Caryl Loria Illana
Actor · Singer · director · writer
Caryl is a Filipina lesbian musical theatre performer and emerging theatre director and writer based in Wellington, New Zealand.Since her surprise first performance at the age of three during a screening of Pocahontas, Caryl has performed in musicals onstage at Walt Disney World, at the TSB Bank Festival of Lights in New Plymouth, along the Kapiti coast, and in her home of Wellington. She has also sung at local community and cultural events including CubaDupa, Spring Into Tawa, and Japan Festival Wellington, as well as fan conventions in Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Whangārei, and Wellington. Caryl enjoys both devising shows and acting in scripted plays.Off-stage, Caryl has directed solo shows in Auckland and Wellington, and is developing her first two scripts following live readings in Proudly Asian Theatre's Fresh Off the Page program.Caryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Film, and Second Language Education from Victoria University of Wellington and has attended the Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School and the New Zealand Singing School. She is classically trained as a mezzo soprano specialising in musical theatre, pop/rock, and rap, and also has dance training in a number of styles.Caryl is a proud member of Equity New Zealand and E tū Musicians' Union.
credits
Before 2022, Caryl was credited as Caryl Illana.
* originated role
Musical theatre
Year | Show | Role | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Miscast | performer | Lauren Ford-Jones | Mana Little Theatre |
2023 | Disney's The Little Mermaid | Mersister - Atina | Linda Buckley | Coasters Musical Theatre |
2019 | Between the Lines | Sleeping Beauty | Alexander Garside | Drama Christi |
2017 | DinoRock: A Musical for Kids at TSB Bank Festival of Lights | Snarl | Aaron Blackledge | Kapitall Kids' Theatre |
2016 | DinoRock: A Musical for Kids | Snarl * | Aaron Blackledge | Kapitall Kids' Theatre |
2015 | The Sword in the Stone | Merlin * | Aaron Blackledge | Kapitall Kids' Theatre |
2014 | The Marvellous Adventure of Jack and Daisy | Daisy * | Aaron Blackledge | Kapitall Kids' Theatre |
2010 | Alpha Male the Musical | Jill understudy, waitress * | Daniel Kaplan | S.T.A.G.E. |
theatre
Year | Show | Role | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | A Study of Bad Accents development season in New Zealand Fringe Festival | Gabriel, Sarah, Reski | Natania McLeod Roberts and Saffron Quinn | South Road Directing |
2019 | The Big Blue Planet Earth Show | Liana, Lt. Kim Scott, Bonita | Chris Fisher | Drama Christi |
2018 | Potted Austen: Sense and Sensibility | Marianne Dashwood, Lucy Steele | Alexander Garside | Drama Christi |
2018 | Potted Austen: Pride and Prejudice | Lydia Bennet, Charlotte Lucas, Caroline Bingley | Alexander Garside | Drama Christi |
2010 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Pebble | Ken Anders | S.T.A.G.E. |
devised theatre and sketch comedy
Year | Show | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | You'd Look So Pretty If in 6 Degrees Festival | Rosie Glover | Stain Your Brain Productions |
2020 | Cheap and Perfect Does Another One in New Zealand Fringe Festival | Joanna Divett, Pája Neuhöferová, Susan Williams | Cheap and Perfect |
2018 | Sticky Fingers in New Zealand Fringe Festival | Eunji Park | Palette Theatre |
film
Year | Film | Role | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | What to Do About Edgar (video) | Cara (lead) | Amadea Tanner | Eavesdropping Films |
Solo and featured singing
Year | Event | Performance |
---|---|---|
2024 | DAT's All, Folks! in Disabled Artists' Theatre Festival | 'Cause We're Beautiful |
2024 | DAT Sexy Thing! in Disabled Artists' Theatre Festival | My Body's Talkin' |
2024 | GGWP - Great Games With Pals | The Picture of Morally Grey |
