Unheard Voices of Care Dramatic Reading: House of Nurses, the Play
Dramatic Reading: House of Nurses, the Play
July 31, 2026
6:00-8:00pm
Doors at 5:45pm
Free and open to the public
About the Program:
Angel Abcede, author of House of Nurses: An American Journey, has turned his book into a play, workshopping the script during this lecture session. Actors will bring to life the lives of three Filipino sisters, 10 years apart in age, who first experience America over three distinct decades—the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Mr. Abcede has spent most of his professional career as a freelance writer but took a permanent job at a business magazine targeting owners and operators of convenience stores. He has won several business press awards for his journalistic achievements.
In 2018, a visit to his ailing aunt led to a long discussion with his cousin, Elizabeth “Lilibet” Correos-Joseph about their family’s history. Angel Jr.’s mother was the younger half-sister of Lilibet’s mother, with the older sister helping the younger land her first U.S. job in Guam. An afternoon of looking at old photo albums led to the writing of House of Nurses: An American Journey, and a rediscovery of how Filipinos helped shaped America today.
Angel Abcede graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism. He spent most of his professional career as a reporter for a business magazine targeting owners and operators of convenience stores. As a reporter, he examined trends in packaged goods, foodservice and fuel. He has won several business press awards for his journalistic achievements. In 2025, he published a novel about his mother and aunties who were all Filipino nurses.
This project is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
