Nova Entertainment is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Hail Mary/Maria, written by RJ Silva and directed by Adam Reed, August 14 - 23 at Theater Wit in Theater 2, 1229 W. Belmont. The preview performance is Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. with press opening on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performance schedule includes Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (industry night), Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. Run time is 80 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $25 - $60, with $15 student and senior discounts available. Tickets are on sale now at TheaterWit.org with additional show information available at The-Novas.com.
Kid, short for Kindness, gets slapped with his first real crush. He relies on his three Marys for guidance: his Filipina mother Marie, the Blessed Virgin Mary and his favorite pro wrestler, Maria. And although he feels like he’s blindly top-rope diving into love, will he be able to stand as a champion for himself? A coming-of-age story with the electricity of a live wrestling show, the comfort and bonds of a Filipino family and the warmth of a budding romance, Hail Mary/Maria is a heartfelt adventure of finding and loving who you are.
“This play takes inspiration from the many things that shaped me–my love for pop culture and badass women like the professional wrestlers I fangirled over, the constant juggling I had to do to fit in at my all-boys Catholic high school, keeping my very traditional Filipino family happy and the confusing and exciting first sparks of my first crushes,” said Hail Mary/Maria Playwright RJ Silva. “I’m excited to share this play with everyone and hope this resonates to the quiet and weird queer kids like our hero Kid who just wants to make those around him proud and happy for who they are. I can’t wait for Chicago to see Filipino culture and love in an exciting pro wrestling inspired show like Hail Mary/Maria!”
The cast of Hail Mary/Maria includes Juan Sedonio (he/him, Kid); Aidan Leake (he/him, Jack); Marie Tredway (she/her, Marie); Carina Lastimosa (she/her, Maria/Mama Mary, U/S Marie); Loreto Delgado (he/him, U/S Kid); Aaron Warrow (he/him, U/S Jack) and Gilary Valenzuela (she/they, U/S Maria/Mama Mary)
Top Row (L to R): Juan Sedonio (he/him, Kid); Aidan Leake (he/him, Jack); Marie Tredway (she/her, Marie); Carina Lastimosa (she/her, Maria/Mama Mary, U/S Marie, Bottom Row (L to R): Loreto Delgado (he/him, U/S Kid); Aaron Warrow (he/him, U/S Jack); Gilary Valenzuela (she/they, U/S Maria/Mama Mary)
The creative team of Hail Mary/Maria includes Adam Reed (he/him, director, co-founder and executive producer); RJ Silva (he/him, playwright, co-founder and executive producer); Noel Henry (they/he, associate producer); Kris Contreras (he/they/she, stage manager); Katelynn Montgomery (she/her, scenic designer); Gin Ko (she/her, costume designer); Emma Berry (she/her, lighting designer); Mikael Silan (he/they, sound designer); Rachel Hartman (she/they, props designer); Axel Rico (he/him, wrestling choreographer); Gaby Labotka (they/she, intimacy director).
ABOUT RJ SILVA, PLAYWRIGHT & CO-FOUNDER
RJ Silva is the co-founder of Nova Entertainment, and serves as the lead producer for the podcast “Boys Love Boys Love” which catapulted the creation of the entertainment company. His five episode romantic comedy web series “Eat Cute” has premiered on YouTube. His writing uniquely blends the Filipino queer experience through the lens of pop culture or magical realism on stage and screen. Silva also serves as Artistic Director of CIRCA Pintig, where he has spearheaded the Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival, the first of its kind festival in Chicago presenting original Filipino works and playwrights to the Midwest, as well as launching the acting ensemble of Filipino and Filipino-American actors in Chicago. He has also directed Every Brilliant Thing, The Art of Belonging and the upcoming production of Debut. Silva was born and raised in Manila, and moved to America when he was thirteen, and is a graduate at Loyola University Chicago’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
ABOUT ADAM REED, DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Adam Reed is the co-founder of Nova Entertainment and a proud alumnus of Loyola University Chicago in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. This is his directorial debut for theater, but has previously directed The Ampliverse and Nova Entertainment’s premiere web series “Eat Cute.” Off stage, Reed provides commentary on Boys Love dramas with his YouTube show, “Boys Love Boys Love” and movie musicals with his podcast “Showgays: A Cinemusical Podcast.”
ABOUT NOVA ENTERTAINMENT
Nova Entertainment is a Chicago-based production company founded from the success of the podcast “Boys Love Boys Love.” Husbands Adam Reed and RJ Silva have centered their enthusiastic and lively brand of storytelling and content to other media, always leading with their passion for witty, warm and genuine connections as they venture into theatre, film and digital content. Nova has produced the web series “Eat Cute” on YouTube, and the solo play You Eat So Well! The-Novas.com and contact us at hello@the-novas.com.
Nova Entertainment is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Hail Mary/Maria, written by RJ Silva and directed by Adam Reed, August 14 - 23 at Theater Wit in Theater 2, 1229 W. Belmont. The preview performance is Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. with press opening on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performance schedule includes Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (industry night), Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. Run time is 80 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $25 - $60, with $15 student and senior discounts available. Tickets are on sale now at TheaterWit.org with additional show information available at The-Novas.com.
Hail Mary/Maria is supported by Independent Productions Initiative. This production is supported by the Shared Spaces program, a joint effort by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and Theater Wit to make more affordable space for theatrical producers.