Summer Royal, Amanda Stone and Domina Hoffman
WHAT: Ka‘iulani by Dennis Carroll, Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Robert Nelson and Ryan Page
WHERE: Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street
WHEN: March 26 – April 26, 2015 (see schedule below)
COST: $5.00-$20.00
INFO: 536-4441, kumukahua.org
SPECIAL EVENT: Following the performance on Friday, April 3rd, there will be a talk-story with playwrights, Dennis Carroll, Robert Nelson and Victoria Nalanai Kneubuhl
HONOLULU, HI—The 44th season at Kumu Kahua Theatre continues with a production originally premiered at Kumu Kahua in 1987.
Within the short life of Princess Ka‘iulani is contained the sad, shameful story of the downfall of the Hawaiian Kingdom. She was sent to Europe to receive an education befitting her royalty, but during her absence, the monarchy was abrogated and she returned to Hawai‘i a figurehead rather than a queen. Ka‘iulani is a historical-musical-psychological drama complete with a Greek/Hawaiian chorus and a Hawaiian chanter.
The original production was directed by Kumu Kahua Theatre founding member and current Board Member Emeritus, Dennis Carroll. It was produced at several locations on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and the Big Island. It was revived for another island tour the following year and then went on to tour in Edinburgh, Scotland; Washington, DC; and Los Angeles, California.
Danielle Zalopany
Karen Loebl Kaulana has acted in all of the productions of Ka‘iulani, thus far, and will be in this current production. She has played Ka‘iulani and now plays Princess Miriam Likelike.
“This has been life-changing because this was the first community theatre show I auditioned for and was cast in. I auditioned when I was 17 and – because of the remounts and subsequent tours – I played the role until I was 21! I was the first person in my family to go to another country, because of the international tour. Because of that process, I went to college and majored in theatre. This show shaped my life, basically.”
“This time, 25 years later it’s very exciting to step back into the show that shaped my life. It’s powerful, new and different. I’m in a different role with a different director, but that mana… that specialness is still there.”
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.
Directed by Harry Wong III
Set Design by Justin Fragiao
Sound Design by Royce Okazaki
Costume Design by Jonathan Reyn
Set Paintings by Ted Uratani
Lighting Design by Cora Yamagata
Amanda Stone and Domina Hoffman
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Young Ka’iulani…..Summer Royal
Victoria….Amanda Stone
Ka’iulani….Domina Hoffman
Ka’iulani of Part III…Danielle Zalopany
Mrs. Gardinier…Jaime Bradner
Judy/Jane…Brooke Reams
Princess Miriam Likelike…Karen Kaulana
HRH Queen Liliuokalani…Anne Lokomaika’i Lipscomb
Archibald Cleghorn/Theo Davies…Steven Royal
HRH King David Kalakaua…William Ha’o
Tom…Jason K. Ellinwood
Dick…Brandon DiPaola
Show dates:
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: March 26, 27, 28; April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 2015
Sundays 2pm: March 29; April 12, 19, *26, 2015
*American Sign Language Interpretation upon request
(No show Sunday, April 5 – Easter)
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. They are 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; The Star-Advertiser and other foundations, businesses and patrons.
Photos by Denise de Guzman
Reply