Source: Curtis Theatre

Aurora, Remedios, and Eugenia are three of the most sought-after professional funeral criers in

Brea. They are eager to welcome Aurora’s teenage daughter Ligaya (nicknamed Gaya) from the

Philippines into their world and teach her their somber trade. However, they soon realize that Gaya

has the opposite effect on people, making them laugh instead of cry. What ensues is a hilarious and

heartwarming story of cultural identity, generational conflict, and finding home in a new country.

Criers for Hire was commissioned by East West Players Theatre in 2016 and was produced with

generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. This special presentation is part of

AMPLIFY— an initiative to address the inequality in performing arts programming that provides a

platform and outlet for performing artists of all kinds, while expanding the inclusivity and outreach

of the Curtis Theatre to a diverse artistic community.

The cast features Joy Regullano, Sandy Velsaco, Evie Abat, Pablo Cuen, Bianca Ibarra and directed

by Mara Palma with dramaturgy by East West Players’ Associate Artistic Director Annie Jin Wang.

This revised iteration will be presented at Curtis Theatre with a playwright colloquy immediately

following the performance. Criers for Hire is produced alongside PRIZM HAUS, LLC, LXV

ENTERPRISES, LLC with JANNELLE SO PRODUCTIONS, INC. as the Media Sponsor.

Location: Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Cir, Brea, CA.

Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 5pm