Filipino-led, Tagalog-spoken play 'Buong/Buo' set for New York run
MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino-led performance will stage a new run in New York next month, with playwright and performer Kenneth Keng, co-deviser Carlos Lising and dancer Misha Bernas leading "Buong/Buo" at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
The production is part of "?!: (Interrobang) New Works 2026," an annual festival at The Brick Theater, with performances scheduled on April 8 and April 10.
Now titled "Buong/Buo," the piece builds on earlier iterations of "Buong-Buo" and explores collaboration across distance, with some members performing in person while others join virtually.
Keng and Lising will appear live, while co-devisers Red Concepcion and Danilo Zepeda will participate remotely and interact with audiences.
Keng said the latest version emerged from a practical question of how the group could continue staging work in New York despite physical distance.
"Thus was born this latest version of Buong-Buo, what we are calling Buong-Buo Binali. We as collaborators, as Filipinos, may be physically broken, but our community, our very souls, remain whole," he said.
Filipino language, Filipino cast
The performance is delivered entirely in Tagalog, with audience participation shaped by Filipino language and cultural references.
Previous audiences have described the work as "at first joyful, and then deeply unsettling," according to the news release.
Joining Keng and Lising onstage is Maria Patricia "Misha" Bernas, an award-winning dancer and movement therapist who will guide audiences through inclusive dance and movement practices.
"It's such a gift to represent the Philippines and bring Kenneth's artistic vision to life," Bernas said. "It's been especially rewarding to see how diverse audiences have embraced hearing Filipino onstage, fostering meaningful cross-cultural exchange and dialogue."
How to catch it. The performances will be held at The Brick Theater, a nonprofit venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn known for staging experimental works.
Tickets are available through the theater’s festival pages for April 8 and April 10.