2024 | Japan Festival Wellington | Top of the J-Pops (videos) |
2024 | Sandbox Fandom Festival | Brown Mouse Club (videos) |
2024 | Philippine Festival Wellington | Apōneke (videos) |
2024 | Overload NZ Anime and Manga Convention | Nothing But Light (videos) |
2024 | CubaDupa | Māorioke (video) |
2023 | Spring Into Tawa | children's entertainment |
2023 | PAX Australia | Video Dames (videos) |
2023 | Sandbox Fandom Festival | Cape and Cowl (videos) |
2023 | Overload NZ Anime and Manga Convention | Caryl & Tuesday (videos) |
2023 | Good Queer Goods Market | market entertainment (video) |
2023 | GGWP - Great Games With Pals | Season of the Diva (videos) |
2022 | Pasko sa Wellington | pop and Disney covers (video) |
2022 | Kōwhai Fan Fest with Wild Cute Cosplay | Perfect Harmony: Tell Your Friends (videos) |
2022 | Spring Into Tawa | Princess Pop Party |
2022 | Overload NZ Anime and Manga Convention | Going Digital (videos) |
2022 | StarJam 20th birthday disco | "Wings" by Little Mix |
2022 | Japan Festival Wellington | Shibuya Scramble (videos) |
2022 | Philippine Festival | "Raise Your Flag" by KZ Tandingan |
2022 | GGWP - Great Games With Pals stream | Life is Acoustic (video) |
2021 | Philippine Festival | Filipino diaspora covers (videos) |
2021 | Overload NZ Anime and Manga Convention | The Power Inside (videos) |
2021 | Kōwhai Fan Fest as part of the Saltpranos, with Abel Keys | Suitcase Songs (videos) |
2020 | Vegan Vault | market entertainment |
2020 | GGWP - Great Games With Pals | 4K Cabaret (videos) |
2019 | Cosplay Stage Festival | "Speechless" from Aladdin 2019 (video) |
2018 | Fluster Cluck; A Chaotic Curation of Cabaret and other such entertainments in New Zealand Fringe Festival | The Mezzo Mixtape EP (video) |
Choir performances
Year | Event | Group | Director | Part |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | FilCoro Presents MOSAIC | FilCoro | Beck Tiongson | Alto II, solo "One Perfect Moment" |
2024 | Beat the Winter Blues | FilCoro / FilCoro and Summerset Singers combined choirs | Becka Tiongson | Alto II |
2024 | Philippine Festival Wellington | FilCoro | Becka Tiongson | solo in "Magnificat II", Soprano II |
2023 | The A Cappella Academy | FilCoro / Academy Ensemble | Becka Tiongson / Tim Wayne-Wright | Alto II |
2023 | Christmas Carols with FilCoro | FilCoro | Becka Tiongson | Alto II |
2023 | Songs of Hope | FilCoro | Becka Tiongson | Alto II; solo lines in "You Will Be Found" (video) and "Joyful, Joyful" |
2023 | "Bayanihan: Making Petone Home" closing at Petone Settlers Museum | FilCoro | Becka Tiongson | Alto II and Soprano II |
2022 | Nostalgia: Songs From the Past | FilCoro | Elian Pagalilawan | Alto II; solo line in "Joyful, Joyful" |
2022 | Nostalgia: Songs From the Heart | FilCoro | Elian Pagililawan and Becka Tiongson | Soprano II |
2022 | "Bayanihan: Making Petone Home" opening at Petone Settlers Museum | FilCoro | Elian Pagililawan | Soprano II |
2021 | Uplifted | FilCoro | Elian Pagalilawan and Morgan King | Alto II; solo lines in "Joyful, Joyful" (video) |
Dance
Year | Event | Performance | Choreographer | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | New Zealand men's vs. Barbarians handball exhibition match | disco jazz opening entertainment | Lorna Borrett | Spiritus Dance Company |
Online
Year | Show | Role | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Ambitious Cutlery in PANZ members' play readings | Spoonella | n/a | Playwrights Association of New Zealand |
2023 | The Tarantula's Pet Frog in PANZ members' play readings | Barb | n/a | Playwrights Association of New Zealand |
2020 | Sara in rEMOTION Online Play Festival (video) | Alex | Daniel Moore | Scawwy Howwow Theatre |
2020 | After Death in rEMOTION Online Play Festival (video) | Jackie | Sharon Park | Scawwy Howwow Theatre |
