Directing
Isabel has recently found a love for directing. She is excited to improve her technique and bring to life stories she is passionate about.
Much Ado About Nothing
Produced by the King's Crown Shakespeare Troupe in November 2023
Isabel's production of Shakespeare's comedy reimagines the drama in a colonialist context. The production highlighted the strength of a matriarchal society with uncolonized norms of gender, politics, and power.
Crew
Producer | Frankie DeGiorgio
Stage Manager | Keala Henry
Technical Director | Sudheshna Khadka
Shakespeare Dramaturg | Charlie Coleman
Historical Dramaturg | Isabelle Cowan
Wellness Captain | Ruby Liebmann
Cultural Coordinator | Is Perlman
Asst. Producer | Rory Collins
Asst. Stage Manager | Taya Barry
Asst. Shakespeare Dramaturg | Suhani Sharma
Set Designer | Ashley Rapp
Costume Designer | Noelle Nafus
Lighting Designer | Octavio Reohr
Props Designer | Erin Stoeckig
Sound Designer | Ruby Finlayson
Videography | Rosie Zhou
Publicity | Abigail Fixel
Fight Choreographer | Melañia Horowitz
Dance Choreographer | Eden Johnson
Composer & Music Director | Jasmine Richards
Hair & Makeup | Thais Velazquez
Asst. Costume Designer | Bella Williams
Asst. Lighting Designer | Isabelle Cowan
Asst. Props Designer | Lúcia Towne
Cast
in alphabetical order by character
Balthasar | Ryan Crawford
Beatrice | Sofia DeSanto
Benedick | Ryan Puterbaugh
Claudio | Oliver Fuisz
Conrade | José Tallaj
Dogberry | Jaime Treatman-Clark
Don John | J. Pankauski
Don Pedro | Josh Martin
First Watchman (Antonio) | Henry Nuñez
Friar | Wren Pfetcher
Hero | Kiana Mottahedan
Leonato | Oliver Ren
Margaret | Gaia Di Mitri
Seacoal | Sparrow/Ember Greene
Second Watchman (Sebastian) | Jess Liu
Ursula | Raja Saeed
Verges | Ida Guiterrez
"Along the lines of rethinking the layout of a Shakespeare play, the director reshaped the meaning of Shakespeare’s words through the play’s ending. Although Much Ado is meant to be a comedy that culminates in a merry dance and festivities, Tongson specifically directed the show to leave a melancholy and unsettling aftertaste in the audience’s mouths ... The haunting and militaristic drumbeat, the dreary lighting, and the hypnotized steps of the cast around Beatrice and Benedick while they are deciding the fate of their so-called love compels the audience to question the effects of colonialism and if there can ever be true love within a social hierarchy."
Jacquie Traenkle and Olivia Chiroiu for Bwog
Morningside Song
Produced by Trinity Prep Fine Arts
Isabel wrote, starred, and directed this original play, as well as, set designed and sound designed. This was the first full-length show she directed, but more importantly, it was the first time she played a character that was Filipina.
Crew
Stage Manager | Sofia Malik Sound Operator | Lauren Lemieux
Cast
in order of appearance
Ana de la Cruz | Isabel Tongson
Mai Laghari | Rhea Choksey
Greer Turner | Maansi Chandra
Shauna Gallagher | Kaley Frye
Ciara Gallagher | Sierra Jobman
Caleb Gallagher | Dalton Joseph
Mrs. Tang | Sarah Lin
Rosemarie | Grace Yip
Pedestrian | Sam Miller
Ronan Gallagher | Levi Kaplan
Margaret | Anjali Daniel
Woman #1 | Sarah Lin
Woman #2 | Grace Yip
Bartender | Mason Sadlier