The Shooting Stars Take Manhattan!
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July 2018 Volume 103 • Issue 3 Inside This Issue Shooting Stars Take Manhattan! 1 Nine Characters; One Actor 2 Aloha from Deena 2 Donor Spotlight 6 "Tech-ing" a Show 7 The Glue That Holds The Shooting Stars a Show Together 8 Take Manhattan! Now Playing July 13 - Aug. 5, 2018 Coming Soon DHT’s Stars explore the Big takes to make it as a performer, as well as providing them with a few tips of the Apple on the trip of a lifetime trade! It was the perfect introduction to a week filled with the wonders of Broadway. his past March, during spring break, Ta gang of almost 60 eager travelers During the trip, the Stars participated in (27 Shooting Stars, 26 family members 6 different workshops. In addition to their Sept. 21 - Oct. 14, 2018 and 3 DHT staffers) headed to New York workshop with Lindsay, there was a vocal City for 6 days packed with Broadway workshop with Musical Director Michael shows, workshops, great food, a snow Rafter, best known for his work with storm, and a whole lot of fun! Broadway actress Sutton Foster, a musical theatre workshop with one of the dancers We left Honolulu on a red-eye on March from Broadway’s Aladdin, a jazz dance 17th, landing in New York at a bright workshop with Tammy Colucci (the and early 6:30 a.m. After a small rest at director of DHT’s Disney’s Newsies), an Nov. 30 - Dec. 23, 2018 the hotel, we hit the ground running audition workshop with a cast member of with our first workshop with Lindsay the Broadway production of Wicked, and Roberts, who played the role of “Sarah” in a dance workshop with the dance captain DHT’s September production of Ragtime. from SpongeBob SquarePants. Whew! We Lindsay shared her insights with the Stars were busy! For Tickets about her life as a performer on Broadway. Call 808.733.0274 or visit She gave our Stars a real look at what it CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 www.diamondheadtheatre.com Nine Characters; One Actor Garrett Hols takes on the D’Ysquiths any people would consider playing just one character Mon stage a huge challenge. Imagine having to play nine different characters! Garret Hols did just such a thing for our recent production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Garrett had never heard of the show before it was an- nounced in 2017, but once he heard the music, he fell in love with the show’s humor, wit and charm. Then, he found different---if he got the role, this would be first time he out that the D’Ysquith family were all played by ONE would need to play nine completely different characters! SINGLE actor! Now that was something he really wanted to do! And he did a terrific job. When asked how he prepared for the audition, Garrett says he started his groundwork very early. June 2017 as a matter Garrett first moved to Hawaii in 2008 from Virginia of fact! “I started preparing by just listening to the music” for work. His “day job” is as the Assistant Development he said. As auditions drew closer, he started vocalizing Manager for Lendlease. His first audition at DHT was for different British accents, and he used cartoons like Family Showboat in 2014. He was cast as “Steven Baker” and from Guy and Futurama for reference. He then started creating then, he was hooked. Garret has performed in five other separate physical characteristics for each character. He DHT productions, ranging from the ridiculous “Lord explained: “Junior is upright but oily, Henry has a whimsi- Farquad” in Shrek, the Musical to the more serious and cal flamboyancy, Adalbert is kind of mix of ‘Mr. Burns’ stern “Father” in Ragtime, but Gentleman’s Guide show was from The Simpsons and Robert Preston's 'Harold Hill', 2 week. Would we be able to use photos from your produc- Aloha tion in this way?” from DHT’s Our photos! From our little theatre in the middle of the Pacific! Of course, we said yes, and when we got the e- Executive Director announcement and then saw the news on MTI’s Facebook page, we spotted our show photos from Diamond Head Happy Summer! As you all know, we Theatre. are in the midst of Disney’s Newsies, but something happened regarding There are literally thousands of regional and community our last show, Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, that theaters across the country, so to have our DHT produc- left me feeling proud as punch (is that even an expression tion spotlighted...well, let’s just say, we were honored and anymore?!) delighted, as were our actors, set designers and costumers! Here’s the story: Music Theatre International (MTI) is a Patrons who go to see shows on Broadway often tell us worldwide licensing company. John and I visit them, armed