An interview with The Heart Sellers cast
- Lara Toner Haddock
- Oct 11
- 5 min read
We sat down with the actors bringing the heartfelt and timely production of The Heart Sellers to life, Alexa Capareda and Sarah Chong Dickey. Hear what Alexa and Sarah have to say about their roles, the creative process, and what this play means to them and to Austin audiences.
You both had family history to draw on in creating these characters. Tell us a little about your inspiration for the roles and how you identify with Luna and Jane.
Alexa: My family immigrated to the US in 2005. I was 14 and had grown up in the Philippines with this idealistic view of life abroad. While here in the States and as I was working in Europe as a professional dancer, I met so many people who, like me, felt in between worlds and grappled with finding a sense of belonging and home. Everyone has different reasons for uprooting their lives to pursue life in another country and there are real sacrifices one has to make in pursuit of stability and happiness. I feel that I know Luna - she has that warm and bright Filipino hospitality and is a deep thinker and feeler, and there are many aspects of myself in her (even though we are very different people!).
Sarah: I find Jane to be a blend of myself, my mother, and my grandmother, which has been both a beautiful challenge and a gift to explore as an actor. Her experience growing up amid war and uncertainty in Korea resonates with my grandmother’s childhood, while her immigration story mirrors my mother’s journey, who also came to America in her early 20s as a newlywed, still learning English. Playing Jane has given me the opportunity to weave together the threads of their stories with my own ongoing search for identity, and what it means to hold onto and value being both Asian and American.
This show presents a unique acting challenge: it’s a two-hander where you’re both on stage for almost the entire time, fully living these characters. How did you prepare for the role in regards to the historical context and finding your personal connection to your character?
Alexa: I had only learned about the 1965 Immigration Act in an Asian American studies class in college, so I definitely brushed up more on what historically led up to it. I had interesting and enlightening conversations with my parents about politics in the 70s both in the Philippines and in the U.S. (though they were a bit younger than my character in the play) and their worldview connected so much with Luna’s. Since I grew up in the Philippines, doing a Filipino American English dialect came easy for me, but I rode the nostalgia train and watched some Filipino media and news to re-immerse myself in it.
Sarah: My script binder is approximately 60% script, 40% print-outs of articles, photos, and research materials, spanning the events leading up to the Korean War to the full timeline of the Watergate scandal. Because so much of Jane's inner world is conveyed with little to no words, it was so important to me to ground each movement, reaction, and line with real emotional context. I wanted to honor the hardships and losses that she carries, while still making space to show how multi-dimensional she is.
The Heart Sellers in rehearsals
What parts of the story really hit home for you, and what do you hope people walk away thinking or feeling after seeing the show?
Alexa: History repeats itself in many ways, and we do see how far we’ve come in certain ways but also how little we’ve moved the needle in other ways. It brings to life the question of the American Dream and what it can mean to people. I think it gives a voice to women and to immigrants and shares a perspective of what it means to be a woman and an immigrant in this country. I think it also very much speaks to how challenging it can be to make friends as an adult and trying to make connections.
Sarah: While the plot itself follows two Asian immigrant women in 1973, the heart of the story is so human. We all want to feel a sense of belonging, of safety, of trust (whether that's in those close to us or those in power) and honestly, sometimes that's just really hard to find. This show gives audiences space to reflect on these things, but it's also balanced with so many moments of levity, joy and just a little 1970s disco. Luna and Jane's journey resonates deeply for some because of shared lived experience, but wherever you land on that spectrum, I think audiences feel a lot of what they're feeling. That emotional human connection is what makes the story so powerful.
The show has been getting a great response from audiences, and there have been lots of post-show conversations in the lobby since opening night. Have any audience reactions stood out to you or stayed with you?
Alexa: It is wonderful to greet people with tears in their eyes saying how much the play resonated with them - I spoke with Asian Americans and even a person from France who said she could see herself in our characters of Luna and Jane, I’ve spoken with several who have Asian American friends who have confided similar feelings. I spoke with many who shared how relevant this discussion is about what immigrants contribute and what people have to give up to be here in the U.S., as well as many who feel the cycle of history and politics repeat itself, how legislation can deeply impact the lives of many, and how the power of a few men can change the course of history and affect lives and families all around the world. I have loved hearing people laugh raucously at these charming characters and their comedic situation. People have said it feels like the play flies by and that’s such a good mark of a great time! My parents were also able to watch opening night and it was so great to see them so animated and entertained in seeing aspects of themselves in these characters.
Sarah: One of the best parts about doing this show in Austin Playhouse's Studio Stage is that it's an intimate experience for the audience, but for us actors too! For 80 minutes, the energy in the room is so palpable. It's one thing to have a room filled with laughter, but I can also feel the moments that are weighted with understanding and empathy or that break audiences' hearts. It's been really amazing to walk out into the lobby after each show and meet with audience members of all different backgrounds that are so grateful for the journey we all go on together.
The Heart Sellers runs through October 19 at Austin Playhouse. Tickets and more info at www.austinplayhouse.com/heartsellers
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