richkiamco
Critically acclaimed queer Filipino-American writer and performer, Rich Kiamco is available for campus bookings / events. His one-man show, UNACCESSORIZED won the Overall Excellence Award in Solo Performance at the New York International Fringe Festival.
This past fall Rich performed at the National Filipino American Youth Association’s showcase at Georgia State University and appeared in a series of Get Out The Vote PSAs encouraging Asian voters to hit the polls. Rich Kiamco was also a featured expert on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, was a panelist on the Discovery Channel’s Second Opinion and has also performed and facilitated workshops at various campuses with Peeling, an Asian-American performance collective based in New York City. Rich has also appeared in Las Vegas, on The Howard Stern Show and venues nationwide as the side-kick to comedian Judy Tenuta. His writing can be found in Take Out: Queer Writing From Asian Pacific America, Temple University Press and Queer Stories For Boys, Thunder’s Mouth Press.
UNACCESSORIZED SYNOPSIS:
A queer over-achieving Filipino comes out at age 14, facing hate crimes at school, prayer vigils from Mom, and electroshock therapy from Dad. Wrestling with his family's hope for medical school, and his dreams of pursuing fashion design, he escapes the cornfields of Illinois to the streets of NYC. Will he find love, enlightenment and the perfect shade of beige? This autobiopic romp shreds cultural legacy into a hilariously insightful adventure. Winner of the Overall Excellence Award in Solo Performance at the New York International Fringe Festival.
ENVISIONEERING: The Art Of Life
Like a hidden treasure chest, our greatest talents and dreams are buried under years of neglect. Childhood traumas from playground bullies to unrequited prepubescent crushes and academic failures bury us under millions of grains of self-doubt. “I'll never be good enough, I don't deserve, I'm stupid, I'm unlovable” or any myriad of self esteem landmines.
Participants will challenge their self-concept with a personal vision map/treasure map to ‘envisioneer’ their lives at its greatest manifestation. In this process, fear of failure, inadequacy, unworthiness, etc., are unearthed. Through writing, art and role-play in the presence of this resistance, participants will reclaim their personal excellence and affirm and witness each other through the group process.
participants will:
createa vision map and personal tools/affirmations
participate in role play and self empowerment
experience the energy of group witnessing
have fun
Instant ReplayS
What were the words you didn't get to say? or the words you wish you hadn't said?
Participants revisit, rewrite and reprogram a negative past experience w/a particular person 'perpetrator'
participants will:
explore the labels of victim and perpetrator
experience empowerment and self awareness
free up energy from releasing resentments
have fun
Participants revisit a negative past experience w/a particular person
" one of the best, and certainly one of the most finely honed works we saw during the entire Fringe …the play is a wonderful showcase for Kiamco's quicksilver talents…smart and sophisticated .
" highly physical, almost an athletic event…it’s impossible not to be impressed…a story told with great style and warmth .
" Amazing..touching, powerful…dynamic & original…what a talent and story .
" Kiamco’s zesty performance at QAPL was stellar…reflections on gay marriage and gay Asian identity were a tour de force!