Missed a play this fall? Not to worry because the theatre department at Windward Community College has more productions next spring.
Soon to appear at Palikū Theatre is a series of short plays called Love, Local Style on Feb. 16. And in March, the department will present a play based on the Hawaiian legends of Nanaue, also known as “the Shark Man,” written by Honolulu director Moses Goods. According to theatre assistant professor Nicolas Logue, more productions could be added to the lineup.
Theatre classes provided opportunities for liberal arts major Trace Rooney to perform two roles in WCC’s recent production of the Tony Award-winning Metamorphoses, a play adapted from the classic poem by Ovid.
Rooney played a creature called a hedis as well as another minor character.
“Playing in Metamorphoses was a good/bad experience of my life,” Rooney said. Trying to keep up with classes while doing the play was challenging, he said, but he liked being asked for his autograph after the show.
Logue said that campus productions are often written by him or another theatre faculty member or guest artist.
Logue said he has worked with acting students in China, the United Kingdom and New York.
“To actually be a student to perform on stage, it is helpful to take Theatre 260: Dramatic Production, a course in which the learning outcomes are all centered around staging a fully realized production in Palikū Theatre,” Logue said. “But attendance is key–it’s important to never miss a class session in any theatre course. Because if people do miss a class, then everyone would have to work around the missing person.”
Logue said WCC student actors rehearse for four to six weeks for most plays and as much as 10 weeks for longer productions.
Students interested in supporting the theatre have many options other than acting or working backstage. For example, at one time, students in Art 105: Introduction to Ceramics-Hand Building made props that were used in the show, according to Logue.
Ticket prices for most plays are $10 general admission and $5 for WCC students with ID, military with ID and seniors. Higher prices are charged for more elaborate productions.
For more information about the courses or productions, contact Logue at logue@hawaii.edu or call Palikū Theatre at 235-7315 or email Paliku2@hawaii.edu.
by Michael Burgos and Cayson Kiyabu, Special to Ka ‘Ohana