how wonderful our shows are at DHT. And John and I with Big Island Candies, in NYC every November, to cajole truly feel our production values hold their own (albeit on them into giving us early releases to the big Broadway a smaller scale and budget) in comparison, but let’s face shows. One such success story was Gentleman’s Guide. We it, we work here, and our patrons love us, so we are well- were the first community theatre to mount the show, and it aware of some partiality. This random stamp of approval was a terrific success. was unexpected. Applause from afar, so to speak. It felt nice. A week or so ago, I got an email from MTI. It said: “We're coming up on our A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder release and I'm looking for photography to use in conjunc- tion with our web and social media announcements next etc.” Obviously, Garrett’s long prep and hard work paid and dressers, saying, “the dressers had the system down, off. After auditions concluded, the role (or should we say prepping facial hair pieces, setting props, turning out roles?!) was his! clothing, even toweling me off – everything! They were absolutely amazing.” Once into rehearsal, Garrett found there were three main challenges: developing distinct voices for each character Garrett really enjoyed the variety of the characters saying, (all in a very specific type of British accent), the physical- “They are each so different, it was almost as if I was in ity of the roles, and the mental challenge of being 9 differ- nine different mini-plays each night!” Though he loved ent people at each performance. Plus, there was the sheer playing each character, his favorite was Lord Adalbert hard work. “I think I drank four gallons of water through- (“Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun”). Garrett explained, out the day and during the show just to stay hydrated,” he “Lord Adalbert is a jerk and a more than a bit insane, but said. Mentally, he also had to stretch his limits. “During he gets away with it because of his wealth and title; play- rehearsals I tried to be a little scatter-brained and eccen- ing him I got to be an outrageous ham!” When asked if he tric all the time, both to help me stay in character, and to ever accidentally slipped into the wrong character at the be able to easily switch gears between characters,” Garrett wrong time, Garrett said, “Thankfully no. Between scenes says. “I’m pretty sure I annoyed my fellow cast members I usually had a moment to remind myself of the next with my shtick from time to time!” he added. character’s lines, and the costumes really helped remind 3 me which character I needed to play.” Yet another challenge were the very fast costume changes. One costume change was literally a matter of seconds. A truly remarkable tour de force for an actor. Bravo, Garrett gives high praise to the team of DHT costumers Garrett! Encore! is published by Diamond Head Theatre, 520 Makapuu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816. Our Mission Statement Phone (808)733-0277 Writers Mary Calantoc and Deena Dray Established in 1915, Diamond Head Theatre is the Box Office (808)733-0274 Graphic Designer Bernie Kim Broadway of the Pacific, producing the best live www.diamondheadtheatre.com Coordinator Mary Calantoc community theatre entertainment and advancing the theatre arts through education in Hawaii. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 After each show, the Stars were given the option to go to Each workshop was different, challenging, and most the Stage Door to see the actors from the shows, and each importantly, fun! The students had a blast learning from night we were not disappointed. The kids were able to get Broadway performers, and the instructors seemed to autographs and take photos with actors at all three shows. have just as much fun. Andrew Cao, the instructor for our Aladdin workshop loved working with our kids and The trip wasn’t all shows and workshops, though, and we commented that we were the most enjoyable group of got to see some of the sights New York City has to offer. students he had ever worked with. Thank you, Andrew! In true New Yorker fashion, we did a lot of walking. There was a walking tour of Columbus Circle up to Lincoln In addition to the workshops, we also attended 3 Broadway Center, a tour of Central Park, and a walk around Times shows, School of Rock, Dear Evan Hansen, the 2017 Tony Square and 5th Avenue. One big highlight was a tour of Award Winning Best Musical, which was an emotional Radio City Music Hall, where we were given a backstage experience for all and last, but not least, SpongeBob look of the iconic hall, as well as the chance to meet and SquarePants, the Musical.