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 – Pedro Kaawaloa

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

• - Kira Sirois

• - 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.”

Bat Boy Audition Flyer

Auditions!

Saturday, Feb 20, 2-5pm

Wednesday, Feb 24, 6-9pm

Puueo Community Center (Clem Akina Park) on Wainaku – same place we always do auditions.

More info on the Official Bat Boy Page!

Can’t wait to see you there!!!

Two happy winners!

Congratulations to all the talented individuals who received the highly prized Tiki Award on Saturday.   We’ll post photos as they become available.

The ceremony was Emceed by the lovely Laura Andres, who shared with us some of the history behind this annual tradition.  We believe the first Tiki Awards were presented in 1992, making this the 18th Annual occurrence of the ceremony.  The party was attended by an energetic and vocal crowd of HCP members and enthusiasts.  Potluck was devoured, beverages were consumed, and much fun was had!

And the awards were given to:

Best Actor, Cabaret – Randy Raphael

Best Actress, Cabaret - Yisa Var

Twinkle-Toes Award, Cabaret - Tim Oldfather

The Missing Link Award, Cabaret – Kalani Spain

Best Actor, Taming of the Shrew – Ray Campaigna

Best Actress, Taming of the Shrew – Jessica Dempsey

Rousing Applause Award, Taming of the Shrew – Kekoa Graham

The Three Mud-keteers Award, Taming of the Shrew – The Wiley Brothers: Kekoa Graham, Catherine McPherson, Angela Nakamura

Best Poster Design – Randy Raphael

Techie of the Year – Amy Jackson

Michael DuPratt Volunteer of the Year – Vershell Rogers

Lighting Design – Joy Pollard; Cabaret

Costume Design - Joyce Stevens, Laura Caswell, Helie Rock; Taming of the Shrew

Set Design – Steve Peyton, Randy Raphael; Cabaret

Best Choreography – Roberta Brashear-Kaulfer; Cabaret

Best Director – Randy Raphael; Taming of the Shrew

Best Musical – Cabaret

Best Show – Taming of the Shrew

Congratulations to all the winners!!!  Our volunteers are directly responsible for our ongoing success, and it was a pleasure to honor and celebrate their contibutions.  If you run into one of the winners, be sure to pat them on the back for a job well done!!

Bat Boy the Musical

We are THRILLED to announce our upcoming production of the cult musical hit, “Bat Boy, the Musical.” Featuring an energetic  score by Laurence O’Keefe, “Bat Boy” tells the story of a half-bat, half-boy who was found in a cave in West Virginia.  You may have read his story in the Weekly World News.  The stage show follows his tale, from his discovery, to his education, his romance, and the revelation of his unholy origins!

“Bat Boy, the Musical” is being directed by Randy Raphael, whose credits include “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “The Tempest,” and last Summer’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”  Musical Direction is being provided by Gonzo Grogg (“Hedwig,” “Cabaret”).  If you’re interested in joining the creative team, please contact the director at wonderrandy@gmail.com.

Auditions will be held in late February, with performance at the Akebono Theater in Pahoa, starting April 29.  We’re finalizing the specifics now, so stay tuned for more details.

Love’s Labour’s Lost

Our 33^rd Annual Shakespeare in the Park!

May the Bard be with you

Take four young, noble gentlemen who swear to pursue erudition for three years, add four glorious women of France emboldened as an embassy from their king, and mix them together with various clownish figures such as a fantastical Spaniard, a mouthy page, and pompous lecturers, and you get the makings of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. The language is some of the grandest the Bard ever penned. The comedy refreshes the eyes and easily produces smiles. The setting is a garden, and the costumes are resplendent.

Come be part of Hilo Community Players’ 33^rd Annual Shakespeare in the Park. There are parts for eleven men and five women, and a few of those men’s parts can be cast as women, depending on the level of ability at auditions.

Speaking of auditions, set aside the first two weekends of April. That’s April 3 and 4 and then again on 10 and 11. The place will be the Pueo Community Center. The times are to be announced.

(more…)

2009 was a great year for the Players, and we’re looking forward to an exciting, creative 2010!  With upcoming productions of “Bat Boy, the Musical,” the 33rd Annual Shakespeare in the Park production of “Loves Labors Lost,” and a Fall production of the Tony Award winning “Art,” we are planning a diverse and challenging year!  Come be a part of it!!

