‘God Will Do The Rest’ looks into Filipino American immigrant family life

Karaoke, chicken adobo and Santo Niño prayers. “We can only do our best, diba (right)?” In a follow-up to last year’s acclaimed “This Is Not a True Story,” Artists at Play collaborates with Latino Theater Company to present a warm, funny new play about a multigenerational Filipino American household that opens Saturday. 

The world premiere of “God Will do The Rest,” written by Nicholas Pilapil and directed by Fran de Leon, will run Aug. 31-Sept. 29 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Two $10 previews are set for Thursday and Friday.

Strong yet glamorous family matriarch Maggie is celebrating a milestone birthday, and the de Dios family has gathered to celebrate in true FilAm style — featured characters include Maggie’s longtime husband Ferdie; their eldest daughter Connie, a former teen mom and the black sheep of the family, and her aspiring chef son Tanner; along with youngest de Dios daughter Fritzie, a successful real estate agent with her Jewish fiance Nate. Adding to the dramatic mix is Maggie’s fabulously over-the-top sister Babette “for a warm, loving, hilarious — and explosive — family reunion,” play organizers said.

“Each of the characters has to navigate balancing their lives with love and duty to family,” Pilapil said in a statement. “Like most immigrants, Filipinos come to this country looking for a better life — but sometimes they have other, unspoken reasons. It’s not part of our culture to talk openly about things. I wanted to paint a picture of what life could be like if a family threw everything on the table, no holds barred.”

Producer Stefanie Lau from Artists at Play said in a statement, “Nicholas is writing about the Filipino American experience, but the underlying relationships parallel the experience of most immigrant families. It’s about following the American Dream, and what some parents may have sacrificed to achieve that for their kids. It’s about the complexities of family and the joy that comes along with the hurt. Many audience members, regardless of their background, might recognize their own families on the stage.”

“God Will Do the Rest” was developed and workshopped at the Geffen Playhouse, according to play organizers. The stage production was a finalist for a 2023 New Harmony Project residency, and a Dramatists Guild Foundation semi-finalist for a nationwide virtual fellowship.

“God Will do The Rest” opens on Saturday at 8 p.m., with subsequent performances taking place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through Sept. 29. Two preview performances are set for Thursday and Friday, each at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10–$38, except opening night which is $75 and includes a post-performance reception.

The Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at 514 S. Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. Parking costs $8 with box office validation at the Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking structure, 545 S. Main St. between Fifth and and Sixth streets, just behind the theater.

For more information and to purchase tickets, call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.

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