Nothing Micro about Micronesia
By Leilani Chan & Ova Saopeng in collaboration with members of the Micronesian Community in Hawai’i
Show Synopsis
Nothing Micro About Micronesia is a coming of age story about two Micronesian boys who encounter an unlikely place after a series of conflicts between them. They must navigate between the directions from elders and the government systems who have had an impact on their current lives and states of being/belonging. Join these friends as they take us through their lenses of island life in Micronesia while facing the rising tides of their transitioning ages, complicated family matters, new findings about the world and themselves, and uncertain futures.
About TeAda
TeAda is a nomadic theater rooted in the stories of immigrants, refugees and indigenous peoples. We are committed to healing, by honoring the lives of the displaced, exploited and overlooked. Our artistic process starts and ends with conscious listening, community building, and creative courage. TeAda’s Methodology offers transformative and impactful acts of service including workshops, performances and other community engagements.www.teada.org
About the Guam Co-Presenters
The University of Guam Theatre creates a space for majors of the Fine Arts Program pursuing the theatre track as well as UOG fine arts alumni and local playwrights to showcase their work. The UOG Theatre puts on four productions each year at the Fine Arts Theatre on campus, ranging from the theatrical classics of Shakespeare to Tennessee Williams to Lorraine Hansberry. Additionally, locally relevant productions, such as “I’Famaloan,” “Pågat,” and student-written one acts have drawn from the community for text and inspired meaningful conversations about place and identity.
Humanities Guåhan is an independent nonprofit organization that provides foundational support and educational programming for the people of Guam. The mission of Humanities Guåhan is to foster community engagement and dialogue, inspire critical thinking, celebrate community and enrich the quality of life of island residents through the power of the humanities.
Guam Council on the Arts & Humanities Agency exists to encourage and promote the artistic practice of our artisans and create opportunities for Guam residents to learn, experience, express, and appreciate art and artistic talent in all its forms.
Note from Co-Creators: Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng from TeAda Productions
Our TeAda Methodology is based on devised theater practices inspired by many other U.S. theaters of color including Urban Bush Women, Teatro Campesino, Great Leap, Carpetbag Theatre and many others. The process of collecting stories from the community and putting them on stage requires dedication, time and patience. We have been building trust for over a decade working with the Micronesian community in Hawaiʻi. Nothing Micro About Micronesia is an expansion and growth from our first play Masters of the Currents, a foundation that centers their stories.
We were lucky enough to travel to Micronesia as part of the research development of this show. On that trip, we facilitated workshops in multiple island nations including the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam, and Saipan. We also did workshops with the Micronesian community in the Los Angeles area in Long Beach and Pasadena. It took us over a year of collecting additional stories to create Nothing Micro about Micronesia. By investing time with the community, we have woven relationships across Micronesian communities in the diaspora. In turn, the community has contributed to our process by sharing their stories, inviting their networks, and being part of the development, production, and uplifting of both Masters of the Currents and Nothing Micro about Micronesia. As a result of this multi-year commitment, we are proud to say that the majority of the performing ensemble are Micronesian and Pacific Islander.
The themes that have resonated throughout our journey with the Micronesian community is the importance of upholding your culture and navigating what you want to hold on to, especially for those who leave their home islands. We have learned that the community is forced to compromise between staying or leaving home and navigating between tradition or modernization. Our roots as people who grew up in Hawaiʻi who represent a long list of ethnicities, helps us to create work that promotes a better understanding of each other’s experiences. What’s happening with the Micronesian community in Hawaiʻi and the pressures that they face is in direct connection to what has happened for many generations before in Hawaiʻi and across the U.S.—whether it’s dealing with racism, over-policing, climate change, migration, and militarism. These are all the systems in place that are not only affecting the Micronesian community, but us all. By deeply listening and opening ourselves to one another, together, we could make positive change for all.
Production Credits
Written & Directed by
Leilani Chan & Ova Saopeng
With support from Cultural Navigator Innocenta Sound Kikku and members of the Micronesian community.
