They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway, and next Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 13-14, Kahilu Theatre lights up the night with favorite selections from previous Youth Troupe performances.
The “Best of Broadway in Hawaii” production stars members of the Kahilu Youth Troupe treating attendees to “best of” songs from all the Broadway musicals and concerts the troupe has performed since 2011, including “Sondheim and Friends,” “Broadway in Hawaii,” “Back to Broadway,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Godspell,” “Grease” and “13 the Musical.”
“We are thrilled to present Best of Broadway featuring popular songs from a wide range of musicals,” said Beth Bornstein Dunnington, the show’s director. “The Youth Troupe was founded in 2010 by young singers who grew up in West Hawaii, brought together by their shared love of musical theatre. A good number of those troupe members went on to pursue advanced degrees and careers in the world of professional theatre.”
Some of the original troupe members have returned to perform with the current high school troupe members.
“For Best of Broadway in Hawaii, our ‘old timers’ have returned to Hawaii to perform with the younger singers in this concert,” said Dunnington. “It will be an exciting evening of song, dance, and lots of heart from our home-grown musical theatre kids, with a special guest appearance by two of our youngest troupe members.”
Dunnington, a stage director, performer, acting teacher and writer who moved to Hawaii from New York in 2007, is working alongside musical director and original troupe member Paul Gregg, and vocal coach Val Underwood, who is currently the artistic director of Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.
The youth troupe also created KPAW (the Keiki Performing Arts Workshop) — a two-week summer performing arts camp, now in its seventh year. KPAW trains grade school students in the art musical theater performance.
The Kahilu Youth Troupe nurtures new singers from public and private schools in West Hawaii, as well as homeschool programs. Last year’s production of “13 the Musical,” staged at the Kahilu, was performed entirely by middle and high school students who will become the next generation of the Youth Troupe. Troupe members have trained in the Kahilu Theatre’s arts education program and with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.
The “Best of Broadway in Hawaii” cast includes, Noelani Anderson, Becca Barrett, Grace Bostock, Leilani Bostock, Simon Dunlap, Marena Dunnington, Stacee Firestone, Lucky Friend, Daniel Gregg, Paul Gregg, Ryan Hooley, Melissa Lynn Threlfall and Grace Todd.
The “Best of Broadway in Hawaii” starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14. Tickets are $20/$25/$35 and are available for purchase at the Kahilu Theatre box office by calling 885-6868 or in person at 67-1186 Lindsey Road in Waimea and online at www.kahilutheatre.org.
Info: Visit www.kahilutheatre.org or call 885-6868.