By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– The world premiere of Kû Â 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.
Photos shot by Brad Goda. IDs: Kealoha Kelekolio, older male, white hair; Annie Lipscomb, female, long dark hair; Tony Anagaran, younger male, dark hair; Lelea‘a Wong, female, short kinky hair.
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.
Kû Â 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.
Photos shot by Brad Goda. IDs: Kealoha Kelekolio, older male, white hair; Annie Lipscomb, female, long dark hair; Tony Anagaran, younger male, dark hair; Lelea‘a Wong, female, short kinky hair.
Kû Â 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.
Photos shot by Brad Goda. IDs: Kealoha Kelekolio, older male, white hair; Annie Lipscomb, female, long dark hair; Tony Anagaran, younger male, dark hair; Lelea‘a Wong, female, short kinky hair.
