Auditions scheduled for Hilo Community Players’ Shakespeare in the Park

The Hilo Community Players announce auditions for the 35^th annual production of Shakespeare in the Park.  Richard III will be directed by Jackie Pualani Johnson, co-founder of the outdoor offerings and drama professor at UH Hilo.  Auditions will be held on Friday, May 4^th, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 5^th, at 10:00 a.m. at the East Hawai’i Cultural Center Annex.

The play centers on Shakespeare’s notorious Duke of Gloucester, the deformed, manipulative villain who rises to power in England in the late 1400s, to become Richard III.  Numerous actors are needed for the tragedy focusing on the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty, including the title role of  the sometimes charming, but unquestionably evil King Richard.

Shakespeare’s play includes substantial roles for women: Elizabeth, Queen to King Edward IV; Margaret, Widow of King Henry VI; Duchess of York, Mother to King Edward IV; Lady Anne, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, and a young Daughter of Clarence [Margaret Plantagenet].  Several children (circa age 10) are needed to create the roles of princes and princesses, along with at least 25 male actors, consisting of those devoted to Richard’s machinations and those on the other side of the battle field, loyal to Richmond.

Parents who are interested in having their children participate should bring their children at noon on Saturday, May 5^th,  to the East Hawai’i Cultural Center Annex to meet the director and discuss the anticipated commitment.

Show dates are the first 3 weekends in July.

For further information, contact:  jpjohnso@hawaii.edu.

Are you ready for a ghostly Christmas? Hilo Community Players has put together a fine cast to bring you A Christmas Carol like you’ve never seen before. This is the story from the ghosts’ point of view!

Four of Hilo’s finest performers will bring 18 roles to life on the stage of the EHCC’s theater for you to enjoy from Dec. 2 to 17.

CHARACTERS

ACTOR 1: Mr. Pedro Kaawaloa

JACOB MARLEY

CHRISTMAS PAST

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

A BOY

YOUNG MARLEY

ACTOR 2: Ms. Jessica Dempsey

BOGLE

A LITTLE GIRL

ACTOR 3: Mr. Rob Hunt

SCROOGE

YOUNG SCROOGE

A DAMNED SOUL

ACTOR 4: Ms. Laura Caswell

RECORD KEEPER

FEZZIWIG

A DAMNED WOMAN

FRED

CRATCHIT

DICK WILKINS

MARLEY’S FATHER

THE SHADOW

AUDITIONS

FOR

HILO COMMUNITY PLAYERS’

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol

BY TOM MULA

When: Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The Annex behind the East Hawaii Cultural Center at 141 Kalakaua St.across from King Kalakaua Park in downtown Hilo

Who: 4 actors to play 18 roles. Every actor will have multiple roles and mustdemonstrate the ability to change between roles. There will be a mixture of maleand female actors.

What: “Marley was dead, to begin with…”—and what happens to EbenezerScrooge’s mean, sour, pruney old business partner after that? Chained andshackled, Marley is condemned to a hellish eternity. He’s even given his ownprivate tormentor: a malicious little hell-sprite who thoroughly enjoys his work.Desperate, Marley accepts his one chance to free himself: To escape his ownchains, he must first redeem Scrooge. So begins a journey of laughter and terror,redemption and renewal, during which Scrooge’s heart, indeed, is opened; butnot before Marley—in this irreverent, funny and deeply moving story—discovershis own.

Rehearsals will begin with read-throughs the week following auditions.

Show dates are Friday and Saturday evenings

December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17,

and there will be two Sunday matinees on

December 4 and 11.

For more information, contact Jake McPherson at jakemcpherson@gmail.com.

Congratulations to all the cast members of the 34th Annual Shakespeare in the Park. The Merchant of Venice promises to be a fun adventure for all. The director, Ms. Catherine McPherson, regrets that she was not able to cast everyone who came to auditions. There was a lot of extremely fine talent, but there are only so many roles.

