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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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Production information

  • Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission
  • Age recommendation: Suitable for ages 13 and up
  • Stage effects advisory: Use of fog, haze, and strobe
  • Content advisory: Contains mature themes and content, and includes brief moments of dialogue in Cantonese and Spanish without translation

 

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

  • A Night of Solidarity and Resistance in Partnership with Fall of Freedom: Celebrate Solidarity and Resistance on Nov 21, joining a nationwide movement uniting artists and communities against threats to free expression and democracy. We invite our community to gather in unity and strength, celebrating the stories and voices that continue to shape our shared future. This preshow event is free and welcome to all with RSVP. Admission to the evening’s performance requires a ticket.
  • 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* | Modesto/Braulio Loi
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 Modesto/Braulio Loi
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, and audio description 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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