2020 | Head Space staged reading in rEMOTION Online Play Festival (video) | Faith Bolton | John Primavera, Irinola Mėgrėłishviłi | Scawwy Howwow Theatre |
2020 | Strawberry Milk staged reading in Couch Readings (video) | Mel | Ryan Thornhill | Thornhill Theatre Space |
staged readings
Year | Show | Role | Director | Company |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | The Goodbridge Million | Will Vicks | Alexander Garside | Drama Christi |
2016 | The Roaring Girl | Moll Cutpurse | Ania Upstill | The Lord Lackbeards |
2016 | The Queen, or the Excellency of Her Sex | Almada, groom | Matt Powell | The Lord Lackbeards |
training
Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School: James Madison in Hamilton's "The Room Where it Happens" music dir. Loclan Mackenzie-Spencer and chor. Leslie Garcia Bowman. Florinda in Into the Woods' "Prologue: Into the Woods" dir. Peter Flynn and music dir. Geoffrey Castles. Ensemble in Edwin Drood's "There You Are" chor. Leslie Bell. Vocal masterclass with Geoffrey Castles. Dance classes with Leslie Bell and Michael Ralph.
New Zealand Singing School musical theatre stream: Masterclasses with Irene Bartlett, Pat Wilson, Nick Hollamby, Laine Loxlea-Danaan, and Jane Keller. Music dir. Mark Dorrell and Karen Grylls. Group and ensemble performances dir. Sara Brodie.
Nine years private vocal tuition with Megan Corby at the VoxBox
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Film, and Second Language Education from Victoria University of Wellington. 300 level shows dir. David O'Donnell, Rachel Lenart, and Kerryn Palmer.
dance
Intermediate tap: Spiritus Dance Company (formerly LL Dance)
Three years jazz: Spiritus Dance Company, Jennifer Evans Dance Academy
Five years ballet: Spiritus Dance Company, various
One year hiphop: Jennifer Evans Dance Academy
One year Latin and ballroom: The Studio
instruments
Trinity College Grade 3 piano
Basic guitar
Basic orchestral percussion
skills
Cartwheels
Rollerblading
Mute fur-suited mascot characters
Kapa haka
Swimming
Workshops
Lighting Design webinar with Nathan McKendry
The A Cappella Academy choral workshop with Tim Wayne-Wright
ScreenFit classes: one directed by Esera Tanoai, with Catherine Fitzgerald as guest instructor; one directed by Cathasaigh Ó Fiannachta, with Tusi Tamasese as guest instructor
Unlocking the Script workshop with Benjamin Henson
Creating and Rehearsing Online workshop with Sam Scott
Wowks in Pwogwess script workshop with Scawwy Howwow Theatre
Best Practice for Staging Intimacy with Miriama McDowell and Carrie Thiel in the BATS Annual Summit
Make Soup from a Stone: Devising with Paula Van Beek at the Annual BATS Summit
Performing the World: Community theatre with Nicola Pauling at the Annual BATS Summit
Sandpit Workshops at BATS Theatre
Nil By Mouth: Physical theatre, communication, and language with Saran Goldie-Smith and Jen McArthur at Barbarian Productions
Characterization through improvisation with Jamie Irvine at Hutt Repertory Theatre
videos
0:00: "Don't Wanna Be Here" - Ordinary Days (Adam Gwon)
1:37: "Angels, Punks and Raging Queens" - Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Bill Russell)
3:23: Helen of Troy - The Penelopiad (Margaret Atwood)
photos
Photographer credits
Blair McLean
Nikki Si'ulepa
Japan Festival Wellington
modelling
cosplay
Photographer credits
testimonials
"Working with Caryl is a joy, she brings fantastic energy and professionalism to our productions. With her reliability, constructive attitude and presence, she'd be an asset to any show."
Alexander Garside, director
The Goodbridge Million, Between the Lines, Potted Austen: Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility"It was a privilege to work with Caryl who brought so much to both her roles and the cast of A Study of Bad Accents. Caryl was both professional and fun to work with and I would work with her again in a heartbeat. She is an actor with a great range."