As you read the list, please note that some actors have been cast in more than one role.

Portia:   Justine Thompson

Nerissa:   Laura Caswell

Balthazar:   Tara West

Stephano:   Alston Albarado

Morocco:   Jason Echavez

Arragon:   Kalani Spain

Antonio:   Rob Hunt

Bassanio:   Phillip Russell

Salanio:   Amy Jackson

Salarino:   Evette Tampos

Gratiano:   Jake McPherson

Lorenzo:   Jordan Ward

Leonardo:   Alston Albarado

Shylock:   Lewis Moore

Jessica:   Summer Campbell

Tubal:   Jason Echavez

Lancelet Gobbo:   Bella Freedman

Old Gobbo:   Scott Kester

Jailer:   Scott Kester

Duke:   Kalani Spain

Servant (2.9):   Cheyenne Tuggle

Clerk (4.1):   Katy Craine

Magnificoes:   Scott and  Alston

Servants:   Cheyenne and  Katy

Attendants:   Alston, Tara, and  Kalani

ART COMES TO EHCC – “ART” the play, that is – IN SEPTEMBER

Can art come between friends?

That’s the question – and not the only question – raised in an award-winning one-act comedy called “ART,” starring three of Hilo’s veteran actors.

When Serge [Jake McPherson] buys a modern painting that’s essentially all white, Marc [Saul Rollason] is astounded, calls it “a piece of [bleep]” and wonders why his friend has spent a fortune on something so foolish.  Yvan [Steve Peyton] sees Marc’s point, but has always trusted Serge’s taste in modern art.  Things can only get worse!

Director Ken Elliott has lived in Hawai’i for four years, following a two-decade acting career in Los Angeles. He recently co-starred on the final season of the television series “Lost”, and can also be seen portraying Little RIchard on “Cold Case”. In 2009 he directed “The Laramie Project – Ten Years Later” at the Performing Arts Center at UH-Hilo, and starred in and directed the play “Tape,” at EHCC in 2008.

“ART,” by Yasmina Reza, translated (from French) by Christopher Hampton, won Broadway’s highest honor in 1998 – the Tony Award for best play – after winning the equivalent – the Olivier Award –  for its London production in 1996.

“ART” will be presented by the Hilo Community Players over the first two weekends in September, in the upstairs theater at the East Hawaii Cultural Center (EHCC), which is also Hilo’s modern art gallery!  Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday September 3, 4, 10 and 11; with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on September 5 and 12.  All tickets are $10 (EHCC members pay $8).  The EHCC is at 141 Kalakaua St. – across from Kalakaua Park – in downtown Hilo.

For tickets, phone the EHCC Box Office at 935-9085.

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

HILO COMMUNITY PLAYERS

33RD ANNUAL SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK!

TONIGHT!!

The longest running theater tradition in the state of Hawaii continues with it’s 33rd year! This year, Hilo Community Players is proud to present Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by Amy Jackson.

Four young noblemen vow to devote themselves to study for 3 years foregoing all contact with women and other such pleasures, but 4 ladies from France arrive on the scene and hilarity ensues. Can the noblemen keep their oaths to study? Will they break their vows and study only the women?

Add the common folk from the area, a school master, a curate, and a fantastical Spaniard, and you have a recipe ripe for good times for all.

The actors are a wonderful mixture of veterans of the Hilo stage and new faces. You will be enchanted by the versification and amused by the bombast. There is fun for all family members.

Evening performances are:

Thursdays through Saturdays, July 1, 2, 3;       8, 9, 10;     15, 16, and 17 at 7:30 p.m.

There are two Sunday matinees on July 4 and 11 at 2 p.m.

KALAKAUA PARK – DOWNTOWN HILO

As always, Shakespeare in the Park is offered as our gift to the Hilo Community, FREE OF CHARGE. We are grateful for the support we receive from our wonderful audiences.  Donations are gratefully accepted – MAHALO!!

