theater

A new play opening in Honolulu links history, family, culture, and modern life in Hawai‘i.  It’s the final episode in a trilogy that started 25 years ago, and has made some waves along the way.  The author agreed to an interview in Kakaako park, well aware that many of the issues dealt with in the play come to a head in the park daily.

A lot of local threads run through Darrell Lum’s new play, Da Beer Can Hat, an adaptation of his iconic short story.  Family dynamics, peer pressure, and simple pleasures add dimension to a story about friendship in rural Honolulu in the 1970’s.  

When Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Steven Kealoha Wong as Hawai‘i’s first Poet Laureate, he handed Kealoha a mission for the next year: promote writing, reading, and the appreciation of poetry among Hawai‘i’s people. Seven years later, Kealoha’s crafted a multimedia theatre production that’s a creation story for today. 

In 1929, economics and society in Hawai‘i were highly stratified.  When the ten year old son of a banker was kidnapped from Punahou School and killed, the community was horrified, and what happened to the admitted perpetrator has left questions unanswered to this day.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports a new play at Palikū Theatre sheds light on the emotions involved.

One of Hawaiʻi’s oldest stories is making a new appearance on a local stage. It’s a legend that has been passed down through hula for generations, and it is now being performed in Hawaiian. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi talks with Hawaiian playwright and director Kauʻi Kaina.

One of the most popular operas in the entire repertory, Tales of Hoffmann, will close Hawai‘i Opera Theatre’s 2016-17 season.  Live projections and a roster of fine voices mark this all original production, the last with Artistic Director Henry Akina at the helm.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke to him about his tenure in Hawai‘i opera.

President Trump spent part of his weekend golfing with Japan’s Prime Minister. Late last week, he spoke with the president of China. But the latest advance for one particular U.S. product in Asia may come from a different kind of negotiation. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

The University of Hawaii Outreach College is presenting a unique single person theater experience.

“Loon” is a one person play presented by the theatrical group Wonderheads.  The unlikely love story follows a lonely janitor who dreams of traveling to the moon.  It’s performed in a large papier-mâché mask, using only body expressions to tell the story. 

There are over two hundred Fringe Festivals all over the globe, and now O‘ahu and Maui’s festivals are joining the tribe.  “Fringe” festivals are known for the performing arts, they’re uncensored, original, easy to participate in and easy to attend because they use neighborhood venues.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

  By a couple of years ago, the Hawai‘i Shakespeare Festival had finished performing all The Bard’s plays--the great, the obscure, and the questionable.   At this point, real experimentation is getting unleashed.  Inspired by David Peterson, who developed languages for the Game of Thrones series, one of the founders of the festival has devised invented languages for "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

"A Midsummer Night’s Dream" continues at The ARTS at Marks' Garage through August 21, 2016.

  In our quick survey of summer theater this year, two musicals are opening in Honolulu.  Lysistrata Jones at Mānoa Valley Theatre updates an ancient battle between the sexes, and Mamma Mia orchestrates wedding complications to an Abba soundtrack.   HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Summer is a time when rigid schedules loosen up, making room for new experiences.  Honolulu’s theater community has some tempting offerings for all ages, comedies, musicals and life enriching dramas.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa visited two of Honolulu’s smallest venues for this report.

  Kumu Kahua Theatre’s mission, since its founding in 1971, is to help develop theater by, for, and about Hawai‘i’s people.  In 2010, this unique local organization nearly closed for lack of funding, but in the years since, it has sprung back with wider outreach and more business partners.  In the past four and a half years, managing director Donna Blanchard has managed to expand Kumu Kahua's marketing budget while putting in a much needed new floor and beginning other repairs.

Hawai‘i–India Law Symposium; Action at Honolulu Hale; “Bring It Home” Dance Theater

2016 India-Hawai’i Law Symposium: Dean C. Raj Kumar

Economic Outlook for Hawaii; #iambadatthis; 11th East-West Philosophers' Conference; Honolulu Jazz Quartet

UHERO County Economic Forecast: Dr. Carl Bonham

Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet; Mānoa Valley Theater Production of Equus; Neal Conan; Hawai‘i Students Wins National Shakespeare Competition

Peace Corps’ 55th Year: Carrie Hessler-Radelet

    Shadow puppet performances are still a vibrant part of village life on Bali.  Flat cut outs are silhouetted against a translucent screen by the light of a coconut husk lamp.  Religious and historical epics make up interwoven plot lines that continue for six hours or more through the night.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports, there’s a new twist on the tradition brewing at Kennedy Theatre.

“Subali-Sugriwa: Battle of the Monkey Kings” will be performed the last two weekends of January at Kennedy Theatre on the UH Mānoa campus. 

   In early April, three pirates hatched a plan to get people out of their snuggly homes and into Kumu Kahua Theatre.  HPR’s Noe Tanigawa visited the theatre recently to find out why and how.

The New Play Festival runs Sunday through Tuesday, June 21st through 23rd at Kumu Kahua.  Eventbrite is handling advance tickets, or get tickets at Kumu one hour prior to performance.  

Connect with the New Play Festival on Facebook.

   The inaugural production of the new Hawaiian Theatre program at UH Mānoa sold out its first weekend at Kennedy Theatre.   HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports Lāʻieikawai is the story of how the most beautiful woman in Hawai‘i found her true love.  A special fund for Hawaiian Theatre has been started at the UH Foundation for touring and for future productions.

“Lāʻieikawai” continues at Kennedy Theatre on the UH Mānoa campus through this weekend  only.

The curtain is going up on Honolulu’s fall theatre season and there’s a particularly wide variety of offerings this year.  HPR‘s Noe Tanigawa offers this sampler.

Will the Real Charlie Chan Please Stand Up?  through September 22

http://kumukahua.org/

The Toxic Avenger through 9/29

http://www.manoavalleytheatre.com/

A Korean Cinderella through 9/28

http://www.htyweb.org/

Waimea on Hawai’i Island is a two traffic light town with a history of ranching and actually, quite a lot of theater. Richard Smart, sole heir to the Parker Ranch, was a singer and dancer who had performed on Broadway, for example with Carol Channing, as well as around the world. He built a fine theater in Waimea, the Kahilu, which thrived, then struggled along until closing its doors last summer. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on the Kahilu Theatre’s reemergence.