Honolulu Theatre for Youth Announces 63rd Season

"The Power of People" is the theme of the 2017-2018 season at Honolulu Theatre for Youth. Kicking off in August, the season will feature eight inspiring stories created for Hawaii families. Artistic Director Eric Johnson says, "This season we will journey to ancient China, re-examine the modern ohana and explore underwater worlds. What these stories of perseverance, ingenuity, empathy and understanding have in common is that each play celebrates our most precious resource, each other."

Leading off this season will be a play created by HTY company member Alvin Chan, who thrilled audiences with Anime Momotaro and A Korean Cinderella and has now written an original retelling of the ultimate "girl-power" tale, The Ballad of Mu Lan. The season continues with electrifying original works by TeAda Productions, Annie Cusick Wood, Lee Cataluna, Moses Goods and Kathleen Doyle.

The final show of the season will be the much anticipated musical theatre experience, Shocka: The Story of Energy in Hawaii. This original musical will be the third in HTY's acclaimed series of multi-partner collaborations that included GRINDS and H20.

From the tiniest preschool patrons to our kupuna, the 2017-2018 HTY season promises to delight audiences with the hope and promise of the people, cultures and community that surround us. (A complete listing of plays, dates and times follows below.)

HTY is honored to announce that we are now an official Blue Star Theatre offering discounts to our military families. For more information visit our website.

Season tickets for the entire eight-play season are $120 for adults (age 19-59), $65 for youth (18 and under) and $95 for seniors (60+), and are on sale now. A Pick Six package is also available. Single tickets are $20, $10, and $15, respectively.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth's Tenney Theatre is located at 229 Queen Emma Square on the grounds of The Cathedral of St. Andrew. For more information, to receive a season brochure, order tickets or learn more about HTY's educational programing call 808-839-9885 or visit www.htyweb.org.

THE BALLAD OF MU LAN

by Alvin Chan

recommended ages 5+

When Mu Lan dresses up as a boy to take her father's place in the army she has lots to learn and lots to prove, but her biggest battle might be with herself. This new telling of an ancient Chinese legend mixes traditional Chinese theatrical techniques and martial skills with contemporary music. See what the team behind Anime Momotaro and A Korean Cinderella will do with one of the most famous girl power stories of all time.

Friday August 25 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday August 26, September 2, 9, 16 and 30 @ 4:30 pm

Sensory Friendly Performance/ASL Interpretation

Saturday September 16 @ 11:00 am

Onstage workshop

Saturday September 9 @ 2:30 pm

Neighbor Island Tour

In October and November of 2017 The Ballad of Mu Lan will tour to the neighbor islands for school and public performances.

MASTERS OF THE CURRENTS

by TeAda Productions

recommended ages 8+

Created through first hand interviews and community participation this production focuses on the experience of assimilation for those coming from across the Micronesian sub-region of Oceania. Whether brought to Hawai'i for economic opportunity, environmental necessity or to be with family, these new neighbors are often misrepresented or misunderstood. Little is known about the rich traditions and cultures they bring to our islands. Lead by Ova Saopeng and Leilani Chan the production will premiere at HTY before embarking on a national tour.

Friday October 13 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday October 14 @ 4:30 & 7:00 pm

ASL Interpretation

Saturday October 21 @ 4:30 pm

OUCH!

by Annie Cusick Wood

recommended ages 2+

BOO and HOO are happy, even though they always seem to get an Ouch! Like the time when they got their fingers trapped in the door, and the time they fell and scraped their knees. Sometimes they get an OUCH, and they can't pinpoint where the OUCH is, it's just somewhere inside. One day BOO and HOO begin to feel other people's OUCHES. So they set out on an adventure with their box of band aids to fix all the OUCHES in the world.

Saturday November 4 and 11 @ 9:30 am & 11:30 am

ASL Interpretation

Saturday November 11 @ 11:30 am

EXTRAORDINARY STORIES FROM AN ORDINARY OHANA

by Lee Cataluna

recommended grades 5+

This collection of snapshots examining what it means to live in contemporary Hawai'i is a hilarious exploration of family and community by one of Hawai'i's most insightful writers. Just in time for the Holidays the play captures the value of connection and community, celebrating the diversity of experience as each of us builds our personal "ohana". This show is HTY's multi-generational offering for the season.

Friday November 24 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday November 25, December 2, 9, 16 @ 4:30 pm

Sensory Friendly Performance/ASL Interpretation

Saturday December 9 @ 11:00 am

Onstage workshop

Saturday December 2 @ 2:30 pm

THE RED BALLOON

by Annie Cusick Wood (based on the film by Albert Lamorisse)

recommended ages 5+

Pascal's best friend is a balloon, but this is no ordinary balloon. He comes when called. Well, ...mostly. He and Pascal do everything together... except when balloons are not allowed. Based on the academy award winning film about friendship this story was one of the first works for children to artfully approach the topic of bullying. The moving story is as relevant today in Hawaii as it was in 1950s Paris.

Friday January 12 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday January 13, 20 and 27 @ 4:30 pm

Sensory Friendly Performance/ASL Interpretation

Saturday January 27 @ 11:00 am

Onstage Workshop

Saturday January 20 @ 2:30 pm

KINOLAU

by Moses Good and Friends

recommended ages 8+

This limited engagement storytelling event features frequent HTY collaborator Moses Goods sharing traditional stories about the Hawaiian akua (gods) manifesting themselves in the earthly realm through forms known as kinolau. A kinolau can be a plant an animal or an element. How will these ancient stories illuminate our lives in Hawaii today?

Friday February 9 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday February 10 @ 4:30 pm and 17 @ 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm

ASL Interpretation

Saturday February 17 @ 4:30 pm

Onstage Workshop

Saturday February 10 @ 2:30 pm

LITTLE BIG EYE

by Kathleen Doyle

recommended ages 2+

In this original production, we invite our youngest audiences to follow a feisty little fish with a curious eye for adventure. Join this unlikely hero's as he meets colorful characters and explores the hidden wonders living within Hawai'i's waters. Filled with puppets, music and mystery, this interactive journey brings the ocean bubbling to life before your eyes.

Saturday March 3 and 10 @ 9:30 am & 11:30 am

ASL Interpretation

Saturday March 10 @ 11:30 am

SHOCKA: THE STORY OF ENERGY AND HAWAII

by HTY Company

recommended ages 5+

If energy powers our brains and bodies as well as our cars and the entire universe how do we wrap our minds around how it all works? This new musical opens the door to the science, cultural understanding and specific challenges we face with energy in Hawai'i. Built with multiple partnerships in the community this play examines the very basic question of what makes us go.

Friday April 13 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday April 14, 21, 28, May 5 and 12 @ 4:30 pm

Sensory Friendly Performance/ASL Interpretation

Saturday May 5 @ 11:00 am

Onstage Workshop

Saturday April 28 @ 2:30pm

 

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