Justin John Moniz To Star In COMPANY At Hawaii Performing Arts Festival

For 14 seasons, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) has continued to bring world-class music to Hawaii Island. The festival, which was founded in 2005, has established an international reputation as a premiere training and performance program for aspiring young artists worldwide. Just last week, HPAF announced plans for Season 15 (the 2019 Summer Festival), which is slated to feature three fully-staged productions with orchestra including: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Britten), The Tragedy of Carmen (Bizet/Book), and Company (Sondheim).

"We have big plans for our 15th Anniversary Season," says Val Underwood, Artistic Director. "Our programming will feature past Professional Fellows who have gone on to have successful singing careers, including our Executive Director, Justin John Moniz, who will perform the role of Bobby in our production of Sondheim's Company. In addition to his position as HPAF Executive Director, Justin heads the vocal program at Millikin University, and maintains an active career in musical theatre and opera."

A two-time HPAF alumnus, Moniz attended the festival in 2009 and 2011, where he sung the roles of Nerone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Al Joad in The Grapes of Wrath: Suite by Ricky Ian Gordon. Immediately following his time at HPAF, Moniz began a successful career in both opera and musical theatre, earning apprenticeships with Sarasota Opera, Opera New Jersey, and Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Over the last ten years, he has sung over 80 roles with companies nationwide.

"HPAF laid the foundation for my success as a singing actor," says Moniz. "The training I received as a young artist during my two summers with the festival was unparalleled. When Val asked me to take on the role of Bobby, I was hesitant to commit, based on my existing obligations to the festival. After much discussion, however, we have worked together to make this possible, as it will be an enormous commitment next summer, during our busiest time of year." Moniz's appearance as Bobby will mark his role debut and return to the HPAF mainstage after eight seasons.

Moniz recently directed and choreographed a "tight and thrilling" Sweeney Todd (Big Island Music Magazine), and has been a member of the festival's vocal faculty for the past three seasons. During the 2019 season, he will sing the role of Bobby in Sondheim's Company and appear in various concerts alongside a number of HPAF alums and faculty favorites from the past 15 years.

For more information, please visit: www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.