Kumu Kahua Theatre to Begin 2017 with BUFFALOED

Kumu Kahua Theatre begins 2017 with Buffalo'ed by Jeannie Barroga, a story of Anglo colonization reaching into the Philippines, and the men and women who fought to stop it.

The Buffalo Soldiers were primarily in the U.S. cavalry assembled during the Civil War. Their bravery impressed everyone and they were 'invited' to participate in more wars for 'freedom' world wide: Spanish-American War, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cuba, then Hawai'i and Alaska, the Boxer Rebellion, the Philippine War for Independence.

"We have History, taught in our schools as part of our heritage, and most importantly, attached to our backgrounds." Says playwright Jeannie Barroga. "Generations today need to know how they FIT and why they are the fabric of this diverse gathering labeled the United States. They need to know that and how in 1899 -after an empire-building sixteen months -- islands south of the U.S. and westward across the Pacific were presumptuously occupied by a young nation still smarting from its own Civil War. Reminders are vital, recounting the sham trial and sentencing of Hawai'i's Queen Liliuokalani to the closed-door sale of the Philippines. That need to remind descendants of their untaught history fueled my in-depth research for Buffalo'ed.

Told through the conduit of a wide range of theatrical tropes, this is a timely story of a part of history that needs to be told: the Filipino and Black-American experience at the hands of "manifest destiny."

Performances: Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8pm: January 26, 27, 28; February 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 2017; Sundays 2pm: January 29; February 12, 19, *26, 2017

*American Sign Language Interpretation upon request
(No show Super Bowl Sunday, February 5)

Tickets for performances can be purchased with a credit card by calling 536-4441, or by visiting the box office at 46 Merchant Street (corner of Bethel and Merchant Streets, downtown) between 11am and 3pm Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at KumuKahua.org. Ticket prices are $5-$25.

Photo Credit: Denise De Guzman