FilAm actress in “Eureka Day”—Tony-award winning satire on vaccines, fake news—on its Chicago debut

By Mariano A. Santos

Publisher/Editor

“Funny…laughter…” 

Three days after the opening of Jonathan Spector’s “Eureka Day” at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago, Caroline Chu who is playing one of the five main characters in the Tony-award winning play sat down with PINOY for an interview on Friday, Jan.16, answered my question about the audience’s response on the early performances.

Caroline said the early attendees responded in a predictable way, the play being a satire. But she pointed out readily that the deeper message was not lost a bit.

In a nutshell, the play revolves around the ultra-progressive Eureka Day School of Berkeley, California that was put to test when hit with an outbreak of mumps. Chaos suddenly prevailed over their usual civil discourse, as parents and school board clashed over vaccines, misinformation, personal freedom and open-mindedness that were all trashed out. Laughable and yet…

She plays “Winter” in the local revival of the acclaimed play that had its world premiere in Berkeley, California in 2018 and Off-Broadway the following year.

Just in time when the world was recovering from the Covid plague in 2022, Old Vic did its London premier. Finally, Manhattan Theater Club in Broadway staged it in 2024—when it bagged the Tony for the Best Revival. Last year, it also won the 2025 Drama League Award as well as the Drama Desk Award for outstanding Revival of a Play.

Caroline is a Filipino American whose mother originally came from Jolo—the southernmost province of the Philippines. She has visited the place along with Zamboanga and much of the Greater Manila area several times.

With much major credit, Caroline Chu feels so privileged to be cast in this Chicago production, she is not surprised that the initial reception is very positive. While it elicited laughter, the present tension gripping the nation undoubtedly makes the play resonates even more. Think, Robert Kennedy being in charge of our health care.

Caroline who was born in Chicago and both parents raised in the Midwest (her Dad is from Iowa) earned her drama degree from Northwestern University. She is a veteran of major production that includes Shakespearean plays like Macbeth and Richard 111, classics like Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

She is the quintessential Chicago actress who renumerates about the challenges that minorities like her face in the competitive world of the legitimate stage. She admits joy knowing the great strides achieved by Filipino Americans on Broadway—like Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending) and Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Blvd), for instance.

She hints and dreams of the day when Asians or FilAms, specifically, will not only confine to acting but also get involved in producing or directing—wishing that works  like--David Byrne’s “Here Lies Love” get staged for the Chicago audience.

Still single, she realizes that actors confront personal struggles like family life and raising children—having forewarned, somewhat by her parents. But for art’s sake…she continues to heed casting call. Indeed, one can’t help to wish her well. Yes, may the Tony not be far behind.

Timeline Theatre Company’s “Eureka Day” is going to be at the Broadway Playhouse at the Water Tower Place until Feb. 22, Tuesday to Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 7:30 pm and Sunday, 2 pm and 6:30 pm. No Sunday performances on Feb. 1, 8, and 15. (For info and tickets visit https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/ )