Barbour Playwrights Award 2021: "Learning How to Read by Moonlight" by Gaven D. Trinidad

Learning How to Read by Moonlight

by Gaven D. Trinidad
directed by Michael Alvarez

edited for online broadcast by Brad Davies

presented with Leviathan Lab

Six-year-old Eddie and his Nanay ("mother") are determined to make the United States his family's new home after facing life-threatening danger back in the Philippines. Eddie and his imaginary friend create their own worlds in which Eddie can face the challenges of growing up in the United States as undocumented, an English language learner, and queer. The play is performed in English and Tagalog, with the preference of subtitles available in both languages. The play was honored as a finalist for the 2021 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Competition.

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In 2007, EAG established this special award to honor the legacy of actor, playwright and EAG member Thomas Barbour (Arthur, Great White Hope) whose support for emerging artists was an inspiration to many. The Barbour Award was established and endowed by Janet Barbour Carhart, Alison Barbour Fox, and from a portion of the gift left to EAG by Mr. Thomas Barbour’s estate. All proceeds from the staged readings of the Barbour finalists’ plays go directly to supporting future Barbour Awards.

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Founded in 2009, Leviathan Lab is an award-winning not-for-profit creative studio whose mission is the advancement of Asian and Asian American (A/AA) performing artists and their work. Through the speaking of A/AA artists’ words, and the presentation of A/AA bodies, presence, and gestures on stage and film, Leviathan works to open spaces that promote social justice, bridge communities, and assert the power of art to change the world. They function as a lab where early-career and established A/AA artists can be courageous, experiment, and thrive as they create works that captivate the audiences Leviathan serves. www.leviathanlab.org

The Episcopal Actors’ Guild was established in 1923 and is a charitable organization offering emergency assistance and career support to professional performers “of all faiths, and none.” We also host a full calendar of events and fundraisers including concerts, variety shows, play readings, and professional workshops. Learn more at www.actorsguild.org.

Thomas Barbour was a dedicated supporter of the theatre, emerging playwrights, and the Episcopal Actors’ Guild. On stage and screen, Mr. Barbour had a prolific acting career, including featured roles in Arthur with Dudley Moore and The Great White Hope with James Earl Jones. Off-stage, Mr. Barbour worked tirelessly on behalf of EAG, serving many years as Treasurer and Vice-President. Under his leadership, the Guild’s scholarship program grew from two annual awards of $500 to five annual awards of $1,000. Mr. Barbour also co-founded Polaris North and was a long-time member of the Perry Street Block Association.