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Mother of Exiles

Fri 14 Nov - Sun 21 Dec
Fri Nov 14
-
Sun Dec 21

Tickets now on sale

By Jessica Huang
Directed by Jaki Bradley
World premiere
Peet’s Theatre

In 1898, on Angel Island, a pregnant Eddie Loi faces deportation amid America’s tightening immigration laws. A century later, her great-grandson Braulio, through his role in the Miami border patrol, inadvertently conjures her spirit — unleashing a witty, opinionated ancestor. By 2063, their descendants, beset by climate catastrophe, embark on a perilous oceanic journey seeking sanctuary. From detention to diaspora, Mother of Exiles follows a single family’s century-and-a-half odyssey — tracing their flight, fight, and the futures they dare imagine. Jessica Huang’s multigenerational triptych blends historical drama with supernatural encounters, weaving moments of surprising humor into a powerful portrait of belonging and resilience.

Mother of Exiles received a Venturous Playwright Fellowship at the Playwrights’ Center in St. Paul, MN, supported by Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation.

Mother of Exiles was developed in The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.

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Important dates

  • Masks required: Nov 16, Nov 23 (matinee and evening), Nov 25, and Nov 30 (matinee)
  • Closed captioning: evenings Nov 20, 21, 23, 25, and 26; and every matinee through Dec 18
  • Audio description: Dec 20 matinee
  • Postshow discussions: Dec 4, Dec 9, and Dec 12 — guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team
  • Docent-led postshow discussions: after all matinees

 

Events and extras

  • Theatre Explorers: While you enjoy the Dec 6 matinee, your K–5 student can dive into an exciting, age-appropriate workshop just next door at our School of Theatre! Professional teaching artists lead theatre games and hands-on art projects designed to spark imagination. Registration is $35 per child; advance reservation required.

Who’s who

Cast

Michele Selene Ang* | Eddie Loi
Kina Kantor* | Sister
Emma Kikue* | Missionary/Sophia/Mimi López-Loi & Others
Amy Lizardo* | Mother
David Mason* | Guard/Mick/Henry & Others
Camila Moreno* | Tata/Claudia López & Others
Monica Orozco* | Midwife/Sarge/Karina López-Loi & Others
Ricardo Vázquez* | Braulio Loi/Modesto
Wayne Dexter Wong | Grandfather
Cassidy Brown* | Understudy Guard/Mick/Henry & Others
Kina Kantor* | Understudy Eddie Loi, Missionary/Sophia/Mimi López-Loi & Others
John R. Lewis* | Understudy Braulio Loi/Modesto
Amy Lizardo* | Understudy Tata/Claudia López & Others, Midwife/Sarge/Karina López-Loi & Others

 

Creative team

Jessica Huang | Playwright
Jaki Bradley | Director
Riw Rakkulchon | Scenic Design
Haydee Zelideth | Costume Design
Reza Behjat | Lighting Design
Jake Rodriguez | Sound Design
Nick Hussong | Video Design
tbd casting co. / Stephanie Yankwitt, CSA | Casting
Kristy Bodall* | Stage Manager
Anthony Lopez* | Assistant Stage Manager

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Season presenting sponsor

Peet’s Coffee

Season sponsor

I Fly OAK

Sponsor

The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation

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Accessibility

Berkeley Rep is wheelchair accessible and offers assistive listening devices (ALDs), closed captioning, audio description, and scripts for the hearing-impaired.

Health and safety

In the 2025/26 season, masks are encouraged for all performances, but are required in our theatres on select Sunday and Tuesday performances.

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