Bring the Whole 'Ohana to Honolulu Theatre for Youth this Holiday Season

Bring the whole 'ohana to HTY and celebrate the holiday season with Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana. 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, Lee Cataluna. From Aunty to Uncle and Kupuna to Keiki Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana has something for everyone. 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.

"[Students] describe families that are beautifully diverse, wholly unique and bursting with pride," says playwright Lee Cataluna," Kids today are empowered to describe their families just as they are - they declare, not explain. This simple, beautiful acceptance was the inspiration for this piece." Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana is told from the point of view of Kainoa, a young boy with a BIG Hawaiian family. He shares stories about his 'ohana. Even though Kainoa thinks they're pretty ordinary, his everyday family is truly extraordinary in their own right. Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana reminds us that a diverse family is the best kind of family, because ultimately a family is who you choose, and who you love.

Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana features Alvin Chan, Sean-Joseph Choo, Jocelyn Ishihara, Matthew Mazzella, Junior Tesoro, and Christina Uyeno. Playwright Lee Cataluna Director Nathaniel Niemi Set, Prop & Costume Design Cheyne Gallarde Light Design Chesley Cannon Sound Design Sean Choo

Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary 'Ohana opens Friday November 24 @ 7:00 pm and runs Saturdays November 25 - December 16 @ 4:30 pm with ASL Interpretation Saturday December 9 @ 11:00am and Onstage Workshop December 2 @ 2:30 pm. Performances are at Tenney Theatre on the grounds of The Cathedral of St. Andrew. It is ideal for ages 5 and up. Single tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for seniors (over 60). HTY For Every Family Pay-What-You-Can performance will be Saturday December 9 @11:00 am. For more information, to receive a season brochure, order tickets to a show or learn more about HTY's educational programming call 839-9885. Tickets may also be ordered online at www.htyweb.org.