Kumu Kahua premieres ROLLING THE R's (Oct08)

HONOLULU, HI: Rolling The R’s by R.Z. Linmark will play at Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu, from October 30th to November 30th, 2008.

Edgar Ramirez, a Kalihi teenager "who looks like a Filipino John Travolta," knows that he is gay and isn't bothered by his schoolmates' taunts. His classmate Nelson Ariola insists that he is "an American" because he was born in Hawaii and doesn't speak Tagalog or Ilocano. Rolling the Rs is a play set in the disco years of the '70s, when high school students hung posters of Scott Baio, Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett, listened to Peaches and Herb, read Sixteen and Teen Beat magazines, and struggled with their identities as defined by ethnicity, nationality and sexual orientation. Edgar and his friends Katrina and Vicente exchange words with their classmates, dance, sing and experiment with sex in a free-floating, surrealistic story punctuated by the disciplinary voice of the schoolteacher, Mrs. Takemoto, and the judgmental gossip of Philippine-born and raised friends Mrs. Kayabyab and Mrs. Arayat. A Kumu Kahua world premiere.
Shows run Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: October 30, 31; November 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 2008; and Sundays 2pm: November 2, 9, 16, 23, *30, 2008. (*American Sign Language interpretation available.)

Playwright R. Zamora Linmark is the author of the best-selling novel Rolling The R's. He’s a recipient of numerous grants and awards, including two Fulbright fellowships, a National Endowment for the Arts in Creative Writing, and, most recently, a residency at the Edward Albee Foundation. He lives in Manila.

Kumu Kahua artistic director, Harry Wong will direct the production, with set design by Chesley Cannon, light design by Abel Dulles-Coelho, costume design by Dusty Behner, and sound design by Stu Hirayama. The cast features Kumu Veterans M.J. Gonzalvo, Kathy Hunter, Jason Kanda, Tyler Tanabe, Jaedee-Kae Vergara , along with Kumu newcomers Joy Lacanienta, Malia Lagaso, Maila P. Roncero, and Christopher Takemoto-Gentile.

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, or to buy tickets online, visit www.KumuKahua.org.

Questions? Email



	Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents The World Premiere Of Rolling The R’s, By R.Z. Linmark, Based On His Best-Selling Novel! HONOLULU, HI: Rolling The R’s by R.Z. Linmark will play at Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu, from October 30th to November 30th, 2008. Edgar Ramirez, a Kalihi teenager "who looks like a Filipino John Travolta," knows that he is gay and isn't bothered by his schoolmates' taunts. His classmate Nelson Ariola insists that he is "an American" because he was born in Hawaii and doesn't speak Tagalog or Ilocano. Rolling the Rs is a play set in the disco years of the '70s, when high school students hung posters of Scott Baio, Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett, listened to Peaches and Herb, read Sixteen and Teen Beat magazines, and struggled with their identities as defined by ethnicity, nationality and sexual orientation. Edgar and his friends Katrina and Vicente exchange words with their classmates, dance, sing and experiment with sex in a free-floating, surrealistic story punctuated by the disciplinary voice of the schoolteacher, Mrs. Takemoto, and the judgmental gossip of Philippine-born and raised friends Mrs. Kayabyab and Mrs. Arayat. A Kumu Kahua world premiere. Shows run Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: October 30, 31; November 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 2008; and Sundays 2pm: November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2008. (American Sign Language interpretation available.) Playwright R. Zamora Linmark is the author of the best-selling novel Rolling The R's. He’s a recipient of numerous grants and awards, including two Fulbright fellowships, a National Endowment for the Arts in Creative Writing, and, most recently, a residency at the Edward Albee Foundation. He lives in Manila. Kumu Kahua artistic director, Harry Wong will direct the production, with set design by Chesley Cannon, light design by Abel Dulles-Coelho, costume design by Dusty Behner, and sound design by Stu Hirayama. The cast features Kumu Veterans M.J. Gonzalvo, Kathy Hunter, Jason Kanda, Tyler Tanabe, Jaedee-Kae Vergara , along with Kumu newcomers Joy Lacanienta, Malia Lagaso, Maila P. Roncero, and Christopher Takemoto-Gentile. 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, or to buy tickets online, visit www.KumuKahua.org. Home \| News \| Calendar \| Directory \| Plays \| Library/Storefront \| Timeline Copyright 2008, Roger W. Tang Questions? Email

Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents The World Premiere Of Rolling The R’s, By R.Z. Linmark, Based On His Best-Selling Novel!