Hilo Community Players proudly announce the cast for the 35th Annual Shakespeare in the Park as follows:

The Royal Family

• King Edward The Fourth………………………………….. Kalani Spain
• Elizabeth, Queen to King Edward IV………………………Laura Caswell
• Duchess of York, Mother to King Edward IV…………….Cathy McPherson

Young Sons to the King and Queen

• Edward, Prince of Wales……………………………….…Anthony Rosario
• Richard, Duke of York………………………..……………Bella Freedman

Family to Queen Elizabeth

• Earl Rivers, Brother ………………………………………Stephen Freedman
• Marquis of Dorset, son……………………………….……Kait Wilson
• Lord Grey, son……………………………………………..Jin Piper

Brothers to the King and their family

• Richard, Duke of Gloucester,  King Richard III…………Nathan Yocum
• George, Duke of Clarence…………………….…………Randal McEndree
• A young Daughter of Clarence [Margaret Plantagenet]…Mahina Hoolahan
• A young son of Clarence…………………………………Ben Chance

Entourage of Richard, Duke of Gloucester

• Duke of Buckingham…………………………………….Rob Hunt
• Sir William Catesby……………………………………..Ian Schroeder
• Lord Hastings……………………………………………Jake McPherson
• Lord Stanley,  Earl of Derby………………………….…Saul Rollason
• Sir Richard Ratcliff…………………………….………..Sydney Wilson
• Duke of Norfolk ……………………………………..…John Kooistra
  • Earl of Surrey, His son………………………………….Angela Nakamura
  • Murderer #1…………………………………………..…Leslie Kelly
  • Murderer #2 & Sir James Tyrrel ……………………….Peter Veseskis

The Royal Ladies:

• Margaret, Widow of King Henry VI………………….. Soraya-Elena Perez
• Lady Anne, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales…..…..Keala Richard
• Ladies-in-Waiting & Singers:

Karla Ahn, Bren Chance, Dickie Motherwell,  Evette Tampos

• Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of York…………….Margaret (Peggy) Russo
• Tressel & Berkley (masked)……………………Sydney Wilcox, Blesson Allen

Entourage of Henry, Earl of Richmond

• Henry, Earl of Richmond ……………………..….Blesson Allen
• Sir James Blunt…………………….……………..Randal McEndree
• Sir Walter Herbert………………………………. Stephen Freedman
• Earl of Oxford………………..…………………. Jake McPherson

The Clergy:

• Cardinal & Archbishop………………..……..…… Wolf Daniel Braun
• Bishop of Ely……………………………………….Kalani Spain
• Christopher Urswick, A priest………………………Scott Kester

Londoners:

• Lord Mayor of London…………………………………..Scott Kester
• Sir Robert Brakenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower  & Sheriff of Wiltshire:

…………………………………..…………………… Brian McMichael

• Citizen #1, London Merchant, & Messenger #1- Iris McPherson
• Citizen #2, London Merchant, & Messenger #2 – Denyse Woo-Ockerman
• Citizen #3, London Merchant, & Messenger #3 – Leah Wilson
• Pursuivant – Denyse Woo-Ockerman
• Scrivener & London Merchant – Iris McPherson

London Street Urchins: 

Leilani Alvarado, Kyra Bockrath, Crescent Chance, Vision Datanca, Haley Parr

Please, send an email confirming you accept your role to jakemcpherson@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the cast. We would like to thank everyone who came to auditions. There were some difficult decisions, because there were so many excellent auditions. Thank you, all.

The first read-through has yet to be determined.

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!!

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

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.

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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!

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!