A Bold Cultural Collaboration Powered by Virginia Humanities & The Virginia Commission for the Arts
About ROŪGE: Theater Reinvented
Founded in 2022, ROŪGE is a nonprofit performing arts organization dedicated to weaving theater into the fabric of everyday life. Through site-specific performances, community partnerships, and bold storytelling, ROŪGE creates space for stories that reflect and reshape the world around us. Learn more at rougeva.org
About ODU Theatre
ODU Theatre is home for creative individuals seeking to develop their potential and find their space within the ever evolving art form of theatre. Anchored by individualized instruction from dedicated faculty, our theatre students flourish in work-based learning on stages at ODU, locally, and regionally. Through unique partnerships with professional companies, ODU Theatre students find their direction in the performing arts and beyond.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. They aim to share the stories of all Virginians - or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. Through culture and history, VH aims to connect all Virginians and in doing so help everyone know and engage with each other’s stories and lives a little better. Headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, their work has covered and supported all of the Commonwealth for 50 years. More information can be found at virginiahumanities.org
About Virginia Commission for the Arts
Established in 1968, the VCA is the state agency dedicated to investing in the arts of Virginia. Through allocations made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the General Assembly, the VCA utilizes investments to empower arts leaders, arts educators, and arts practitioners. In doing so, we create a virtuous cycle of those who not just participate in and appreciate the arts, as stated in our enabling legislation, but those who serve as change agents and advance the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their mission is to invest to support the arts within the Commonwealth of Virginia. More information can be found at vca.virginia.gov/
NORFOLK, VA. (July 25, 2025) —
ROŪGE: Theater Reinvented announces its most ambitious collaborative venture yet! In collaboration with Old Dominion University Theatre and through the generous grant support from Virginia Humanities at WHRO and Virginia Commission for the Arts; The Great Filipino American Aswang Pageant has begun its raw development in partnership with the Arts and Filipino American Communities of Hampton Roads. Through partnerships fostered by local creative juggernaut Philip Odango such as The Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Filipino-American Action Program (SCAPA), The PhilippineCultural Center of Virginia Beach, and The Filipino American Student Association of ODU; ROŪGE is excited to bring its artists and these communities together to inform, grow, and blossom a completely new work penned by Filipino-American horror-fiction writer and Tidewater native Kat Stevens.
Development for this production begins late-July through an Oral History collection initiative facilitate by ROŪGE and local artist Maya Pagtakhan. This program, funded by VCA and Virginia Humanities, captures stories and histories from multiple generations of Filipino-American families and individuals from throughout Hampton Roads. These stories, the people, and their rich & textured lives will form the fabric of story-telling elements rooted in the mythology and history of the Filipino culture captured in this one of a kind creative show never before seen!
About the Production
The Great Filipino-American Aswang Pageant is a new play currently in development. We are seeking actors to be part of both the creative development journey and the final staged production in October. In Filipino folklore, an Aswang is a shapeshifting monster, often described as a vampire-like creature, that is feared for its taste for human flesh and blood.
Navigate a world filled with supernatural creatures while uncovering the true meaning of identity and self-discovery in The Great Filipino American Aswang Pageant - a groundbreaking production that defies expectations as it weaves together the worlds of mythology, camp, and high-stakes pageantry using song and scandal! This original story is a collaboration between playwright, Kat Stevens; creative lead, Philip Odango; and ROŪGE: Theater Reinvented.
“Themes of immigration and personal sacrifice are prevalent in Filipino-American stories,” says Odango. “Immigration can also include the diaspora of myths, cultural practices, stereotypes and generational trauma -- all set to a soundtrack.”
About the Artists
Kat Stevens (Playwright) is an educator, writer, and theater enthusiast local to the Tidewater area. Her co-hosted podcast "Keeping It Creepy with Cherry And Kat" recently launched its seventh season and focuses on horror from the perspective of women of color. She previously helped to develop "The ShoPowSho" which explores Filipino and Filipino American culture and industry. After nearly a decade of experience with high school theater and community event development, Kat is thrilled for the chance to work on this exciting tale of myth and legend grounded by the experience of what it means to be Filipino.
Philip Odango (Creative Lead) is an award-winning Filipino-American designer, community builder and educator whose videos have amassed over 10 million streams on YouTube and has designed costumes for celebrities such as Mindy Kaling and Danny Trejo. Philip began cosplaying in 2004 and has since been an invited guest, presenter all over the world, using his platforms to help others in discovering their creative self-expression. As a creative coach, Philip helps artists to uncover and understand what may be preventing them from making their most authentic work. He provides them with tools to understand their creative process more effectively so they can engage in their creative activities and develop a strong, sustainable and nurturing practice. Learn more about Philip at canvascosplay.com
The Great Filipino American Aswang Pageant is made possible with the generous support of the Goode Family Foundation, the City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department, Clearstead, and 757 Makerspace. Additionally a portion of ROŪGE: Theater Reinvented support comes from the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from Virginia Humanities and The Virginia Commission for the Arts.