Auditions for “Bat Boy” will be announced very soon.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Auditions for “Love’s Labour’s Lost” will be held April 3 and 4 and then again on 10 and 11, at the Pueo Community Center. The times are to be announced.

We have a newly elected, invigorated Board of Directors to lead us with clear vision and focus.  We are discovering new funding opportunities, and exploring new ways of reaching our members.  Change is in the air!!  It’s a wonderful time to be a member of the Arts community in Hilo!

January 23rd, at Coconut Island

Lisa Koehn accepts her award at the 2009 ceremony

The Hilo Community Players Annual TIKI AWARDS Awards will be presented in all of their glory on Saturday January 23, 2010 at the Coconut Island pavilion from 1-5 pm. Join us once again, as we celebrate our successes of the past year! 2009 was a year of grand artistic accomplishments!

Each year Hilo Community Players holds a party, the Tiki Awards Banquet, to honor the actors and others who helped to make the past year a special one. We review the year and celebrate.  We laugh.  We cry.  We poke fun at those folks who deserve it. And we give Tiki Awards to the two actors from each production who get the most audience votes. In addition to the prestigious “Best Director,” “Best Actor,”  “Best Actress,” and “Best Set Design” awards for the 2009 productions of  “Cabaret” and “Taming of the Shrew,” we have some (more…)

Shakespeare in the Park promises to be a laugh-out-loud good time this summer. Originally staged as a play within a play, the Hilo Community Players are reinterpreting “The Taming of the Shrew” to be a 1950’s television program, with the audience playing the role of our “live studio audience”. Taming of the Shrew will be set in 1953 upper middle class society. This play has a serious message hidden amongst the light hearted humor. Katherine (played by Jessica Dempsey), also known as the Shrew, refuses to conform to the role society has chosen for her. She meets Petruccio (Ray Campainha), falls in love, and capitulates and conforms to society’s standards. Throughout the play her younger sister Bianca (Felix Kao) is pursued by three suitors: Gremio (Tim Oldfather), Hortensio (Jake McPherson), and Lucentio (Nick Brosseau). The suitors endure all sorts of complications because Baptista (Phil Taylor), father to Katherine and Bianca, declares no one may court Bianca until her older sister Katherine is married off. In the end Lucentio wins Bianca’s heart with the help of his two servants Tranio (Mark de Moss) and Biondello (Ian Schroeder) and marries her. Gremio decides that he needs to marry somebody rich and finds the Widow (Laura Andres) to his taste. Adding to the fun and chaos are Lucentio’s father Vincentio (Lewis Moore), the Pedant (Michael Conlon) and the comedy team of Petruccio’s servants Grumio (Leslie Kelly), and our clowns (Angela Nakamura, Kekoa Graham and Catherine McPherson) inspired by the Three Stooges. It’s a recipe for a romping good time.

Shakespeare in the Park has been an East Hawaii tradition for 32 years. As always the show is presented free of charge but audience members will have a chance to donate when we “pass the hat” around at intermission. Donations are highly encouraged as all funding for the show comes from community donations. Also don’t forget about our fabulous concessions. This year we will be offering chocolate bars, sodas, water, baked goods and coffee provided by Kope Kope Espresso Cafe.

Performances are July 2nd and 3rd, 8th through the 11th, and 17th & 18th at 7:30 pm. July 5th and 12th are matinees with performances at 2:30 pm. A special Q&A session with the actors will be held after the July 12th performance. All performances will be held at Kalakaua Park in downtown Hilo. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella and a cushion. Performances are rain or shine!

Don’t forget that auditions for this year’s production of Shakespeare In The Park start this weekend! This year we’re doing The Taming Of The Shrew set in 1953 and our director is Randy Raphael. Auditions are being held at the Puueo Community Center in Clem Akina Park.

Dates and times for auditions are:

Friday, April 10 from 6pm to 8pm
Saturday, April 11 from 2pm to 4pm
Friday, April 17 from 6pm to 8pm
Saturday, April 18 from 2pm to 4pm

Please arrive early, and plan to stay the full two hours. Prepared monologues are welcome, but NOT required or expected. If you would like to familiarize yourself with the play, visit http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/shrew/.

Parts are available for 3 women (possibly more), and MANY men.

Remember, volunteers are always welcome, so if you’d like to come help with the show, come to auditions and talk to our production team!

See you there!