Natania McLeod Roberts, director
A Study of Bad Accents"Caryl is a versatile, engaging, and generous performer, with unstoppable energy, enthusiasm, and a strong personal commitment to equality and amplifying marginalised voices (her own and others'). She is a joy to work with, always well prepared and creative, and has the most wonderful singing voice."
Susan Williams, director
Cheap and Perfect Does Another One"I have no hesitation in recommending Caryl in the performing arts. I have directed and acted alongside her a number of times in Drama Christi, a theatre focussed on an inclusive and cooperative style. I have always found her a talented and consummate actor in whatever part she is given. She is always professional in her interactions and a director's dream, picking up on suggestions quickly and intelligently. If she has an idea for improving the portrayal of her character she offers the idea in a respectful manner. I always enjoy her innate sense of humour."
Chris Fisher, director
The Big Blue Planet Earth Show
Contact
If you would like to collaborate with Caryl on a show, book her for your event, or have any other enquiries, please get in touch.
writing
scripts
Golden Hour, initial draft developed with the support of Proudly Asian Theatre with Anya Tate-Manning as dramaturg - please contact for latest draftGolden Hour contains references to suicide, the Vietnam War, martial law in the Philippines, sex work, racism, orientalism, and colonialism.Six the musical meets your problematic Asian faves in this musical in the making: Golden Hour satirizes the iconic Asian women of the Western musical theatre canon, going to group therapy for the problems they faced both within and in the aftermath of their stories.Fresh Off the Page live script reading September 9 2023 directed by Sachie MikawaSoul Sister, initial draft developed with the support of Proudly Asian Theatre with Lynda Chanwai-Earle as dramaturg - please contact for latest draftSoul Sister contains references to suicide, mental illness, grief, queerphobia, and transphobia. Recommended for audiences 13 or over.Arlene's tired of dealing with flatmates, so when she discovers her new flat is haunted by the ghost of a previous tenant, Maricel, of course she agrees to help Maricel move on. However, Maricel has more unfinished business with the living than she's willing to admit to someone she only just began to afterlive with. Only after the two bond over sharing their different Filipino cultures and Arlene's attempts to finish things Maricel started does Maricel let Arlene in on her worries about the loved ones she left behind. Arlene must help a stranger and a new friend heal from their grief over her undead flatmate.Soul Sister is a story of grief, friendship, and healing.Fresh Off the Page live script reading September 22 2022 directed by Sean Dioneda Rivera and reviewed by Ari Banog for Bad Apple:
"Full of boisterous humour, any Filipino who has grown up in Aotearoa would catch the zingers, and yet is so full of heart that could bring us (especially me) into tears. (...) Soul Sister delivers a fresh perspective on Asian representation in our local Aotearoa theatre and, by extension, in any Western theatre. Despite the paranormal themes, it humanises Filipino characters in a way that Western theatre is yet to achieve. The show champions itself with a plethora of representation, from representing different Filipino cultures to queer Filipino mental health."
monologues
"Balikbayan", performed in You'd Look So Pretty If, January 25-29 2022, directed by Rosie Glover
I’m Filipino, which means I grew up helping my parents pack the balikbayan box for our relatives still in the Philippines. We put in groceries that are cheaper overseas than in the motherland, souvenirs, hand-me-down clothes for the nieces and nephews: it's our way of staying connected to our family, even when we can’t see them.I'm only flying across the Tasman, but I'm feeling like a balikbayan box myself: brown, full of chocolate and Spam, flying back to someone I love and haven’t seen in years."Fever", performed in Sticky Fingers, March 7-10 2018, directed by Eunji Park
I can’t believe we’re one up at half time! The Wellington Phoenix has been having such a crap season. I’ve been to all the home games - even those two games in the middle of exams. Mum wasn't pleased, she wanted me to stay home and study, and to be honest I probably could have used it, but I love the game too much. I love the atmosphere - being part of this great wall of chanting, of clapping, of drumming, of noise, united in support for the Nix and a love-hate relationship with the refs, booing every time Barbarouses gets the ball, the shirt waving the rare times we win.But I keep getting the same old questions from my mates."Home", performed in Sticky Fingers, March 7-10 2018, directed by Eunji Park
When I moved from the Philippines to New Zealand five years ago, it was only autumn, but coming from a tropical country it was the coldest I’d ever been in my life! Adjusting to the weather was really hard.So was New Zealand English. Where I’m from, we learn American English. Here, when I needed to put money on my phone, I went down to Spark: Hi, can I please get some load?
