Posted on: Friday, August 20, 2004
Broadway talent assemble for good cause
By Noelle Chun
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu Broadway Babies' first performance of "Broadway Mixed Plate" is nearly sold out, and the second is well on its way.
Or it could be the lineup of talented singers and dancers from around the country.
Whatever the case, Honolulu Broadway Babies, a nonprofit group, hopes to widen opportunities for those with disabilities and to inspire others to do the same.
Many of the artists have landed leading roles in prominent Broadway and touring shows and will display their talents this weekend in a diverse set of songs, drawing from the musicals "Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon" and "Chicago," among others.
But what shines brightest is not the strength of voice or the timbre, but rather the passion with which they hope to achieve the dream. None of the artists is accepting pay for performing. They're donating their time and talent for the cause. Aloha Airlines jumped in to assist with airfares.
President and executive director Kristian Lei, who had the lead role of Kim in "Miss Saigon" in Germany, is the main thrust behind Honolulu Broadway Babies. For her, the company's mission is personal. Her brother has mild cerebral palsy and found that there were no opportunities to further his education after high school.
"There is no continuing education in any of the colleges for children like (my brother)," she said. "We wanted to build more worldwide partnerships to build more school programs for people with (different) capabilities."
Lei sees this weekend's event as the first step in a broader effort to work toward realizing her dream. The show excites her because she said she believes it is the first show with Broadway talent to support people with disabilities in Hawai'i, but she's not afraid to branch out to other means.
"I think what Kristian is doing — just her whole vision and her dream of raising money and helping people out — is inspiring in itself. ... This is very exciting," said Trisha Mae Banquerigo, one of this weekend's performers whose credits include singing as Pocahontas for the Disneyland Resort production, "Animazement — the Musical."
Because of the geographic diversity of the cast, two sets of rehearsals were held, one in Los Angeles and one in Honolulu. It was only this week that the two groups practiced together.
But Honolulu Broadway Babies Vice President and co-producer Kenneth E. Vigilia isn't worried. "Because of the cast that we have, it's just putting the pieces together," he said. "They're just so awesome, they put it together really quick. We had to cancel a couple of rehearsals (in Los Angeles) because they had it down already."
It could be the good cause it's supporting: programs for people with disabilities.
Kristian Lei, who played Kim in "Miss Saigon" in Germany, is the main thrust behind Honolulu Broadway Babies, a nonprofit group committed to showcasing Broadway talent to raise money for disabled persons.
'Broadway Mixed Plate'
7:30 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday
Leeward Community College Theatre
$35, $40
783-2296, www.honolulu
broadwaybabies.com
"We're just starting with a show," she said. "Later, we're thinking of having food fairs or sports festivals. ... We're all trying to really become a foundation, eventually, to start schools, and entertainment is a great way to do that."
