Kahilu Theatre to Present ’13 the Musical’

“Godspell.” Photo: Anna Pachecho.

Kahilu Theatre will present the Kahilu Youth Troupe in 13 the Musical on Saturday, June 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 18. at 4 p.m.

Using the Kahilu Youth Troupe’s youngest rising stars, Director Beth Dunnington directs this hilarious, coming-of-age Broadway musical about discovering that “cool” is sometimes where we least expect it.

The musical is about fitting in and standing out. Recognized for featuring the only all-teenage cast ever to hit Broadway, 13 the Musical boasts a powerful rock score and a searingly honest high-energy story.

Sean Dunnington is the assistant director of the musical, musical direction is by NYC’s Phil Kadet, choreography is by Amanda Trusty, the assistant choreographer is  Noelani Anderson, costumes are by Leilani Bostock, “tech” is by Waimea Music and vocal coach is Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) Artistic Director Val Underwood.

Kahilu Theatre enjoys artistic collaboration with the HPAF in this production.

The cast of 18, in alphabetical order, includes Grace Bostock, Tyler Bryson, Colby Camero, Stacee Firestone, Lucky Friend, Rose Friend, Eric Gee, Caitlyn Hooley, Ryan Hooley, Benito Mercier, Mako Satoh, Makana Shimizu, Cameron Supplee, Melissa Lynn Threlfall, Grace Todd, AriaMarie Tyau, Ethan Tyau and Alianna West.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.mperformance on Saturday, June 17, and at 3 p.m. for the 4 p.m. performance on Sunday, June 18.

Snacks and beverages will be available for sale at the Kahilu Theatre bar.

13 the Musical follows the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, Godspell and Grease, all directed by Dunnington, as the fourth annual Kahilu Youth Musical in two decades.

Tickets are $38, $28, $22 and $16, available for purchase online, by calling (808) 885-6868 or at the Kahilu Theatre Box Office at 67-1186 Lindsey Road in Kamuela Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Music and lyrics are by Jason Robert Brown. The musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

This Kahilu Production is made possible by the sponsorship of Kate Bell & Tom Blackburn, Tim Bostock and Melanie Holt, and Duncan F. Dempster.

About the Kahilu Youth Troupe

The troupe was founded in 2009, after the oldest of these students met during a Waimea Community Theatre production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Since then, the Youth Troupe (originally called the Teen Troupe) has gone on to perform Rent in Kona (2010), with proceeds going to support AIDS awareness, and the Kahilu concerts An Evening of Sondheim and Friends in 2011 (with an encore production at Anna Ranch in 2012 to support KPAW, the teaching program founded by the Troupe), and Broadway in Hawaii in 2013. In 2014, they performed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in 2015 they performed Back to Broadway and Godspell, and in 2016 they performed Grease—the first Kahilu-produced musicals since the days of Richard Smart, Kahilu Theatre’s founder, two decades earlier.