poetry
"before and after/shocks"
we were excited when we heard
about the giant squid
half amused, half underwhelmed
to find it looked like nothing more
than a huge pancake with tentacles
not something that could kill uslike the pancake of the BNZ building
which they finally gave up on
over a year after it flattened"Daisies and Rainbows"
“Don’t you ever write
about daisies and rainbows?”you ask, after my millionth
poem/song/short story/novel
about being dumped by my girlfriend
and how much I still love her
and how much I miss her
and how much it hurts that
I’ll never get her back."Moondance"
When I was little, I always wanted to be
an astronaut, Mum!
(that was before I found out you had to
be good at physics and fairly fit)
Something about flying,
and the final frontier
and my parents being sci-fi nerds.I suppose I got my wish.
directing
Caryl is a collaborative theatre director interested in platforming and celebrating writer-performers from underrepresented communities and in bringing the best out of their stories.
Year | Production | Company |
---|---|---|
2023 | El Camp Machismo as part of New Zealand Fringe Festival | Playnet Productions |
2022 | Illegally Blind as part of Disabled Artists' Festival of Theatre | Cosmic Critters Theatre Company |
2022 | Illegally Blind presented by Touch Compass as part of Elemental AKL | Cosmic Critters Theatre Company |
Upcoming:
crew credits
Before 2022, Caryl was credited as Caryl Illana and sometimes as Caryl Alyssa.
theatre
Year | Production | Role | Company |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | El Camp Machismo as part of New Zealand Fringe Festival | director | Playnet Productions |
2022 | Illegally Blind as part of Disabled Artists' Festival of Theatre | director, audio describer | Cosmic Critters Theatre Company |
2022 | Illegally Blind presented by Touch Compass as part of Elemental AKL | director, audio describer | Cosmic Critters Theatre Company |
2017 | The Caryl Churchill Double Season | publicist | Lightshade Productions |
2016-2017 | 2016 and 2017 seasons | publicist | KKT Backyard Incorporated |
2015 | Yours Truly | audiovisual designer | Backyard Theatre Productions |
2015 | Animal Farm | audiovisual designer | Backyard Theatre Productions |
2013 | Mike and Virginia | graphic designer | Circa Theatre |
film
Year | Film | Role | Company |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 2016 Directors Announcement (video) | director, editor | Backyard Theatre Productions |
2015 | Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi (The People of the Four Winds) (video) | editor | Film for Change Aotearoa |
2015 | A Slice of Eco Valley (video) | editor | Film for Change Aotearoa |
2015 | Tales of Taita - Changing Spaces (video) | editor | Film for Change Aotearoa |
2011 | Darling Bullets (video) | assistant editor | Victoria University of Wellington honors program |
2011 | Winston's Dream (video) | assistant editor | Victoria University of Wellington honors program |
2011 | Mixing Up the Medicine (video) | script supervisor | Victoria University of Wellington honors program |
training and workshops
Lighting Design webinar with Nathan McKendry
Creating and Rehearsing Online workshop with Sam Scott
Volt 6 Week Producer Power Up Challenge with Vanessa Immink
Best Practice for Staging Intimacy with Miriama McDowell and Carrie Thiel in the BATS Annual Summit
Techniques, Tactics & Self Care for Autobiographical Writing with Jean Sargent in the BATS Annual Summit
Publicity mentee mentored by Brianne Kerr Publicity at Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Film, and Second Language Education from Victoria University of Wellington with 200 and 300 level film production courses completed
Entertainment Show Production professional development study at Disney University