Pictured are Shah Bento, Eun Ho Lee, Collin Hoo, Kenny Kusaka. Picture by Denise De Guzman.
HONOLULU, HI— UchinaAloha by “Da Pidgin Guerilla” Lee A. Tonouchi, the first show of Kumu Kahua Theatre’s 46th season, is a charming tale of generations of an Okinawan family in Hawai‘i.
David resists his grandfather’s sanshin lessons until he has the right motivation: a girl. A pretty young lady guest from Okinawa helps David and his friends discover much about themselves and David’s enigmatic grandfather.
This is a story about the change that any culture experiences when it is relocated. Grandfather wants to play music the way it is played in Okinawa, but his grandson wants to combine tradition with more modern methods and the mix of culture found in Hawai‘i.
When the guest from Okinawa arrives, she brings tradition and fresh perspective – teaching the family about present-day Okinawa. The grandson learns a new way of playing that honors Okinawan culture.
The show is directed by Reiko Ho, the innovative leader who also directed Kumu Kahua Theatre blockbusters, Shoyu on Rice and Will the Real Charlie Chan Please Stand Up?
“One of the greatest things about growing up in Hawai‘i is that everyone is all ‘mix up’” says director Reiko Ho. “Hawai‘i is a melting pot of ethnicities, ideologies, and cultural identities — disparate parts that come together, like a kankara sanshin, to make glorious music”.
Reiko continues: “Many will relate to the generational conflict between David and his grandfather. David must find the bridge to his Okinawan roots, even though he dreams of being an American superstar. In the end, our characters discover that embracing a “composite” of cultures can be their greatest strength.”
World-renowned musician Jake Shimabukuro wrote song specifically for this production.
Performance dates and times:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: August 25, 26, 27; September 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30; October 1, 2016
Sundays 2pm: August 28; September 4, 11, 18; October *2, 2016
(Please note, there will be no performances of UchinaAloha September 22-25; we will host Improvaganza that weekend)
*American Sign Language Interpretation upon request
Tickets for performances can be purchased with a credit card by calling 536-4441, or by visiting the 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.
Ticket prices are $5-$25.
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 The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, The Hawai‘i Community Foundation, McInerny Foundation (Bank of Hawai‘i, Trustee); Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) Charitable Foundation, The Atherton Foundation and Hawaiian Electric Company; The Star-Advertiser and other foundations, businesses and patrons.
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