Join us on SUNDAY, and GET YOUR CAR CLEAN!

The Hilo Community Players are ready to scrub your ride, and get it sparkling clean! Support a great cause, and finally give your car the bath it deserves!

We are currently in production on “Bat Boy, the Musical,” an amazing musical theatre extravaganza! We are working hard to really showcase some amazing community talent! And we’re also working hard to raise the funds to build the set, make the costumes, and to rent the Akebono Theater for the show. PLEASE HELP! Your support of local, volunteer, community theatre is SO important!

Because of you, our Hilo community, we can continue to produce exceptional performance opportunities for the talented singers and dancers that make up our cast. Because of you.

Suggested donation is $5.
Tickets may be purchased in advance from any cast member – they make great gifts!
Buy three tickets, get one free!!
Share with your friends!
Buy one for your husband!

It’s gonna be a fun day! come and join us!

LOCATION:
Prudential Orchid Isle Properties
101 Hualalai
(between Burger King, and K’s Drive-In)

SUNDAY MARCH 28
9:00am – 1:00pm

Come play with us! And support an amazing event!

May the Bard be with you

Love’s Labour’s Lost

The Hilo Community Players is thrilled to announce open auditions for their 33^rd Annual Shakespeare in the Park. This year will see “Love’s Labour’s Lost” vibrantly brought to life.

Audition dates are the first 2 weekends of April.

Saturdays, April 3 and 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., and

Sundays, April 4 and 11, from 5 to 7 p.m

The location for auditions is the Pueo Community Center on Wainaku Street in Hilo.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and perhaps some improvisational work as well.

This production will stretch your talents as an actor or techie. The production will be workshopped involving character building, improvisation, versification, and other acting exercises. All levels of talent and all ages are encouraged to attend auditions.

There are parts for 11 males and 5 females.

The Text:

Four young noblemen vow to study and avoid all forms of recreation and distraction for a period of 3 years. Four lovely ladies on an embassy from the king of France arrive on the scene and thoroughly discombobulate the studious gentlemen. A mixture of clownish figures add a touch of mayhem to the proceedings, and some notable scholars attending on the young noblemen perform hilarious language games.

The language of the play is some of the best Shakespeare wrote. The nobles all speak in iambic pentameter, and sonnets are scattered throughout the play, standing alone or as part of longer speeches.

If you have questions, contact the co-directors Amy Jackson and Jake McPherson.

amyjproductions (at) gmail.com

hawaii.jake (at) yahoo.com

Bat Boy, the Musical

CAST LIST

Bat Boy the Musical

We are THRILLED to announce the cast of “Bat Boy, the Musical!”  Congratulations to these amazing performers!!

Edgar – Joshua Adams

Meredith – Yisa Var

Dr. Parker – Phillip Russell

Shelley – Gloria Baraquio

Sherriff Reynolds – Roch Jones

Pan – Daron Scarborough

Reverend Hightower – Clay Callaway

Mrs. Taylor – Laura Andres

Rick Taylor – Mark DeMoss

Ron Taylor – Kira Sirois

Ruthie Taylor – Cara Leonard

ENSEMBLE

(Daisy, Bud, Roy, Ned, Mayor Maggie, Lorraine, Institute Man, Doctor, etc…)

• - Jade Ellis

• - Koran Munafo

• - Jessica Dempsey

• - Laura Andres

• - Mark DeMoss

• - Cara Leonard

• - Roch Jones

Assembling this cast was a surprising challenge.  We met a lot of GREAT new talent!  There were so many strong voices, and so many strong performers.  MAHALO NUI LOA to all who tried out!  I’m so grateful to each of you for lending your support to this project.  This show is going to be an insane amount of work, and we’re going to need everyone’s help to pull it all together.  Thank you, and take pride in knowing that you’re continuing a grand tradition of Community Theatre!  Together, on stage, back stage, in the scene shop, in the box office, we make magic happen!  YOU are the Community in “Community Theatre.”