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August 21st through September 20th

(L. to R.) Maila P. Rondero and Joshua Weldon have something to be shy about in The Statehood Project at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

The Statehood Project

conceived by Fat Ulu Productions
& Kumu Kahua Theatre

Ryan Sutherlans is tongue tied on statehood day at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Maila Rondero is not your average "Rosie the Riveter" in The Statehood Project at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Ryan Sutherlan takes a bite out of tourism. in Statehood Day at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Photos by Firebird Photography

The Statehood Project

In conjunction with Fat Ulu Productions, an organization dedicated to creating and strengthening communities through the literary arts (it recently produced a series of collaborative poetry performances), Kumu Kahua presents a collection of monologues, scenes and stories written by Hawaii playwrights, poets and storytellers. With the intention of presenting multiple perspectives on the issue of statehood in Hawaii – including political, historical and sociological – in early 2009 Kumu and Fat Ulu invited local writers to create short, personal expressions and reflections on any chosen aspect of statehood. These pieces were first read by the writers or actors to an audience, then revised by the writers and refined and organized by producers at Kumu. The result is a significant, and refreshingly different addition to both the commercial promotion and journalistic reportage that has been celebrating Hawaii's 50th anniversary of statehood.

Kumu Kahua artistic director Harry Wong, III and Kumu veteran Jason Ellinwood will direct the production, with set design by David M. Gerke; Assistant Director is Jason Kanda. The cast is: Stephanie Kong, Maila Rondero, Ryan Sutherlan, Tyler Tanabe, Joshua Weldon.

(Opening Friday, August 21, 2009 Statehood Day)

*American Sign Language Interpretation available