Kumu Kahua Theatre will Announce New Season May 6

Kumu Kahua Theatre, dedicated to producing works by Hawai‘i writers and about Hawai‘i's culture, will announce their 42nd season at a press conference on Sunday, May 6th at 5:00 PM at their home on the corner Merchant and Bethel Streets.

On that day, a volunteer appreciation party will take place at the theatre, and that party will culminate in this press conference, giving the hard-working volunteers of Kumu Kahua Theatre front row seats for the much anticipated announcement. The volunteer party is an invitation-only event, but all members of the press and general public are invited to the press conference.

The season of productions was announced to financial donors of Kumu Kahua Theatre last month. Those donors were asked to keep the news secret. “As far as we know, they’ve kept it on the down-low” says Managing Director, Donna Blanchard. “Usually, if something like this is leaked, you’d see it within our very active arts community on FaceBook and Twitter – I haven’t seen anything there. You haven’t heard anything, have you?” She asks.

The season announcement at Kumu Kahua is unique in that most of the shows are world premiers; therefore it is not the titles that will be recognized, but the playwrights and themes that will offer recognition.

This is the first time Kumu Kahua has chosen to announce their season in such a public way.

“Now that we are emerging from a difficult financial time over the last couple of years, we’re really happy to celebrate another season with everyone, but especially with our volunteers and the dedicated press corps that have supported us” says Board President, Jason Kanda. “We hope everyone will come out and cheer along with us as we prepare for another year of theatre dedicated to telling the stories of Hawai'i and her people.”