KDEN Celebrates Birthday; Rehearses for Music Man

A cast of 36 theater veterans and newcomers are busy with rehearsals for KDEN’s “The Music Man.”

Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network (KDEN) celebrated its 14th birthday on June 9 at a dance rehearsal for their annual summer musical, Merdith Willson’s The Music Man, which will run July 8 t0 24 at Kilauea Military Camp’s Kilauea Theater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Founded in 2002 by experienced community theater organizers and performing artists, KDEN’s mission is to provide and promote top-quality community theater in East Hawai‘i, seeking to enrich and unite the community through participation in the performing arts.

To date, KDEN has produced a 25 shows and a Living History program in Hawai‘i Volcanos National Park.

KDEN is also working on a show to celebrate the centennial of their performing home, KMC.

The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, who poses as a boys’ band organizer and leader, selling band instruments and uniforms to the naive Iowa townsfolk. He promises to train the members of the new band. But Harold is no musician and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. His plans are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian.

Musical favorites include Seventy-Six Trombones, Trouble, ’Til There Was You and Gary, Indiana.

A cast of 36 theater veterans and newcomers are busy with rehearsals for the musical. The cast is lead by Scott Wuscher as Harold Hill and Alyssa Ishihara as Marian Paroo.

Stephen Bond plays Marcellus, Harold’s old friend who has settled in River City and has started a new life with his girlfriend, Ethel Toffelmeir, played by Hayley Pereira.

The Paroo family also includes Stephanie Becher as Mrs. Paroo and Hayden Konanui-Tucker as Winthrop.

Mayor Shinn is Steve Peyton, with Terry Sever as his wife, Eulalie, and Samantha Saiki and Fiona Broward as his daughters, Zaneeta and Gracie.

Chanan Lopez plays Zaneeta’s love interest, Tommy Djilas.

The school board members who are the Barbershop Quartet are Joy Sever, Joel Kelley, Dick Hershberger and Michael Kingston.

Kelley’s daughter, Ariana, plays Amaryllis.

The Pick-a-little ladies are Asia Helfrich, Carolyn Lee and Helie Rock.

Bill Chikasuye is the anvil salesman, Charlie Cowell.

Others in the cast include Sawyer Becher, Kaulima Boyer, Kamaile Carvalho, Raina Dale, Gordon and Gracelyn Greenlaw, Susie Halemano, Jalen Hook, Katie Kluzak, Joe Miyazaki, Kathy Mulliken, Dawn Pelletier, Deakon Temple, Briana Tucker-Archie, Coral Walker and Elizabeth Young.

They are led by director Suzi Bond, music director Chris Tomich and choreographer Rachel Klein.

Jonathan Sudler is the set designer.

The Music Man showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for children 12 and under.

Pre-sale tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

For more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.