Songs by
Stephanie “Soultree” Camba
Music by
Derek Cannon
Daniel Bambaata Marley
Projection Design by
Joan Osato
Set & Prop Design by
Eric West
Lighting Design by
Maximilian Urruzmendi
Costume Design by
Iris Kim
Sound Design by
Stephanie Camba
Jonny Chang
Sarah Danvers
Thayer Walker
Videography & Sound Recording by
Leilani Chan
Jonny Chang
Acting & Movement Coaches
Misa Tupou
Kiki Rivera
Jackie Pualani Johnson
Justina Mattos
Technical Director & Stage Manager
Lanaly Cabalo
Performed by
Kealaula "Lala" Faifili
Tristan Henry
Kathy Martin
Ova Saopeng
Koa Shope
Guam Tour
Guam Tour Co-Presenters
CJ Ochoco, Executive Director
Humanities Guåhan
Angie Taitague, Director
Guam Council on the Arts & Humanities (CAHA)
Troy McVey, Professor of Theatre
University of Guam
Community Workshop Organizers
Nedine Songeni, Humanities Guåhan
Jacqueline Balbas, Guam CAHA
Community Engagement Coordinators
Kathy S. Martin, Community Organizations
Nolan Muña, Student Organizations
Justine Luis Losinio, Check-in Coordinator
Jau’Dawn Angel Avila-Montoya, Special Assistant
UOG Student Performers
Fern Ngirakesau, Fine Arts: Music & Theatre
Jeimax Ruloma, Fine Arts: Art
UOG Production Crew
Christian Jay Santiago, Technical Director
Derek Smith, Stage Manager
Monica Cosico, Lighting Operator
Alexandre Villaflor, Sound & Projections Operator
Aiko Miranda, Wardrobe
Technical Setup by Students in TH316
Front of House support by Students in TH426
Guam Co-Presenters
Guam CAHA
Humanities Guahan
UOG Office of the President
Funded in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Mellon Foundation and additional support from the Doris Duke Foundation
Guam Supporters
Breaking Wave Theatre Company
Micronesia Climate Change Alliance
Creative West
Guam Special Thanks
FSM Consulate
Matson
Valley of the Latte
GuamTime
SureStay Guam
CLASS Dean’s Office
Tammy Muña, CMFA Division Office
Jasmine Stole Weiss
Joseph Certeza
Larry Reigetal
Zina Ruiz
Rudy Rivera
Steph Balagot
Para i Probechu'n i Taotao-Ta, Inc.
Jerome Ocampo
Joey Datuin
Joyce Torres
Shannon Dean San Nicolas
Nicolas Quinata
Our Partners
Breaking Wave Theatre Company
Commonwealth Council for the Arts and Culture
County of Maui
Creative West (formerly WESTAF)
Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency
Hawaii People’s Fund
Honolulu Theatre For Youth
Humanities Guåhan
Jo-Jikum
Kim Coco Iwamoto
Maximus Yarawamai
MAP Fund
Matson
Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Maui County Office of Economic Development
Micronesian Health Advisory Coalition (MHAC)
Micronesians United Big Island (MUBI)
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
Northern Marianas Humanities Council (NMHC)
Pacific Ethnic Island Arts Museum (PIEAM)
Pacific Voices / Kokua Kalihi Valley
PREL (Pacific Resources for Education and Learning)
University of Guam Fine Arts Theatre
University of Hawaii-Hilo Performing Arts Center
Waan Aelōñ in Majel (WAM)
Mahalo (Thank You) to the village of supporters in the development and contribution to Nothing Micro About Micronesia:
Susan & James Iwamura, Nouthak Saopeng, Thomma Saopeng, Taloo Carrillo, Stephanie Camba, Demiliza Sagaral Saramosing, Misa Tupou, Kati Kuroda, Lee Barnette-Dombroski, Sarah Danvers, Joan Osato, Maximilian Urruzmendi, George Kon, Darlene Rodrigues, Kiki Rivera, Eleanor Chang, Innocenta Sound-Kikku, Parem Village of Epinune, Mayor Ana Akira and Family, Thiazina Nowell and family, Philios Uruman, Vicky Lukan, Canita Rilometo Nakamura and family, Patti Pedrus, Carl D. Apis and family, Keola Diaz and Tamera Heine, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Magdalene Johnson, Alson Kelen, Tammy Hailuōpua Baker, Theo Kāneikoliakawahineika’iukapuomua Baker, Litdet Viravong & Coi Vu, Uale Anthony, Michelle Noe, Kamalu & Wailea Tupou, Joanie’s Uncle Bill and Auntie Churee, Tristan Henry, Emerald Hadik, Jayceleen Ifenuk, Fran Lujan, Kathy Martin, Koa Shope, Kealaula “Lala” Faifili, Shary-Keoni Likiak, Charles Jake Patris, Marvin Mariano, Jeung Bok Holmquist, Derek Cannon, Daniel Bambara Marley, Charlene Kusto, Eileen Camba, Noel Camba, Nasstasha Magaña, Chaslyn Ludwig, Mahina Ludwig, Mercedes Oster, Darren Bien, Ethan Morse, Maximus Yarawamai, Lorelai Aiwohi, Russco Inchin, Ramona Faasoa, Eola Lokebol, Barbara Tom, Lillian