MANOA VALLEY THEATRE PRESENTS A World Premiere by Lorenzo DeStefano November 8 – 25, 2018 #innovators #artists #individuals Hawai‘i’s arts education leader for more than 25 years Preschool to Grade 12 | midpac.edu | (808) 973-5005 A poignant Hawaii story graces our stage Manoa Valley Theatre’s 50th Anniversary continues with a very special presentation that is a highlight in this auspicious season. Lorenzo DeStefano’s poignant drama, Shipment Day, shines light on a troublesome period of Hawaii’s history and the amazing fortitude of one of its citizens, Olivia Robello Breitha, who was his cousin. The play dramatizes her early years in Honolulu when she was first disagnosed with Hansen’s Disease, and the resulting fear and hostilities she faced with this life changing condition. The play’s mirror on history is insightful, and its parallel to more recent epidemics and contemporary society’s response underscores the importance for education, understanding and compassion. We are grateful to Mr. DeStefano for inviting MVT to stage the World Premiere of his play. It is befitting to include this Hawaii based story in our first half-century celebration as we’re reflecting on our community, our mission, our past and our future. Thank you for engaging with us. Four more exciting productions are coming up this season, plus a music and comedy filled Studio Series lineup, so we hope to see you back at MVT often. We are grateful for your patronage and your support. Our partnership with you ensures robust and stimulating theatrical fare for our community. Thank you most kindly. Aloha, Dwight T. Martin Producing Director Shipment Day • Manoa Valley Theatre • 3 4 • Manoa Valley Theatre • Shipment Day presents the World Premiere of by Lorenzo DeStefano a developmental draft of the play was honored as “Best Play” in PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theatre Company’s 2016 New Works Festival Set Design/Scenic Artist Lighting Design Costume Design Michelle Bisbee Jonah Bobilin Jennifer Hart Trudy Hodnefi eld Hair & Makeup Design Production Manager Technical Director Lisa Ponce de Leon Braddoc DeCaires Montana West Rizzuto Sound Design Props Design Assistant to the Director Lock Lynch Sara Ward Denise Aiko Chinen Projection Design Artistic Associate Robert Matsushita Bree Kale’a Peters Directed by Lorenzo DeStefano Shipment Day is presented by special arrangement with the author. Manoa Valley Theatre 2833 East Manoa Road • Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 • 988-6131 TICKETS: [email protected] E-LIST SIGNUP: [email protected] ADMIN: businessoffi [email protected] Shipment Day • Manoa Valley Theatre • 5 The Cast Olivia .................................................................................... Ku’ulei Shafee Mary Fernandez, Olivia’s mother ........................................Karen Kaulana Betty ..............................................................................Denise Aiko Chinen Linda ..................................................................................... Lauren Murata Manuel Robello, Olivia’s father ..............................................William Ha’o Les Texeira/Joe ..............................................................Maleko McDonnell Hank ....................................................................................... David Heulitt Carl ...................................................................................Richard Bragdon The Setting The play takes place in and around Honolulu. 1934-37. The play is performed without intermission. A few important reminders ... • Food or beverages acquired from the concessions stand are allowed inside the theatre at this production. • All patrons are required to be seated...babes in arms are not permitted. • As a courtesy to our performers and your fellow audience members, please TURN OFF all cellular phones, audible pagers, chiming watches, texting devices, and other possible noise-makers while inside the theatre. • Use of PHONES, CAMERAS, TEXTING DEVICES OR RECORDING EQUIPMENT is not permitted during performances. The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production is strictly prohibited. 6 • Manoa Valley Theatre • Shipment Day About the Show Lorenzo DeStefano’s Shipment Day was fi rst developed as a one act play in 2015 at the Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles. In 2016, it won the “Best Play” distinction in PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theatre Company’s 2016 New Works Festival. Manoa Valley Theatre commissioned an expanded version of the play for its 50th Anniversary Season, which is presented now in its World Premiere, guest directed by the playwright. Who’s Who Acronym Key to Theatres ACT Army Community Theatre KKT Kumu Kahua Theatre CPAC Castle Performing Arts Center LMP Lanikai Mortgage Players DHT Diamond Head Theatre MVT Manoa Valley Theatre HMHM: Hawaii Mission Houses NPAC Nanakuli Performing Arts Center Museum OAP Ohana Arts Program HPU Hawaii Pacific University PTW Paliku Theatre at Windward HRT Hawaii Repertory Theatre Community College HSB Hawaii State Ballet STL St. Louis School’s Mamiya HTC Hawaii Theatre