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New Play 'Mercury Makes the Skin Glow' Gets Staged Reading in New York
Leviathan Lab will present an industry reading of the play exploring colorism and beauty standards in Filipino American communities.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:20pm
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The staged reading of 'Mercury Makes the Skin Glow' explores the complex interplay of cultural identity, beauty standards, and intergenerational conflict within the Filipino American community.Manhattan TodayLeviathan Lab will present a free industry staged reading of 'Mercury Makes the Skin Glow', a new play by Gaven D. Trinidad that examines colorism, colonial beauty standards, and the skin whitening industry within Filipino and Filipino American communities. The reading will take place on April 20, 2026 in Manhattan and features a cast of Filipino American actors.
Why it matters
The play tackles important issues of race, identity, and the psychological impact of beauty norms on children within the Filipino American community. As the Filipino diaspora continues to grow in the U.S., this reading provides a platform to explore these complex themes through the lens of theater.
The details
The reading will feature a cast including Arianne Recto, Liz Casasola, Nacho Tambunting, Del Gonzales, Matthew De Lorme, and Karl Jingco. The play was a 2025 finalist for both the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and this New York reading follows a developmental staging in Manila, Philippines earlier this year.
- The industry reading will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
- The play was a 2025 finalist for the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival.
The players
Gaven D. Trinidad
The playwright of 'Mercury Makes the Skin Glow', whose previous work includes 'Learning How to Read by Moonlight'.
Roger Q. Mason
The director of the staged reading, known for directing plays like 'Lavender Men', 'The Pride of Lions', and 'The Duat'.
Leviathan Lab
The theater company presenting the industry staged reading of 'Mercury Makes the Skin Glow' in New York City.
What’s next
Following the industry reading in New York, the play's creative team will continue to develop the work for potential future productions.
The takeaway
This staged reading provides an important platform to explore issues of colorism, colonial beauty standards, and the skin whitening industry within the Filipino American community through the lens of theater. The play's exploration of intergenerational conflict, cultural erasure, and the psychological impact of beauty norms on children aims to foster empathy and understanding.
