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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 1:55 p.m., Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Maori dance, drama mark Kennedy Theatre season

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Komodo dragons, windmills and a Balinese spin on Shakespeare will grace the Kennedy Theatre mainstage in the 2007-2008 season.

Dance, comedy and drama round out the schedule.

On the slate:

  • "Kraken Ka, the Komodo Dragon, and Other Pacific Rim Dragon Tales," world premiere, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Komodo dragons, leafy sea dragons and starry dragons come to life with actors, puppets, music and magic, in an adaptation of the children's book by Jodi Parry Belknap and Tamara Montgomery, with illustrations by Joseph D. Dodd. Adapted for the stage by Kemuel DeMoville, with Tamara Montgomery directing. Repeats at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29, and 2 p.m. Sept. 23 and 30. Tickets: $12 regular; $11 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $10 children-students; $5 UH students with valid ID.

  • "Man of La Mancha," with John Mount as Don Quixote/Cervantes, premiering at 8 p.m. Nov. 9. Glenn Cannon directs the classic Dale Wasserman musical, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, about the quixotic man who "dreams the impossible dream." Repeats at 8 p.m. Nov. 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17; and 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Tickets: $16 regular; $14 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $11 students; $5 UH students.

  • "Peter and the Wolf," with Jim Gable and His Puppets, at 2 p.m. Jan. 13. A puppetry take on the tale of Peter and how he saves the town from a wolf. Tickets: $12 regular; $11 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $10 children-students; $5 UH students with valid ID.

  • "A (Balinese) Tempest," premiering at 8 p.m. Jan. 25. An inspired new rendering of Shakespeare's magical, musical classic, directed by Larry Reed, artistic director of Shadow Light Productions of San Francisco, which fuses Balinese and Elizabethan elements with hallmark shadowcasting elements involving a giant screen and live performers creating a mystical show theater spectacle. With live musical accompaniment by the UH Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, with musical direction by I Nyoman Sumandhi of Bali and production direction by Kirstin Pauka of UH. Repeats at 8 p.m. Jan. 26, 31, Feb. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. Feb. 3. Tickets: $16 regular; $14 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $11 students; $5 UH students.

  • "Atamira Dance Collective," playing at 4 p.m. Feb. 10. Atamira presents a unique Maori Contemporary Dance Theatre production tapping history, legends, contemporary issues and personal stories — plus traditional whakapa, or genealogy with tribal links from the Maori heritage. Tickets: Advance, $20 regular; $15, seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $10 students and UH students; at the door, $25, $20 and $15.

  • Annual Dance Concert, premiering at 8 p.m. Feb. 29. Featuring choreography of UH faculty and guest artists, with performances by UH dance students. Repeats at 8 p.m. March 1, 7 and 8 and 2 p.m. March 9. Tickets: $16 regular; $14 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $11 students; $5 UH students.

  • "The Servant of Many Masters," premiering at 8 p.m. April 11. A new rendering of the Goldini classic, about a servant who mistakenly is employed by more than one master, and spends all his time trying to get caught — with subplots involving a fiancee returning from the dead, women dressed as men, men dressed as women, and a play within a play. With the improv spirit of commedia dell'arte, laughter also abounds. Directed by Paul T. Mitri. Repeats at 8 p.m. April 12, 17, 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. April 20. Tickets: $16 regular; $14 seniors, military, UH faculty and staff; $11 students; $5 UH students.

    For complete information about the 2007-08 season visit http://www.hawaii.edu/kennedy or call 956-7655 to obtain a season brochure.