Why PH staging of ‘A Chorus Line’ heals Conrad Ricamora’s inner child

March 12 ------ Stepping into his father’s hometown was more than a homecoming for Conrad Ricamora. It was also the fulfillment of a longtime dream, especially since he hadn’t felt like he belonged while growing up.

“It feels really healing. I felt like growing up in the United States, I grew up with a lot of white people around me. I felt like I didn’t belong all the time,” Ricamora told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview moments after the media launch for the Philippine staging of “A Chorus Line.” “To be in the Philippines, not only performing with an all-Filipino cast, but like you said, with a Filipino audience feels very healing because I didn’t feel like I belonged a lot of times,” he continued.

Known for his appearances in “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Oh, Mary!” and “Here Lies Love,” the Filipino-American actor is making his Philippine debut in the musical’s staging. This time, he plays Zach, a director seeking eight dancers to form an ensemble for a play. As stoic as the character is, Ricamora is far from it. He loves talking about his experiences in Manila and the art of acting.

One of the highlights of his stay so far was watching a show at Rampa, a popular club in Quezon City that hosts the biggest names in the Filipino drag community. “It just feels like there’s this exuberance in Filipino culture. It feels like Filipinos, we love a celebration,” he said of his experience, which included a ton of watching theatrical productions.

Ricamora was even asked if he knew the SexBomb Girls, and while he didn’t recognize them, he said he would definitely check them out. “We love any chance to sing, dance, and celebrate. Going to Rampa and seeing all of the shows in the city and then showing up to rehearsal every day,” he said with fondness. “Everybody’s just so ready to express themselves, which is so refreshing.”

It hasn’t been that long since he arrived in the Philippines, but he has already found a sense of what home is meant to be. “Even though I was born in the United States, I didn’t always feel like it felt like home. So I’m excited to do this show in a place that feels like home in my heart,” he said.

Source: inquirer.net