Shows &events
Improv group, Just Add Water, comes to Kona
“A Night of Improv” with Just Add Water comes to Aloha Theatre on Friday.
Just Add Water, or J.A.W. as they’re affectionately called, is an ensemble of 13 undergraduate students with a wide range of interests at Yale University — including premedical students, varsity athletes, international students, and one pianist. What brings them together is their pride in their professionalism and their love for making people laugh.
The group’s shows consist of scenes and sketches based on audience suggestions, but they’re also a musical group. They create and perform songs on the spot, including a 20-minute, Broadway-style musical at the end of every show. Their talented pianist accompanies them to all performances and can play any genre of music imaginable. In addition, alumni have gone on to become actors on TV, writers for “Full Frontal” and “The Daily Show,” and even the chairman of former-President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors.
Show is at 7:30 p.m. at the theater in Kainaliu. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.apachawaii.org.
J.A.W. will also teach a pair of workshops today at Honua Studios, 73-4855 Kanalani St. in Kailua-Kona. The first is a teen workshop for ages 13-18 at 4:30 p.m. followed by an adult workshop that starts at 6:30 p.m. for players 18 and up. Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door and include an official “The Alohahas” T-shirt, which is your Ticket to The Alohahas Adult Playground at 7:30 p.m. Adult Playground is a monthly event hosted by The Alohahas and Honua studios for the Big Island comedy community.
Info: Visit www.apachawaii.org for more information on the Friday show and www.thealohahas.com for more information on the workshops being held today at Honua Studios.
Shimabukuro performance benefits HPAF
Jake Shimabukuro performs on behalf of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival at 7 p.m. Friday at The Fairmont Orchid in South Kohala. The concert will raise scholarship funds for HPAF’s 14th season this summer that will bring more than 100 music students from around the world to study and perform with professional musicians on Hawaii Island.
Shimabukuro, in conjunction with the nonprofit Music for Life Foundation and Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, helped broker a donation of 20 ukuleles to students at Kealakehe Intermediate School last month. These Waterman ukuleles will be used for a new ukulele program at the school.
Following Friday’s concert, he embarks on a U.S. tour visiting 22 cities in less than two months.
General admission tickets, which are $85, remain available at www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org or by calling 333-7378. Food and drink will be available for purchase when the ballroom opens at 6 p.m.
Info: Visit www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.
Tiffany’s Art Agency plans reception
Tiffany’s Art Agency hosts a collectors reception featuring Christina DeHoff 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the gallery in Hawi.
DeHoff, a visionary artist from Maui, creates incredibly moving figurative work. The energy and the essence of the emotions she works to convey are palpable as viewers experience her mixed-media art with silver and gold leaf that dance in the light.
DeHoff is also featured in the local coffee table book, “Aloha Expressionism by Contemporary Hawaii Artists,” and will be available to autograph copies during the Collectors Reception and a special book signing event with several of the other featured artists at the gallery. Wishard Gallery is also taking part in the 5-7 p.m. event.
The event is free. RSVP to Tiffany@tiffanysartagency.com by today.
Info: Email tiffany@tiffanysartagency.com, call 747-5882 or visit www.tiffanysartagency.com.
BBQ dinner and dancing Saturday
A Western BBQ Ribs Dinner and Dance featuring DJ music for country line and ballroom dancing will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Kona Elks Lodge, #2616, in Kailua-Kona.
Cost is $25 for dinner/dancing and $10 for dancing only. Also a fundraiser for needy families. Attendees should make reservations by Friday evening by calling 329-2616.
Info: Call 329-2616.
Writer’s Group meets Tuesday
The Writer’s Group meets at 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at the North Kohala Public Library in Kapaau.
Facilitator Eila Algood, a poet and writer, will moderate the meetings to give participants a chance to practice writing, discuss writing skills, share their work, enjoy useful feedback and share the joys and frustrations of the writing life. Writers of all levels are invited.
Bring a pen and paper for writing.
Info: Call 889-6655.
‘Nervous Jenny’s’ Tom Holland coming to Waimea
Singer-songwriter Tom Holland of the Portland band “Nervous Jenny” plays a free solo acoustic show on Jan. 19 at the Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea.
From 6-9 p.m., Holland will be featuring songs off the band’s new CD, “Silverado,” songs from his original repertoire as well as some covers. Influenced by British blues invasion to modern and Americana rock, Holland’s songs are lean and strong with stories and characters — from grocery store checkers to male strippers to midnight lovers and will have you singing along by the end of the first chorus.
Info: Email rachaelscottmusic@gmail.com or call 887-1717.
Kona Jazz Experience returns
The seventh annual Kona Jazz Experience has been set.
The annual benefit for the Aloha Performing Arts Company will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.
Act I will feature pianist Loren Wilken and Friends, including Bill Noble (saxophone), Matt Spencer (bass), Michael Surprenant (drums), Andrea Lindborg (trumpet), Jessie Snyder (saxophone), and Garry Russell (trombone). Act II will showcase vocalist Sarah Bethany with Glen Goto (keyboards), and Pat Eskildsen (guitar).
Tickets are $20 and are available online.
Info: Visit www.apachawaii.org.
Dave A’Bear to play 3 Big Island shows
“Dave A’Bear and Bear’s Choice” returns to the Big Island for the three performances Jan. 25-27.
Dave Hebert, aka Dave A’Bear, member of the Jerry Garcia Band, will be joined by Scott Guberman on keyboards, Gerome Garcia (Troll) on guitars, Greg Koerner on base and John Hanrahan on the drums for the three shows that are part of the group’s Hawaii tour presented by Chuck Deleonardis.
