By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU)– The world premiere of Kū Ā Mo‘o: Becoming a Guardian of Hawaii, a joint production of Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Bishop Museum, will be onstage for a limited engagement of four public performances in October and November.
Brimming with music, hula, chanting, Hawaiian language and humor, this poetic drama is inspired by Mo‘o, the skin-changing lizard-bodied guardians of old Hawai‘i. Mo‘o are known as fierce protectors of land and water. When a modern Hawaiian girl asks herself, “Who will stand as guardian today?,” she begins a journey that will uncover secrets in her family’s history and change her community forever.
Kū Ā Mo‘o opens Friday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Tenney Theatre on the grounds of The Cathedral of St. Andrew, and continues on Saturdays, October 18, November 1 and November 8 at 4:30 p.m. (No show October 25.) Single tickets are $20 for adults (age 18-59), $15 for seniors (age 60+) and $10 for youth (age 2-17). The show is best enjoyed by audiences eight years old and above. Tickets at www.htyweb.org or 839-9885.
Kū Ā Mo‘o was created by members of the Bishop Museum’s Culture Education staff and is performed by Annie Lipscomb, Kealoha Kelekolio, Lelea‘a Wong and Tony Anagaran. Director is Eric Johnson; set, lighting and video designer is Chesley Cannon; props designer is David Gerke; costume designer is Lacy Rohlf; sound designer and composer is Babatunji Heath; and stage manager and assistant director is Brittni Shambaugh.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth is Hawaii’s non-profit professional theatre company providing theatre and drama education programs that make a difference in the lives of Hawaii’s young people and families. Founded in 1955, HTY is recognized the world over as one of America’s most honored theatres.
