Once on this Island rehearsals are well underway! With our troupe working as hard as they can to produce the best show possible, we are proud to present a sneak-peak into our show with a small portion of the number Pray! What happens when our protagonist TI Moune defies Death to save the boy she loves? Come see our show on November 16th, 17th, and 18th to find out!
Category Archives: Theater
Caribbean culture comes to life at KSH
This November, KS-H stages Once On This Island, the Caribbean-themed musical. Theater teacher Eric Stack directs, choir teacher Herb Mahelona directs the music. Choreographer and dance Jenn Eng brings her trademark energy and creativity to the numerous dance sequences, and Lee Dombroski from the University of Hawaii Hilo Performing Arts Center is costumer. Set design is by Mike Dombroski.
Performing Arts Week events at KSH
The annual Performing Arts Week is coming up, May 2 – 7, 2016. All events will be held at the William Charles Lunalilo Center. Open to the public. Free of charge.
SCHEDULE
MONDAY, May 2 — High School Band Concert
Start time: 6 PM Presenting selections of “program music”: music from musicals, movies, TV, literature, and opera. Featuring selections from “Lord of the Rings”, “The Incredibles”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”. We will also reconize the graduating senior class of 2016.
TUESDAY, May 3 — Hāʻupu
Start time: 6 PM Workshop production of the touring production of this yearʻs Hōʻike presentation, the Hawaiian opera Hāʻupu, featuring the traveling cast that will be performing in Edinburgh, Scotland in August as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the American High School Theater Festival.
WEDNESDAY, May 4 — East Hawaii Choral Festival
Start time: 6 PM KS welcomes Mountain View Elementary, middle schoolers from HAAS, the Hilo High School Ambassadors, Waiakea High School Choir, the UH Hilo Chorus, and the Kamehameha Alumni Choir for an evening of musical sharing. Also featuring the KS Elementary Keiki Choir.
FRIDAY, May 6 — SCOTY (Student Choice of The Year) Awards
Start time: 6 PM The tradition of the SCOTYs (Student Choice Of The Year) Awards continues, with recognition for outstanding student work in theater, band, singing, video, and all things performing arts. Semi-formal attire.
Hōʻike cast on the morning news – Monday, March 7
Four cast members will be traveling to Oʻahu to appear on three morning news shows: KITV, Hawaii News Now, and KHON to promote Hōʻike 2016: Hāʻupu. Leads Mara-Jayde “Hiwa” Brown (Hina), Daylan-Blake Kalaʻi (Kapepeʻekauila), Pomai Longakit (Uli), and Kaeo Cachola (Niheu) will be in costume to sing selections from the opera and speak about the presentation.
Tune into any of the three stations to hear on Monday, March 7.
KITV 5:45 am – Live interview with all four cast members
Hawaii News Now 7:50am and 8:10am Daylan and Hiwa
Cast for Into the Woods selected
Preliminary cast list has been posted for the fall production of Stephen Sondheimʻs “Into the Woods”, which was recently made into a movie. The musical throws together various fairy tale characters (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, etc.) who find themselves literally and figuratively “in the woods” as they face their dreams and fears. Production will begin at the start of the next school year, after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance of Hāʻupu.
West Side Story Sells Out!
For the first time in KS-H production history, a show has completely sold out! The final performance of West Side Story on November 21 managed to fill every single seat in the house. Mahalo to all who supported the students and faculty in this ambitious production!
Jenn and Ken are Guest Speakers at Career Day
Wednesday, October 28 was Career Day at KSHHS, when professionals from the community are invited to give presentations to the students about possible future careers. This year, the performing arts students welcomed West Side Story choreographers Jenn Eng and Ken Elliott, who, instead of a lecture, let the students experience firsthand what a professional dance audition is like.
Students took a number, lined up and performed a routine they learned on the spot, with lots of encouragement and helpful insider tips from Jenn and Ken. Helpful advice included being yourself, being unique and confident, speaking clearly, not being afraid of failure, being pleasant and courteous to everyone because you never know who you are talking to (might be your future boss or co-worker), and “the audition starts that moment you step of the bus/train/taxi.” Good advice for life.
Jenn and Ken hosted three sessions of students interested in performing arts.
After lunch, 9th and 10th graders in the performing arts pathway of the Humanities academy had a second session with Mr. Stack, Mr. Mahelona, Mr. Kawakami, and Mr. Grothmann about preparing for an audition, and preparing for a singing audition.
Kamalanai Kekuewa
Sharle “Kamalanai” Kekuewa (Kana Shadow) is currently a senior at Kamehameha Schools Hawaii. She is the youngest of four children and in her free time enjoys spending time with friends and family and watching a good sports game. When her time at Kamehameha is over she hopes to attend New York University or Duke majoring in business. It was in elementary school that Kamalanai first got into performing arts. She participated in the Kamehameha Schools Keiki Choir from third grade through fifth grade. Along with performing at Christmas and spring concerts, the Keiki Choir was also able to perform in the high school musicals! Kamalanai was an extra in Jesus Christ Superstar, and 42nd Street. In middle school she got bigger roles: a Von Trapp child in The Sound of Music, and Pepper the orphan, in the musical Annie. When she reached high school, she wanted to experience another part of the theater and began working backstage during her freshman year. She enjoyed it because the backstage crew takes care of all the small details of the production and seemed to be the ones in control of everything and everyone. In her sophomore year she felt lucky and honored to be asked to work the light board because no one is allowed to touch it, and not many people know how to operate it. She enjoyed her years working in backstage but is definitely looking forward to performing on stage again. She loves being able to step into another character and act as someone totally different from herself. What she hopes to gain from performing at the Fringe is a good response or reaction from those who watch. Kamalanai is excited that this will be the first time that the festival will feature a Hawaiian-language performance. “My castmates and I have the opportunity to represent our school and our Hawaiian culture. We have a chance to show people from around the world what aloha really is. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel extremely lucky and humbled that I was chosen.”
Krupke
The local beat cop. He has no patience for the gangs conflict and tries to keep tensions from errupting between them. Regularly mocked by the local gangs.
-courtesy of Music Theater International
The part of Krupke will be played by elementary school interim principal Phil Aganus.
Doc
The owner of the candy store where the Jets hang out. He tries to guide the Jets youthful angst and provides a safe haven for Tony. Old fashioned and wise in his ways.
-courtesy of Music Theater International
The role of Doc will be played by art teacher Gary Hoff.