The first Big Island show is 6 p.m. Jan. 25 at Leialoha’s, 75-5699 Kopiko St. in Kailua-Kona followed by a show at Uncle Roberts Awa Bar in Kalapana at 6 p.m. The group ends the island tour with a 4:20 p.m. show Jan. 27 at Tiki Mama’s in Ocean View.
Tickets are $17 and available online at www.brownpapertickets.com or at Charley’s, Kiernan’s Music and Get Sum Pizza.
Info: Visit www.facebook.com/DaveABear.
Kona Surf Film Festival coming up
The 14th annual Kona Surf Film Festival is slated Jan. 27 in Kailua-Kona.
The international surf film festival showcases independent short and feature films from established and emerging surf filmmakers from around the globe.
The festival runs 3-10:30 p.m. at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. It also hosts art and photography installations by local and international artists, as well as live entertainment.
Tickets are $10 presale/$15 at the door for groms (children ages 6-14); adults are $25 presale/$30 at the door; children age 6 and younger are free. Presale ticket prices end Jan. 18.
Info/tickets: Visit www.konasurffilmfestival.org.
Workshops &classes
Learn monotype printmaking
Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa hosts a Parent+Child Workshop on monotype printmaking from 3-5 p.m. Friday.
Robynn Smith will lead the two-hour workshop on the printmaking style with participants working with simple, direct images and mark-making techniques to make fun, expressive prints.
The workshop is open to those age 6 and older, however, participants younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost is $10 per participant.
Nontoxic inks will be used.
Smith, who grew up in New York and resides in Santa Cruz, California, is an internationally exhibiting painter and printmaker. She has been teaching studio art in the California state college and university system and in art centers throughout the world for more than 25 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Rhode Island School of Design and her master’s degree in fine arts from San Jose State University.
Info/register: Visit www.donkeymillartcenter.org or call 322-3362.
Artists lead free earring-making workshop
Artists Cathie Ann Amelotte and Stacey Siegel will lead an earring-making workshop this weekend at the Blue Sea Artisans Gallery in Keauhou Shopping Center.
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Amelotte, a jewelry maker, and Siegel, a glassblower and jewelry maker, will teach participants of the free workshop their craft by making a pair of earrings.
Space is limited to 20. Adults and children, ages 8 and up, are welcome. Minor children must be attended by an adult. Stop by the gallery to sign up or call the gallery to reserve a spot. A donation for materials is suggested.
The event is part of the gallery’s free monthly workshop series held the second Saturday of every month.
The gallery is located in the Keauhou Shopping Center and is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays.
Info: Call 329-8000.
APAC theater classes resume
Aloha Performing Arts Company resumes its roster of classes for all ages starting Tuesday.
Artistic Director Jerry Tracy’s “Tuesday Troupers” is an eight-week class for 8-12 year olds who can read. It begins Tuesday and runs through March 6 with meetings from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost is $80. The Troupers will focus on performance skills such as projection, articulation, and characterization, with some improvisation experimentation also included. Tracy is assisted by Kira Kane, who will teach a short choreography routine to be part of the performance which will be offered free to the public on the last class day.
On Wednesdays, Jaquelynn Collier will lead “The Little Theatre Club” for kids ages 4-7. The Club will meet from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for six weeks, Wednesday through Feb. 22. Collier will focus on helping club members increase self confidence and develop basic social and performance skills. Cost is $60.
Felicity Johnson will continue her popular “Intergenerational Acting” class on Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. This class is open to people of all ages, and will run Jan. 18 through March 8. Cost is $80.
All of the classes are held at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, and each will culminate in a free performance, open to the public, on the final class day.
Online registration is available online at www.apachawaii.org.
In addition, Engela Edwards continues as adviser of Aloha Teen Theatre, which meets Fridays from 4:30-7 p.m. in Damron Hall, APAC’s alternate space, in the building adjacent to the Aloha Theatre parking lot. ATT is free and ongoing, and accepts new members ages 13-18 at any time. For more information about any of these classes, call the APAC office at 322-9924.
Info: Visit www.apachawaii.org.
Announcements
Community chorus seeks new members
Waimea Community Chorus is looking for new members to join the choir for its 25th season.
The 60-voice Waimea Comm-unity Chorus of Kahilu Theatre is under the direction of Barbara Kopra. New Members are invited to check out the first two rehearsals free of charge at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 16 and 23 as the chorus begins the process of learning the music.
Rehearsals are held in the Mike Luce Studio at the Kahilu Theatre. For those who choose to join, membership cost is $55 for the season, which includes the music.
“This is a great way to see what we’re all about, people get to try us out and see if they like it,” said Kopra.
No audition is necessary, but members need to be passionate about singing in a group and committed to attending rehearsals. Reading music is a plus.
The chorus practices every Tuesday from 6:45-9 p.m.; extra sectional rehearsals will be offered on the weekends.
This season’s theme is Chapter 3 of the Great American Songbook: The 1940’s, Golden Age of Song. It covers World War II and rebuilding after the war.
Performances are slated 7 p.m. June 2 and 3 p.m. June 3 at Kahilu Theatre.
Info: Contact Barbara Kopra at bkopra@hpa.edu or call the Kahilu Theatre box office at 885-6868.
DMAC Art Auction set
Donkey Mill Art Center’s 11th annual art auction will be held 5-8 p.m. Feb. 24 at BMW of Hawaii in Kailua-Kona.
This curated auction provides a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts and patrons to purchase from a range of work by renowned artists while enjoying a black-tie optional party all in support of the arts in our community.
The black-tie-optional event will combine live and silent auctions featuring the work of both local and international artists in a festive, upscale venue along with music, pupu and drinks.
Info: Visit www.donkeymillartcenter.org.