Students from The Movement Center of Kaimuki will appear in "SOS — Save Our Seas," an original musical theater production July 21-22 at Mamiya Theatre.

Featuring more than 140 students from 4 to 64 years singing, dancing and acting, the original musical is an environmentally inspired collaboration between a 10-year-old student and a TMC teacher.

An original musical written by TMC's Nicole Young, "SOS — Save Our Seas" showcases the wide variety of talents of the students and their teachers in an underwater ocean adventure, teaching the importance of stewarding natural resources. In the production, fish, crabs, sharks, turtles and other ocean residents find that their everyday lives are not as simple as they used to be because of pollution. Working together, they find a way to clean up their ocean home and restore balance to the environment.

Young said she was inspired to write the musical because of TMC's commitment to teaching students about stewardship of the environment — and because of a story written by 10-year-old student Alika Bright.

The Niu Valley boy wanted The Movement Center to do a show about the ocean because it would include "neat costumes and underwater scenes."

Young developed Alika's ideas into a full-length, original musical tale, with music written by Annie Llamedo.

Tickets, $12 to $30, are available by calling 735-8641 or at www.movementcenter.org.

Community supporters are invited to a special fundraising pre-show event, which includes pupu, refreshments and entertainment, as well as VIP seating on July 21, at $100 per person.

FRIENDS OF THE BRIDE

Friends of the Bride return to the rRed Elephant Cafe stage today.

Now playing as a four-piece band, the Friends will play a set of new arrangements and traditional music.

Classic Friends originals include "Makua," "Donde Ranch," "Dance Real Crazy," "Maunawili Mist," "What Mama Sez Goes" and theme song "Rag on the Friends."

The free show is at 7 p.m. today at the rRed Elephant coffee shop, 1144 Bethel St.