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.

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

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!!

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!