Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents An Incredibly Timely Commentary On The "ownership" And Treatment Of Ancient Hawaiian Bones With Ola N? Iwi By Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl

HONOLULU, HI: Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl’s Ola N? Iwi, will play at Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu, running from November 1st through December 2nd, 2007.

First produced by Kumu Kahua during its 24th season (1994-'95), and written by a prolific playwright whose works have been regularly produced by Kumu Kahua, Ola N? Iwi ("The Bones Live") investigates the serious issues involving the treatment of indigenous human remains while simultaneously telling a story that is tender, humorous, mysterious and filled with plot twists and turns. Kneubuhl skillfully conducts an historical exploration of the pseudo-scientific and often racist motivations behind grave-robbing. But the central story is contemporary, with the plot set in motion when a Honolulu theater group returns from an international tour with a set of Hawaiian bones "illegally" reclaimed from a German museum.

Kumu Kahua board member, Sammie Choy (Another Heaven) will direct the production, with set design by Justin DeLand, light design by Abel Coelho, costume design by Nara Cardenas, sound design by Daniel Sakimura and props are by Mike Harada.  The cast features Kumu veterans Phillip Bullington, Kiana Rivera, Dave Schaeffer, Misa Tupou, and Kumu newcomers Britton Adams, Tiana Alcoran, Donalyn Dela Cruz, Ariane Fuchs, Miko Franconi, Jan McGrath, & Mane

TICKETS:         
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, tickets are $16 general admission, $13 for seniors and groups of ten or more buying at one time, and $10 for students. On Thursdays, general admission is $13, seniors admission $11, and students and unemployed are $5.Tickets can be purchased with a credit card by calling 536-4441, or by personally visiting the Kumu Kahua Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm.

PERFORMANCES:           
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm:
November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30; December 1, 2007. 
Sundays 2pm:
November 4, 11, 18, 25; December 2, 2007

Kumu Kahua Theatre is an air-conditioned, intimate 100-seat performance space; Patrons are strongly advised to purchase tickets in advance as individual performances do sell out.  Performances are at 8pm Thursday through Saturday, and at 2pm on Sunday afternoons.  Tickets can be purchased with a credit card by calling 536-4441, or by visiting our box office between 11am and 3pm Monday through Friday.  Ticket prices range from $5 to $16.  Tickets are on sale now.  For more information about this and other productions, visit www.KumuKahua.org.

Kumu Kahua productions are being supported by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, celebrating more than thirty years of culture and the arts in Hawai‘i (with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts); the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, Mufi Hannemann, Mayor; and Foundations, Businesses and Patrons.  Ola N? Iwi is also being supported by a grant from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities.