Larry the Musical sings the legacy of Filipino Labor Leader Larry Itliong

A new theater production “Larry the Musical an American Journey” telling the little story about the Filipino-American experience will hold its opening night this Saturday at the Brava Theater in the Mission District.

The musical shares the legacy of Larry Itliong, the labor leader who helped organize farm workers in California’s Central Valley and helped co-found the United Farm Workers alongside Cesar Chavez.

“I think this is a story for anybody who is an American,” said Executive Producer and Writer Gayle Romasanta. “We learn about the Boston Tea Party as something essential to the America’s identity, and Filipino-Americans in labor history should also be central to who the United State is, and what American schools teach.”

The musical is based on the children’s book, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong, who Romasanta co-wrote with the late and great Dr. Dawn Mabalon.

The creative team behind the musical consists of all Filipino-Americans who began working on the production, with its first public workshop in October of 2021.

Eymand Meneses Cabling, who portrays the elder Larry in the play called the musical a lifelong dream to perform in a role highlighting his own experience.

“It means so much because it is so rare to have any shows done with Filipino actors,” said Cabling.

Kylie Abucay, who is from Daly City and plays the character Izzy says at first, she felt pressure, because the role is so culturally personal, but has found a feeling of lightness being around other Filipino actors.

“It feels like we are doing this with our ancestors, with our community, with our people, we are not doing this alone, and that is the best part of it,” said Abucay.

Larry the Musical began performance for preview audiences this past week, with opening night this Saturday at the Brava Theater. The production run through April 24th.

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