LOS ANGELES — Actors Deedee Magno-Hall and Isa Camille Briones will play mother and daughter, respectively, in East West Players' staging of the musical LOS ANGELES — Actors Deedee Magno-Hall and Isa Camille Briones will play mother and daughter, respectively, in…
LOS ANGELES — Actors Deedee Magno-Hall and Isa Camille Briones will play mother and daughter, respectively, in East West Players’ staging of the musical “Next to Normal.”
With music by Tom Kitt and libretto by Brian Yorkey, this Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical is about how Diana’s mental health conditions affect her spouse Dan and daughter Natalie.
Magno-Hall takes the role of Diana and will act alongside her real-life husband Clifton (who is of partial Filipino descent) , who plays Dan. Both just recently concluded the national tour of another Kitt-Yorkey musical, “If/Then, ” starring Idina Menzel.
Other Filipino Americans in the production include actors Anthea Neri (Diana understudy) and Randy Guiaya (Doctor Fine/Madden/Anesthesiologist) ; and musical director Marc Macalintal.
Runs in the family
Isa Briones is making her East West Players (EWP) debut with the role of Natalie. Her surname may sound familiar to theater aficionados. Her father, Jon Jon, is currently playing in a little musical on Broadway titled “Miss Saigon” as the Engineer.
He says, “I’ m very proud of my daughter and have always been. She’s a wonderful, insanely talented, kind-hearted person and I’ m very excited that she’s making her EWP debut. They do great work.”
Jon Jon played Georges in EWP’s “La Cage Aux Folles” last year opposite Gedde Watanabe as Albin.
“I know it’s important to her that she connects with her Asian roots and be recognized in the Asian theater community, ” he adds.
Unfortunately, he won’ t be able to catch his daughter’s show due to schedule conflicts. “But I’ ll be cheering her on, as well as my other friends in the show, from here in New York City. If it’s extended there may be a possibility of my going.”
Artistic journey
When she first found out about the auditions, Isa signed up right away even if she’ d just previously played the same role for Pico Playhouse Theatre.
“It’s my absolute favorite musical, ” she says.
