Lydia Gaston is a Filipino-American actress, singer, and educator whose career spans more than three decades in New York theatre, television, and film. Many people first noticed her as Jo Koy’s on-screen mother, “Tita Susan,” in the 2022 Amblin Entertainment comedy Easter Sunday. Yet long before that breakout film role, Gaston had already built a respected career on Broadway and in the New York performing arts community. Her story is one of quiet persistence, cultural pride, and a genuine love of teaching that runs alongside her acting work.
This article looks closely at who Lydia Gaston is, where she came from, the roles that shaped her career, and what she continues to work on today. It draws on publicly available biographical details, official sources, and recent interviews to give an accurate and up-to-date picture of her life and work.
Early Life and Background in the Philippines
Lydia Gaston grew up in Negros Occidental, a province in the Philippines known for its sugar plantations and rich Visayan culture. It was here that her artistic journey began, not on a stage in New York, but through dance. She trained with Ballet Philippines, one of the country’s leading dance companies, and became a soloist at just sixteen years old. That early achievement speaks to the discipline and talent she carried with her long before she ever set foot on a Broadway stage.
Her connection to the Philippines remained personal throughout her life. Gaston has spoken about her mother, also named Lydia Madarang Gaston, who was her very first dance teacher and mentor. This relationship became so meaningful to her that she began developing a solo theatrical piece titled Her Mother’s Daughter, inspired by her mother’s influence and their shared love of movement and performance. That project reflects how deeply her Filipino roots continue to shape her creative identity, even decades after she moved to the United States.
Moving to New York and Building a Dance Career
After her early training in the Philippines, Gaston eventually settled in New York City, where she shifted from ballet into modern and contemporary dance. She performed with several dance companies, most notably working closely with choreographer and playwright Rachel Lampert. This period helped her develop the versatility that would later define her stage career, blending movement, music, and acting into a single skill set.
New York’s competitive performing arts scene demanded adaptability, and Gaston embraced it. Rather than staying in one lane, she moved fluidly between dance, musical theatre, and dramatic acting, a combination that made her a strong fit for the demanding ensemble and principal roles found on Broadway.
Broadway Career and Major Stage Credits
Lydia Gaston is a veteran of six Broadway productions, a milestone that places her among a select group of performers with sustained, long-term Broadway experience. Her theatre credits include The King and I revivals at Lincoln Center Theater in 2016 and at the Neil Simon Theatre in 1996, along with Miss Saigon, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Shogun, and The Red Shoes. Her work on The King and I was especially significant, as she took on the role of Lady Thiang, one of the more demanding vocal and dramatic parts in the musical. Lydia Gaston
Broadway credits like these are not easy to accumulate. They require years of auditions, understudy work, and consistent professional discipline. Gaston’s presence across multiple decades of Broadway productions reflects both her longevity and the trust that directors and casting teams placed in her abilities. Her theatre work also connects to the growing recognition of Filipino and Asian American performers on Broadway, a topic that has received more attention in recent years.
Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre Contributions
Beyond Broadway, Gaston has been an active presence in New York’s off-Broadway scene, working with companies that focus on Asian American storytelling and representation. She created roles with the Ma-Yi Theater Group, the National Asian American Theatre Company, and Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, organizations known for elevating Asian and Asian American voices in American theatre. At the Public Theater, she took part in Jessica Hagedorn’s Dogeaters and was a member of the 2008 Shakespeare Lab, a well-regarded training program for theatre artists.
Her regional theatre work has included the role of Bloody Mary in South Pacific, performed with the Reagle Music Theatre and later reprised for other regional companies. She has also shown a comedic side in productions like A Deal by Zhu Yi at Urban Stages, where she played the character Mrs. Li. This range, from serious dramatic parts to comedic roles, highlights her versatility as a performer who is comfortable across different theatrical styles.
Television Appearances
Long before her film breakthrough, Gaston built a steady presence on television. She appeared as a co-star on HBO’s acclaimed series The Sopranos, playing the character Rosie in an episode directed by Timothy Van Patten. She also appeared in NBC’s The Blacklist, one of the most-watched crime dramas of the 2010s, adding to her growing television resume.
More recently, Gaston played Mrs. Rodriguez in Hulu’s The Path, and took on the role of Lady Castro in the Starz series Hightown. She has also made a memorable comedic appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, playing Tiffany Yang in a political sketch. These television credits show a performer who has consistently worked across major networks and streaming platforms throughout her career.
Film Breakthrough with Easter Sunday
Gaston’s most widely recognized role came in 2022, when she starred opposite comedian Jo Koy in Easter Sunday, an Amblin Entertainment feature film centered on a Filipino American family. She played Tita Susan, Koy’s on-screen mother, bringing warmth, humor, and authenticity to a role that resonated strongly with Filipino audiences who rarely see their culture represented in mainstream Hollywood comedies.
The film mattered not just for its box office performance but for what it represented culturally. It gave Gaston, after decades of theatre and television work, a moment of mainstream recognition. Many viewers who had never seen her Broadway credits came to know her specifically through this film, making it a defining point in her long career.
Education and Teaching Career
Alongside her performing work, Gaston has built a parallel career in arts education. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Applied Theatre from the CUNY Graduate Center, and she currently serves as an adjunct professor at SUNY Empire State College. Her teaching work is not limited to college students; she has shared her knowledge of theatre and dance with groups ranging from young children to senior citizens.
This educational side of her career reflects a broader commitment to passing on the discipline and craft she learned early in life. It also reinforces her standing as a respected figure in the New York performing arts community, someone who is valued both as a working performer and as a mentor to younger artists.
Personal Life
Lydia Gaston is a longtime resident of New York City. She is married to Karl Greenberg, and the couple has one child together. She is a member of both Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, the two major unions representing stage and screen performers in the United States, reflecting her professional standing in both theatre and film industries.
Current and Upcoming Projects
Gaston continues to stay active in New York theatre and beyond. She has taken part in recent events such as Broadway Backwards, an annual charity performance featuring Broadway stars, and productions connected to the National Asian Artists Project, which supports new work by Asian American Pacific Islander artists. Her ongoing development of Her Mother’s Daughter, the solo piece about her mother, remains one of her most personal current projects, blending her own performance history with a tribute to the woman who first taught her to dance.
Conclusion
Lydia Gaston’s career reflects decades of steady, dedicated work across dance, Broadway theatre, television, and film. From her early training in Negros Occidental to her breakout film role in Easter Sunday, her journey highlights both artistic versatility and a strong connection to her Filipino heritage. She remains an active performer and educator, continuing to mentor new artists while working on deeply personal projects like Her Mother’s Daughter. Her story is a reminder that meaningful recognition often comes after years of consistent, quiet dedication to a craft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lydia Gaston?
Lydia Gaston is a Filipino-American actress, singer, and educator known for her Broadway career and for playing Tita Susan in the 2022 film Easter Sunday alongside Jo Koy.
What Broadway shows has Lydia Gaston performed in?
She has appeared in six Broadway productions, including two revivals of The King and I, along with Miss Saigon, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Shogun, and The Red Shoes.
What is Lydia Gaston known for in film and television?
She is best known for her role in Easter Sunday, along with television appearances in The Sopranos, The Blacklist, The Path, and Hightown.
Where did Lydia Gaston grow up?
She grew up in Negros Occidental, Philippines, where she trained as a dancer with Ballet Philippines before moving to New York.
Is Lydia Gaston involved in teaching?
Yes, she holds a Master’s degree in Applied Theatre from CUNY and works as an adjunct professor at SUNY Empire State College, alongside teaching theatre and dance in various community settings.
