Kumu Kahua Theatre Announces DRAW THE LINE Fundraising Event

To help fund the operation of Kumu Kahua Theatre's 41st season, Hawai'i artists are putting their support on paper, with the fundraising event Draw the Line. It will be an evening of art, food, drink and fun, with live drawing, gourmet pupu and wine from Whole Foods, and music by Stephanie Keiko Kong, followed by a performance of the current production, Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre. 

"Partnerships with organizations such as Whole Foods and Robyn Buntin Gallery, and local artists are an opportunity to support Kumu," says new Kumu Kahua Managing Director, Donna Blanchard. "We are considering new alliances weekly." The new partnership program is part of the theater's ramped-up fundraising efforts to build a financially stable future. 

"We're picky about with whom we will partner, because our mission dictates that we must represent all people of Hawai'i honorably," says Blanchard. "We are as discerning about our business partners as we are about the work on our stage-it's my job to make sure these alliances represent only integrity, quality and authenticity in all endeavors and I am elated to welcome Whole Foods to our 'ohana." 

For the Draw the Line festivities, 12 artists-including Solomon Enos, Ryan Higa, Jon J. Murakami, Aaron Padilla, Cade Roster, and Mike Watanabe-will be on the theater lanai, creating visual art pieces live for almost two hours. Those pieces will be rendered usingpen, ink, crayons, graphite and gouache. Volunteers will hang the works as they are completed-and those works will be immediately available for purchase. All pieces will cost only $20, and will be accompanied by a coupon for discounted professional framing at Robyn Buntin of Honolulu.  

There will be food and wine from Whole Foods. Guests pay $5 for a plate, then help themselves.  Wine and beer will be sold as well. Stephanie Keiko Kong, who stars in Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre, will give a music performance accompanied by guitar.Draw the Line is followed by an 8 p.m. performance of Kumu Kahua's current production of Lois-Ann Yamanaka's Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre. 

"We recommend people buy Pahala tickets in advance, come to the theater early for a light dinner and to buy art, then have one of the best theater experiences of the year," says Blanchard.