Center Theatre HTY Honolulu Theatre for Youth TAG The Actors’ Group IPA Island Pacific Academy UHM University of Hawaii at Manoa KHSPAC Kaimuki High School UHL University of Hawaii Lab Theatre Performing Arts Center Richard Bragdon (Carl) earned a BA Denise Aiko Chinen (Betty/Assistant in Theatre Education to the Director) from BYU, Provo Aiko last appeared and a BM in Music on the MVT stage Composition from in Full Monty and UH Manoa. He has Odd Couple Female appeared in HPU’s Version and was The Importance Assistant to the of Being Earnest as Jack Worthing, Director for Fun Home, Baskerville, in DHT’s Camelot as Sir Lionel, Wait Until Dark, and Speed the Plow and DHT’s South Pacific as Lt. at MVT. She was recently seen in Alls Buzz Adams. His previous MVT Well That Ends Well for HSF as well as performance was in Tony n’ Tina’s Hawaiian Mission House. Last season Wedding (2011). He also has served she was in Songs of the Dragon Flying as musical director on productions to Heaven for Evolve Theatre and with both HPU and MVT. He proudly Romeo & Juliet for HSF. Aiko has also serves in the Navy Reserves where he performed at KKT, TAG, HPU, Ohia, conducts a military community band. UHM, UHL, and DHT. Shipment Day • Manoa Valley Theatre • 7 Deeply rooted in Hawai‘i, we’re proud to lend our support. Building communities and brighter futures with our hands and our hearts. alexanderbaldwin.com Continuing his legacy...sponsoring MVT’s 50th Anniversary Season George Mason Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation George Mason was an active season subscriber, donor and board of directors member for many years. 8 • Manoa Valley Theatre • Shipment Day Who’s Who (cont’d) William Ha‘o (Manuel Robello) was a Po‘okela award. Within her 32 a professional actor years of performing onstage, Karen in New York City portrayed Emma Nawahi in Hawaii for over 25 years. He Pono‘i Coalition’s The Annexation has performed across Debates, and Princess Likelike in the U.S.A., Canada Ka‘iulani at KKT, (which received a and Greece. Since Po’okela award) among other project returning home, Mr. DHT, HTY and various other venues. A Ha`o has performed at Kumu Kahua graduate of UHM with degrees Theatre, PlayBuilders of Hawaii in journalism, theatre and drama, Theatre Company, and Hawaiian Karen serves on the KKT board of Mission House. He’s received four directors and teaches drama at schools Po`okela awards for Acting and islandwide. She directed, co-wrote and Directing. This is his first production at produced two award winning touring Manoa Valley Theatre. health education plays in Hawaii and California. Karen will appear in the David Heulitt (Hank) was last seen as upcoming feature, Devatha, and in the Malcolm MacGregor short film, Crossing the Line, for the in MVT’s The Full Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Karen Monty. He also produces and hosts a radio show, performed in MVT’s Healing Hawaii with Karen Kaulana, It Shoulda Been You on KPRP 650 AM. This is Karen’s first and Tommy. His other time performing at MVT. stage credits include DHT’s The Fox on the Fairway, Maleko McDonnell (Les Texeira) Camelot and To Kill a Mockingbird, was last seen as and RISE UP “A Patriotic Peace” Alf in MVT’s Peter at PTW. He has been on backstage and the Starcatcher crew for several MVT and DHT and received a productions. Po’okela Award for his performance as Karen Loebl Kaulana (Mary Manolo in MVT‘s Fernandez Robello) The Odd Couple: Female Version. recently performed He also appeared at MVT as Freddie in Mai Poina at Fillmore in It’s a Wonderful Life: A ‘Iolani Palace, and Live Radio Play. A radio and television was a featured reader/ broadcaster, actor and public speaker, performer in The Best Maleko once appeared on CBS’ Hawaii of Aloha Shorts Live. Five-O as “himself.” He recently She portrayed Lucy Kaopaulu Peabody retired his radio program “Maleko’s in the HMHM Cemetery Pupu Theatre Room” after twenty years on Star show, At Your Service, which received Shipment Day • Manoa Valley Theatre • 9 Honolulu Star-Advertiser wishes an outstanding performance for the cast & crew of SHIPMENT DAY. HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF MANOA VALLEY THEATRE. The pulse of paradise staradvertiser.com/subscribe or 538-NEWS to subscribe 10 • Manoa Valley Theatre • Shipment Day Who’s Who (cont’d) 101.9-FM and now anchors Good 221 Finchley Lane, adapted from his Morning Hawaii on ABC KITV4. novel, “Providence”, an adaptation of the screenplay by the English Lauren Murata (Linda) last appeared dramatist David Mercer, and Camera at MVT in Wait Obscura, a dramatization of the Until Dark as Susy 17 million word “Inman Diary”. Hendrix for which Developed at Seattle Repertory she earned a Po’okela Theatre, Camera Obscura received award for leading its world premiere at the Almeida female in a play. Theatre in London, helmed by the Other shows at MVT celebrated English director Jonathan include It’s a Wonderful Life: A Miller. DeStefano’s theatre directing Live Radio Play and August: Osage credits include Shipment Day, County, as well as Love Loss and Providence, William Inge’s Natural What I Wore, both at MVT and TAG.