Cabaret is a musical masterpiece: EHCC theater transforms into Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub
Any time you see Director Larry Reitzer’s name on a play or musical, you can bet it’ll be a winner, and his latest gem, “Cabaret,” is no exception.
Stars come out for Bruddah Waltah tribute: Father of Hawaiian Reggae honored with 3-hour concert
It’s been nearly a year since Bruddah Walter Aipolani’s doctor diagnosed him with advanced liver cancer. “He gave me less than one year to live,” the award-winning musician sadly announced at last Friday’s benefit event at the Hilo Palace Theater.
‘Hair’ is a hit: HPAF let’s the sun shine in
Grooooovy, man. Psychedelic. As the audience trickled into Waimea’s Kahilu Theatre Saturday night, the stage was slowly filling to the brim with bell-bottomed, tie-dyed, head-banded hippies, meditating or writhing sensuously. Smoke wafted lazily across the scene. It was 1968 again. The scrim at the back of the stage featured a 1960’s vintage Peter Max style design that then left the scrim and panned across the “tribe,” lying prostrate on the stage floor. Then the light show left the stage and panned across the audience pulling us right into the action.
‘Orpheus in the Underworld’s’ two-show run a success
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) fans are thrilled that fully staged opera is once more part of paradise. At the Kahilu, temperatures are taken, and masks are worn, but the bar is open, seats are filled, and generous patrons (for this opera, Michael Thompson and Marilyn and Carl Bernhardt) have again stepped up to give the Big Island community what it so craves: sets, singers, an orchestra in the pit and a full show to come.
‘As One’ Opera: A moving take on gender identity
This year’s Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) theme is “A Season of Self-Discovery” and that was reflected in last weekend’s two performances of “As One,” a story about Hannah, a young transgender woman. Through 15 songs and a three-part narrative, the opera reveals Hannah’s experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years, and then traveling to Norway.
Stanley Jordan to play Honokaa People’s Theatre
“An Intimate Evening with Stanley Jordan,” a retrospective solo performance from the beginning to the Jimi Hendrix experience, is coming to the Honokaa People’s Theatre this fall.
Aloha Theatre to screen ‘Waterman’ documentary
The Aloha Theatre will present two free showings of the original documentary “Waterman ” this weekend.
Waimea Arts Council presents ‘Huaka’i, The Hawaii Island Juried Art Competition and Exhibition’
The public is invited to attend the Waimea Arts Council’s newest show, Huaka’i, The Hawaii Island Juried Art Competition and Exhibition at the Firehouse Gallery.
Elevated spirits: ‘Opera on the Rocks’
Imagine you’re in a cozy little cabaret, maybe in Paris. Sitting at small tables, with the bar open for business, you can look straight into the eyes of the singers performing just feet away from you. Well, the Hilo Palace Theater lobby transported us there for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s “Opera on the Rocks,” one of my favorite musical events of pre-COVID years, and now, finally, back again! This is theater up close and personal, with the resonance of the voices injecting an electric charge into the atmosphere that reverberates to the bone. You don’t just hear the music; you feel it.
Shakespeare in the Park returns to Hilo
Hilo Community Players announce its 45th annual Shakespeare in the Park festival, opening with “The Tempest” July 8 to 24 in Hilo at the parking lot of the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium Parking Lot and then in Honoka’a from July 29 to 31 at the Honoka’a Sports Complex.
Kahele announces Congressional Art Competition winner
U.S. Rep. Kaialiʻi Kahele recently announced the winner of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition from Hawaii’s second congressional district.
Marvel to introduce first gay Spider-Man in upcoming ‘Edge of Spider-Verse’
A new Spider-Man is coming out — and he’s gay, proud, and fabulous.
Blue Sea Artisans featuring Culbertson during July
The Blue Sea Artisans Gallery featured artist for the month of July is watercolor artist and digital designer Stefanie Culbertson.
Nakaya KVA featured artist for July
Kailua Village Artists Gallery will feature origami designer and sculptor Shannon Nakaya throughout the month of July. While origami is more commonly thought of as craft rather than art, Nakaya takes paper folding to an entirely new level with seven foot dragons and toothy sharks, amongst other fantastical creations, all of her own design.
Athlete’s new book explores trauma, generational pull of addiction
“Running and Returning – Seeking Balance in an Imperfect World,” a memoir from endurance runner Vicki Ash Hunter, Ph.D., is now available from CG Sports Publishing.
The 1201 and El Sancho to perform at Laverne’s
\A night of alternative rock and punk rock from two Big Island bands is set for July 30 at Laverne’s Sports Bar in Kailua-Kona.
Joachim Cooder delivers intimate songs and stories set
Joachim Cooder is no stranger to the Big Island. Although his Saturday performance at the Kahilu Theatre marked his concert debut here, he tagged along with his father, Ry Cooder, to visit slack-key guitar legend Gabby Pahinui at his home in Kona. Ry and Gabby had recorded several albums together in the 1970s.
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival returns
The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival is returning for its first full season since 2019.
Makana concert honors family and music legends
Makana’s Father’s Day concert at the Palace Theater was filled with heartfelt emotion and exceptional showmanship. The gifted slack key guitar master took the opportunity to publicly honor his dad, who passed away in January due to COVID, by performing traditional Hawaiian music that his father enjoyed.
Diary of 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee to be released
NEW YORK — The reflections of a 12-year-old refugee from the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be published this fall. Yeva Skalietska’s book is called “You Don’t Know What War Is: The Diary of a Young Girl from Ukraine.”