It’s time for a ghostly Christmas story.

We all remember Scrooge, but do you remember the ghost who started it all? That was Scrooge’s dead partner, Jacob Marley. Please, join us for the fun of A Christmas Carol told by the ghosts!

When: Fridays and Saturdays, December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 7:30 p.m. (The theater doors open at 7:00 p.m.) And Sundays, December 4 and 11 at 2:00 p.m. (The theater doors open at 1:30 p.m.)

Where: East Hawaii Cultural Center’s upstairs theater at 141 Kalakaua St. in downtown Hilo

Tickets: $5 for children 12 and under, $8 for EHCC and HCP members, and $10 general admission. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the EHCC box office at 961-5711

Hilo Community Players & East Hawaii Cultural Center present

‘ART’

“…wildly funny, naughtily provocative…” New York Post

Winner of the 1996 Olivier Award for Best Comedy

Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play

a play by Yasmina Reza

trans. by Christopher Hampton

Featuring:

Jake McPherson

Steve Peyton

Saul Rollason

Fri. and Sat., March 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun., March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m.

Tickets $10

HCP & EHCC Members $8

Box office: 935-9085

Upstairs theater at the East Hawaii Cultural Center, 141 Kalakaua St.

‘ART’ is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists’ Play Service, Inc., New York

It is with deep regret that Hilo Community Players announces the cancellation of their play ‘ART’.

As many of you know, we lost one of our dearest members, Ms. Laura Andres, back in July. She was to have directed the show. A very talented and accomplished director, Mr. Ken Elliott, stepped in at the last minute and rehearsals were taken up with gusto. There was also a change in the cast at the last minute.

Life they say imitates art, but in this case ‘ART’, the play, has imitated life. Due to unhappy and unforeseen circumstances, the play cannot go on as scheduled. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause.

The honored and old cliche that “the show must go on” does not always apply. Sometimes the curtain has to come down.

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.

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!

Come on out and join us for the opening night of Cabaret. Or join us for any of our other performances.

Show dates are March 20 and 21 at 7:30 pm. March 22 at 2:00 pm at The Hilo Woman’s Club in Hilo. March 26, 27, 28 and April 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm at the Akebono Theater in Pahoa. (more…)