Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents a World Premiere by Susan Soon He Stanton: The underneath

HONOLULU, HI--The 44th season at Kumu Kahua Theatre continues with a world premiere of a new Susan Soon He Stanton play. Susan also wrote Whatever Happened to John Boy Kihano? and The Art of Preservation, both of which also premiered at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Susan Soon He Stanton began writing plays at age fifteen in The Honolulu Theatre for Youth's Young Playwriting Program. Her full-length play, Whatever Happened to John Boy Kihano? was the winner of the 2006 Kumu Kahua Theatre/University of Hawaii at Ma'noa Theatre Department playwriting contest in 2006. From the Sloan Foundation she received a best screenplay award and a feature film development grant. She has a BFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and received an MFA in Playwriting at Yale School of Drama in 2010 where she was mentored by John Guare and Paula Vogel. Her plays have been performed at Kumu Kahua Theatre, Yale University's New Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Yale Cabaret, The Flea Theater in New York City, and Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

Synopsis: In this noir mystery drama, a man returns to Hawaii after ten years, responding to an urgent summons from his brother. On arrival he learns that his brother is now missing, and that many things have changed since their childhood. As he uncovers these mysteries, the man's search seems to reveal more questions than answers.

The show is directed by Taurie Kinoshita. She spent four years in England, teaching at East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex, considered one of the top three acting conservatories in the UK. In the highly competitive London theatre scene, Taurie also directed many critically acclaimed productions before moving back to Hawai'i in 2012. She holds a BA in Theatre and a MFA in Directing [Western Theatre] from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Taurie has worked on over 100 shows, directed 70 critically acclaimed productions in Honolulu, New York City and London. In New York City, she worked for the renowned Living Theatre company (with the legendary Judith Malina). Taurie was awarded the Lucie Bentley Award for Excellence in Acting and the Inouye Award for Excellence in Playwriting and her company was named Best of London Camden Fringe. Since returning in 2012, Taurie directed Polaroid Stories, Fall of the House of Usher and Battle of Will for WCC at Paliku Theatre, Sound and Beauty for Kumu Kahua, Henry VIII and As You Like It for the Hawai'i Shakespeare Festival.

This production features five actors:

BRANDON ANTHONY DIPAOLA (Jem) hails originally from Redwood City, California and is a graduate of Kalaheo High School. His stage credits include The Fall of the House of Usher (Palik?), Edward III and As You Like It for Hawaii Shakespeare Festival (HSF), in last season's Cockadoodledoo here at Kumu Kahua Theatre (KKT) and was seen most recently at UHM in Ruined.

WILLIAM HA'O (Wake) has been a professional actor for over twenty five years. Based in New York City, he has performed for many of NYCs' theater companies. he has toured in almost every state of the Union, with performances also in Vancouver, Canada and Athens, Greece. His work includes various voiceovers for documentaries. He narrated the award winning documentary On the Move: The Central Ballet of China. Since returning home he has performed with Lo'i Theatre, Kumu Kahua Theatre and the Oral History Department at UHM. For Hawaiian Mission Houses (HMH), Will directed Twelf Nite O' Wateva and has also directed their Cemetery Pupu Theatre series and most recently The Complete Works of William Shakespeare ( Abridged ) this past summer. He was last seen on stage in September at Hawaii Theatre Center's production of Eddie Wen' Go; The Story of the Upside Down Canoe.

STEPHANIE KEIKO KONG (Mika) graduated from UHM with a BA in Theatre. Her acting credits include the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, Hawai'i Public Radio, The Actors' Group, and the Hawai'i Theatre Center, as well as multiple KKT productions. Recent notable roles include Kate in HSF's The Taming of the Shrew, Mama in KKT's Saturday Night at the P'hala Theatre, Letitia in TAG's The Belle's Stratagem, and Richard in HSF's Richard III, for which she won a Po'okela. Stephanie is a graduate student at UHM and full-time yoga teacher.

KATI KURODA (Aunty Evie) holds a BFA and an MFA. She was a professional actress in NYC for 21 years and appeared in the film, Picture Bride. She appeared in Benton's Twelf Night O' Wateva last summer at HMH and in last season's KKT hit and summer remount, Flowers of Hawai'i. Kati is fresh from the TAG stage where she performed as Cassandra in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

JONATHAN CLARKE SYPERT (Col) was voted 2009 Best Adult Hip Hop Teacher in Honolulu by the readers of Honolulu Magazine. He is a professional performing artist as well as an instructor at The Movement Center, Kaiser High School and with the PALS Wai'anae Program. He has acted on Hawaii Five-O, performs with Henry Kapono and the Hot Club of Hulaville, produces and performs Hip Hop music and features as a Slam Poet for meaningful community events. Recently, Jonathan lent his choreography and movement talents to last season's production of Moa a M?'?, for which he was awarded a Po'okela.

Following the performace on Friday, November 7th, the audience will be invited to stay for a brief, facilitated talk-story with Susan Soon He Stanton, Taurie Kinoshita and the cast. Tickets for performances can be purchased with a credit card by calling 536-4441, or by visiting our box office at 46 Merchant Street (corner of Bethel and Merchant streets, downtown) between 11am and 3pm Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at KumuKahua.org

Show dates: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: November 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29; December 4, 5, 6, 2014 Sundays 2pm: November 9, 16, 23, 30; December *7, 2014 *American Sign Language interpretation upon request (No show Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving)

Kumu Kahua productions are supported in part by The Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawai'i and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Also paid for in part by the taxpayers of the City & County of Honolulu; the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts; The Hawai'i Tourism Authority, McInerny Foundation (Bank of Hawaii, Trustee); Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) Charitable Foundation, The Atherton Foundation and Hawaiian Electric Company; Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and other foundations, businesses and patrons.