Tsang, Samantha Olvera, Jason Pereira, Vai Alefosio, Alison Rodriguez, Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto, Dina Shek, Shanty Sigrah Asher, Becky Dunning, Mattea Mazzella, Thayer Walker, Lynda Muller, Philip Muller, Klaza Rudolph, Ramona Faasoa, Lorelai Aiwohi, Troy McVey, Angie Taitague, Leo Pangelinan, CJ Ochoco, Gloriana Sepe Teuira, Governor Arnold Palacios, Alice Igitol, Naomi Tudela, Jacqueline Balbas, Nedine Songeni, Dylan Clymer, Charissa Manibusan, Helen Yeung, Leslie Reynolds, Leeani Saralu, Jerome Ocampo, Mona Celia R. Mercado, Amie McRoberts, Steven Van Winkle, Melvin Won Pat-Borja, David Tydingco, Tony Mantanona, Veronica Rungmed, Kristin Defngan, Frasie Yafneg, Mary Ann Becmer
Production Bios
Leilani Chan, Writer+Director
An award winning performance artist, actor, playwright, director, and cultural worker, Leilani grew up in Waiʻalae and Kaimukī, attended Wilson Elementary, Kaimukī Intermediate, Kalani High School. Leilani says, “I grew up going to shows at Honolulu Theatre for Youth and UH Mānoa. I would get all the actors to sign my program. I was in the first Summer Program for the Enhancement of Basic Education program at UH Mānoa. We studied acting, theater history, set and costume design with UH professors and got to perform on the Kennedy Theater stage. I LOVED it! I wasn’t very confident that a local girl like me could do Shakespeare, but I got cast in the lead female role in The Comedy of Errors! And I was hooked. My Hawaiʻi theater roots have carried me all over the country.” Leilani is the Founding Artistic Director of TeAda Productions, www.teada.org. She is a graduate of Hampshire College and UC Irvine.
Ova Saopeng, Writer+Performer
Theatremaker with Los Angeles based TeAda Productions. Born in Savannakhet, Laos, raised in Hawaiʻi with a B.A. in Theater from the University of Southern California. He is a Lao’d and Proud refugee artist passionate about elevating refugee, immigrant and indigenous stories onto the American stage. For the last 18 years with his creative partner, Leilani Chan; they have created and toured a volume of plays that includes: Refugee Nation, Global Taxi Driver, Masters of the Currents and Nothing Micro About Micronesia. All these works are based on the TeAda Methodology, a process of intersectional collaboration deep in commitment and engagement with global refugee, immigrant and indigenous communities. Ova is an experienced teaching artist and has toured colleges, universities, and primary schools promoting equity, diversity and inclusion using the power of the theater arts. Film credits include Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: World’s End, Go to Sleep: A Lao Ghost Story, Burmese Refugee, Warsol. For contact info visit www.teada.org or follow him on Instagram: og_ova
Lanaly Cabalo, Technical Director & Stage Manager
Lanaly Cabalo is the founder of the Hawaiʻi Women’s Voices Theater Festival, a co-founding member of EPOCH — Empowering People of Color Hawaiʻi Theatre Company, founding member of the Push Comedy Theatre (Norfolk, VA). Her most recent directing credits include Disney’s Finding Nemo, Jr. (a Pilot Production), The Addams Family The Musical, Zombie Thoughts, The Wiz, Jr. and Connected for St. Andrew's Schools The Priory. She also served as the Director of Interns for the summer theatre program StageLeft! She has stage managed the Poʻokela Award-winning Disgraced for The Actor’s Group, The Elephant Man, Equus and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Mānoa Valley Theatre (MVT) and Nā Manu, The Monkey King and The Metamorphoses at Palikū Theatre. Other projects include In the Heights and Hairspray for Kaimukī High School Performing Arts Center, In the Next Room/The Vibrator Play and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (MVT), Jonathan Dove’s Siren Song, Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman with Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre and the underneath and My Boy He Play Ball with Kumu Kahua Theatre (KKT). In addition, Lanaly is the Chapter Director for the Hawaiʻi Thespians, an educational organization that supports theatre students and teachers. Lanaly would like to thank everyone at TeAda Productions for welcoming her as a member of the team.
