“Home for the HiloDays” is back this year with in-person and virtual options available for the three days of holiday performances this weekend.
The second annual “Home for the HiloDays,” which was conceived by Charles Bankhead Haines and Larry Reitzer, is being produced in association with the Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre, or HEART, and will feature favorite Hilo musical theater stars singing and dancing to songs from the holiday season.
The production, which will serve as a fundraiser for the Palace Theater, is a flashback to the old-fashioned, televised holiday specials, mixing music, comedy and special guests.
“Only a Scrooge would not want to join in on this incredible line-up of vocalists, musicians, dancers and clowns in this seventy-five minute ode to the magic of Christmas,” said Phillips Payson, executive director for the Palace Theater. “With the success from last year, we want this to be a tradition every year as a way bring joy to the community especially during such turbulent times.”
The show is co-hosted by Charles Bankhead Haines and Alexander Knapp who were recently seen in the Palace Theater production of Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast.”
Joining the festivities will be Marlise Ahuna, Jennie Kaneshiro, Meili Aspen, Bridge Hartman, Kaiulu Tiogangco, Sam Deitch, Aleah Kay and Kyra Gomes, who starred as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and has been off-island pursuing her musical theater education.
The concert will feature 20 dancers and a live four-piece band led by Asha Azama on the piano.
This family-friendly holiday spectacular is being produced by Jason Green, co-directed by Larry Reitzer and Phillips Payson, musically directed by Asha Azama and Charles Bankhead Haines, and choreographed by Nadia Schlosser and Aleah Kay.
Set and lighting design are by Jeramy Boik and Theon Weber, respectively.
Three live performances with in-person attendance will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday,.
The Saturday and Sunday performances will be livestreamed for free on hilopalace.com as a gift to the community.
The show has been rehearsed and will be performed under the strictest of COVID-19 protocols as advised by the County of Hawaii.
Advance tickets are $20 and are available online at hilopalace.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com
