

ABOUT THE PLAY
Filipinos love love.
Filipinos love beauty.
Filipinos love beauty pageants.

Veteran pageant queen Carmelita establishes a new circuit of pageants for the Filipino American community in New York City. Against her daughter Jesca’s wishes, Carmelita coerces her seven-year-old grandson, Ernesto, to participate, which then unearths troubling questions of race, identity, colorism, and the Global South’s obsession with the multi-billion-dollar industry of skin whitening. Part unhinged teleserye (telenovela), part beauty pageant, and part historical reckoning, the play begs the question of how the dangerous pursuit of “whiteness” is more than skin deep.

03/26/2026

TONIGHT! Our staged reading of Gaven D. Trinidad’s LEARNING HOW TO READ BY MOONLIGHT, directed by Nicholas Polonio, with guest narrator Baba Israel at University Settlement Society of New York!

03/20/2026

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE! Help us raise money for the ESOL program at University Settlement Society of New York with our reading of Gaven's gorgeous play.

TIX:

One-night only reading of a new play with music by Gaven Trinidad and directed by Nicholas Polonio.

03/19/2026

MORE TIX ARE AVAILABLE! ONE WEEK LEFT TILL THE FUNDRAISER!

You are invited to a fundraiser for University Settlement’s Adult English Classes, which are offered at a variety of levels to adult immigrant students during the daytime, evenings, and weekends, free of charge.

A collection of AANHPI artists is coming together for a concert reading of Learning How to Read by Moonlight, by Gaven D. Trinidad, directed by Nicholas Polonio.

The play follows a young Filipino immigrant family’s journey to build a home in Queens, New York. The story is told through the eyes of six-year-old Eddie, who does not yet have the English words to express how he feels. The show will be read in both English and Tagalog.

RSVP AND DONATION LINK IN MY BIO!

WHAT: Fundraiser for University Settlement | LEARNING HOW TO READ BY MOONLIGHT
WHEN: Thursday, March 26th, 7:00 PM
WHERE: University Settlement | 184 Eldridge Street

Gaven D. Trinidad, playwright
Nicholas Polonio, director
Sarah Samonte, stage manager

Cast
Sergio Mauritz Ang
Claro de los Reyes
Patrick Elizalde
Kristian Espiritu
Vanessa Rappa
with guest narrator Baba Israel

Maria Camia, puppet designer/puppeteer
Cinthia Chen, projection design
Soomin Sun, Asst to Director

Carolina Do, producer
Ariel Estrada, producer
with co-producers: New York Theatre Workshop, The Song Collective, Betterfly Productions, Leviathan Lab, and University Settlement

01/26/2026

AANHPI Community Night at Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Alex Lin's CHINESE REPUBLICANS, directed by Chay Yew on Wednesday, February 11, with pre-show reception at 5:30 PM and show at 7:00 PM. $20 Discount Code: CR26CN.

PSM: Christopher Kee Anaya-Gorman
Assistant Stage Manager: Ada Chang
PA: Hannah Marks
Playwright: Alex Lin
Director: Chay Yew
Assistant Director: Tai Thompson
Dramaturg: Mari Tompkins
Set Design: Wilson Chin
Costume Design: Anita Yavich
Lighting Design: Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew
Original Music & Sound Design: Fabian Obispo
Projection Design: Hana S Kim
Hair & Wig: Tom Watson
Fight Directors: David Anzuelo & Sean Griffin of Unkle Dave's Fight House
Dialect Coach: Ka-Ling Cheung
Starring: Jennifer Ikeda, Ben Langhorst, Jully Lee, Jodi Long, and Anna Zavelson.

11/18/2024

Thank you Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Assemblyman Tony Simone for your generous support of Leviathan Lab from the 2025 New York State Council on the Arts Theatre Grant!

Governor Hochul announced over 2,000 grants totaling $62 million by the NYSCA to support New York's vital arts and culture sector.