Kealaula “Lala” Faifili, Performer
Kealaula “Lala” Faifili was last seen onstage at Palikū theatre in the world premiere of Lee Cataluna’s Kimo the Waiter. Previous acting credits include Machinal and Aloha Attire.
Lala also studied at E15 and with the RSC and SBT as part of the Footholds UK Shakespeare Study Abroad program at Windward Community College. Lala is currently pursuing an AA in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Theater with the Hawaiʻi Conservatory of Performing Arts, at WCC; she has been awarded Commitment to Excellence Award, Exemplary Performance Award and is a current Irene Ryan acting candidate. She is proud of her indigenous heritage and hopes she has more chances to play Hawaiian and Samoan characters.
TristanKasy Henry, Performer
TristanKasy Henry was born and raised on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. He graduated from Kaimukī High School where he served as an English TA- advocating for the Micronesian community. He is a leader in the Madau Project and is part of a cultural dance group based in Kaimukī High School. Tristan is currently pursuing a degree in Natural Science (Environmental Science).
Kathy S. Martin, Performer
Kathy S. Martin is from the island of Piis Paneu Island in Chuuk, Micronesia. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Kathy has been a community activist for the Micronesian population both in Hawaiʻi and Guam. She advocates for the community in many areas including, housing, health, and education. Kathy was featured and played as the cultural consultant for the film, Breadfruit and Open Spaces (directed by Lola Q. Bautista). Her work in the field also made her a long time interpreter and translator at the Bilingual Access Line with Helping Hands Hawaiʻi. Kathy works at the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) as Migrant Education Specialist. She was a former adjunct instructor at the University of Guam and a quality assurance coordinator at the Chuuk Health Department.
Koa Shope, Performer
Koa Shope is a Micronesian actor and student in the Acting Conservatory at Windward Community College. He was featured in the following theater works: Kahāhāwai/Massie, Machinal, She Kills Monsters, Aitu Fafine, and Aloha Attire. He is trained in Stage Combat, Voice and Movement, and Improv. Koa participated in the Shakespeare Summer Study Abroad Program in 2023 and was a nominee of the KCACTF Irene Ryan competition 2023-2024. Koa aspires to write more stories for the Micronesian community to amplify their voices along with his own and would like to give back all he has learned to his community.
TeAda Productions Squad
Leilani Chan
Founding Artistic Director
Ova Saopeng
Co-Artistic Director
Taloo Carrillo
Development Director
Jonny Chang
Marketing and Local Programs Manager
Stephanie Camba
Operations and Diaspora Programs Director
Pre/Post Show Music Credits:
Kakijia Ippa - Soultree
Where I’m from - ft Micronesia
Reilok im Lale Cove - ft. Lula Langata (Prod. Mika)
Jerake wa ne (cover)
Massage Situation - Flying Lotus
A Sonap Ai Tong Ngonuk
Kejro Rimajol - Jabubu
Am Koman - La’Topher
Jako - Les Anjolok
Latte Stones - Berto
Sengsong Maphages - Microchild
Rhythm of the Islands
Kåntan CHamoru
Saipan
Asaguå-hu
Olomana
Miss NRC Nauru 2022 - Nabzy
Marakaei Abau Bwa Te Kan - ft. Malmie, ITK & Bwenaman
A Ura Taura - JK Bone x DJ Binlope
Nei Niira - Riac
Yokwe Eok Bonin - Les Anjolok, AKA, Yungstar
Chamorrita girl - KC DeLeon Guerrero
Låhi Amerikanu
Marshallese Girl
Island People - Soultree
Lisa Sandei
Smiich El Dil - Kendall T & Marvi
Dodersii Belau - Kendall T
Akai Atoll - Parker
Ngkal Dil - Bom Soro (Parker)
Funders
