Monkeys is a 2023 Hollywood Festival Scholarship Winning play written and directed by our personal friend, Bernard Badion.

Protesting abysmally low wages, even for 1930s San Joaquin County, Filipino farm laborer bunkmates go on strike, not yet realizing what they need more than cash is each other. A workplace comedy taking place in one of the worst workplaces to ever exist, Monkeys shows a group of friends trying to make the best out of their lives at the bottom and maybe find love even though it’s illegal for them to marry.

Monkeys includes a talented ensemble of actors, including Eugene Cordero, Mike Cabellon, Gilbert Galon, Jason Rogel, Tony Garbanzos, E.J. Cabasal, Isabella Wager, Dustin Loomis, and Zedrick Restauro.

In addition to the talented cast, Monkeys features an original song by comedian J.R. DeGuzman, which he wrote in collaboration with Badion. The play is stage managed by Elizabeth Excaliber and produced by Chris Quintos Cathcart, with poster art by Byron Atienza.

Monkeys has partnered with FXE (Filipinx In Entertainment), W.F. Hunters, and A Bunch Of Savages, and rehearsal space was provided by Drake Hall.

Monkeys: A derogatory term created by American soldiers during colonization referring to Filipinos as “Tailless monkeys”.