On April 18th at 6 pm, PlayBuilders of Hawai’i Theater Co will present Mālama I nā Kahu Mālama, a New Works Festival
originated by award winning playwright Carol Polcovar, Create by Carol Polcovar and Terri Madden and directed by Will Hao.
Enjoy an evening of new works of poetry, song, short plays, and talk-story opening the door to a variety of ways of seeing the challenges of caregiving. Only $10 and created by a labor of love.
Proceeds will benefit PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theater Company's Mālama the Caregivers Theater Project to be presented in November 2023 for National Caregivers Month and Kumu Kahua Theatre Company as part of Kumu Kahua's Dark Night Series.
Mālama I Nā Kahu Mālama
Act 1 Contributing Writers and Musicians
Poems by Jean Yamasaki Toyama:
In the Shade, Mother Sewing
Putting Things in Order
You Need a Bath
Not Gone Yet
Back to the Future
Monologue #1 by Lisa Barns
Monologue #2 by Anonymous
How Can Love Survive? (A short play) by Kevin Brofky
Kupuna Rock Group, Better Late, Rona Holub and Beth Rasmussen
Act II Contributing Writers
The Golden Years Waltz (song) by Norm Boroughs
In Denial (a one minute play) by Diane Aoki
To be Elderly: On Noting Brown Spots by Evern Williams
Moon Man by Lindsey Desrochers
If George Could Talk by Allan Okubo
Losing My Mind (Song) by Steven Sondheim
Monologue #3 by Suellen Rubin
Taking Care of My Spouse by Esther Geil
Mango Tree (a short play) by Carol Polcovar
Challanges and Rewards of Caregiving by Ana D'espault
Something About Caregiving by Nancy Young
Vocalise by Rachmaniov
Stage-Managers:
Ashlyn Healey and Ashley Zednick
Lights: Ashlyn Healey
Kumu Kahua Theater Office Manager: Sara Ward
Ushers: Joelle Seashell and Eddie Obert
The Performers
Pre-show music by Georgette Stevens and Ke'ala Ford
Our Guest Director Will Ha'o will serve as your host for the entire evening.
Preshow Welcome ........................................................................................Mālama the Caregivers
Catherine Restivo, Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, Dean Mo, Darryl Sorinano, Liz Dixon, and Deanna Espinas.
ACT 1 Performers
In the Shade.......................................................................................Karen Kaulana Loebl
Mother Sewing...............................................................................................Allan Okubo
You Need a Bath............................................................... Elizabeth Wichman-Walczak
Putting Things in Order.......................................................Karen Yamamoto Hackler
Not Gone Yet..............................................................................................Kaipo Dudoit
Back to the Future.................................................................................Karen Hironaga
Monologue #1 "Lisa"....................................................................................Becky Maltby
Monologue #2 "Tom"...............................................................................Charles Timtim
How Can Love Survive?................................Karen Yamamoto Hackler & Allan Okubo
Kupuna Rock Group- "Better Late".............................Rona Holub and Beth Rasmussen
There will be a short 10 Minute Intermission
ACT 2 Performers
The Golden Years Waltz (Song)............................................Becky Maltby and Allan Okubo
In Denial. .........................Deanna Espina, Darryl Soriano, Georgette Stevens, Ke'ala Ford
To be Elderly: On Noting Brown Spots........................................................Evern Williams
Moon Man & If George Could Talk...................................Cast of "Malama the Caregivers "
(Lindsay, Allan, Dean, Darryl, Georgette, Ke'ala, Liz, Deanna, Will, & Evern)
Losing My Mind ..........................................Sally Davis Kaniho & Don Conover on piano
Monologue #3............................................................................................Karen Hironaga
The Mango Tree........................................................................Kaipo Duoit, Kati Kuroda
Challanges and Rewards of Caregiving................................Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak
Something About Caregiving...............................................................................Po'ai Lincoln
Rachmaniov's Vocalise......................Dr. David Davis on cello, Joanne Watanabe Pianist
Hawai'i Aloha.................................................................... Georgette Stevens and Keala Ford
Closing Remarks by Will Ha'o
PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company’s mission is to gather and share real stories that resonate with, empower and connect individuals throughout the culturally rich and diverse communities of Hawaiʻi. For more information, please contact Terri Madden at terri.madden@playbuilders.org or call her at 808-218-0103. ###
“Kumu Kahua Theatre’s Dark Night Series was created to offer other theatre groups, playwrights, and performance artists the opportunity to present their work to the community. This series is presented during dark nights, evenings when Kumu Kahua’s regular season shows are not being performed. To be part of the Dark Night Series artists must submit a proposal, which is reviewed by the Board of Directors of Kumu Kahua. From these proposals, projects are chosen that Kumu Kahua feels will promote the development of the theatrical arts and benefit local artists. Kumu Kahua sees this as another way to enhance and enrich the cultural diversity and artistic climate of Honolulu.”
Mahalo Hawaii Life Real Estate for your hospitality and granting us office space to hold story circles and rehearsals for "Malama the Caregivers" !
"Malama the Caregivers Theater Project" is funded by a grant from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Atherton Family Foundation.
Welcome to our new community partners, ʻŌlelo Junior Academy for Media and The Kupuna Collective!
We're on it! Devising a new play with and for Hawaii's Caregivers!
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Photos are of our September story circles.
Please email Terri at terri.madden@playbuilders.org if you have any suggestions or questions. Mahalo! 
Catherine Ann Restivo, MFA
Actor-Creator Director of Play Devising for the Mālama Caregivers Theatre Project and will guide the ensemble in creating, forming, and choosing the format and content for the play. Catherine Restivo was raised with an older severely disabled sister and has been a witness and participant in caregiving her entire life. She holds an MFA in Acting and Asian Performance from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; a BFA in Theatre from Stephen F. Austin State University; and a Professional Training Certificate from Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. She spent a year studying Contemporary Performance at Naropa University. Catherine has performed, devised, taught, and worked backstage in multiple states and countries including NYC, California, England, and Spain. She was an Ensemble Apprentice at Touchstone Theatre 
Elizabeth Ann Wichmann-Walczak, PhD
Retired Professor of Asian Theatre, Chinese Focus Co- Director for the Mālama Caregivers Theatre Project, Script supervisor and editor. In 1981 Elizabeth joined the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she served as Director of the Asian Theatre Program from 1985 until she retired in 2018. Theatre that aims to make a difference, is important to her. She currently serves as PlayBuilders Vice President, and has contributed as one of the playwrights and directors to three major PlayBuilders projects: the “Bursting Bubbles” anti-domestic violence video series; the “Open Your Hearts Wide” film about descendants of the first Protestant missionaries and their contemporary status. Kalawai'a Goo, MSW, LSW
Licensed Social Worker Consultant on caregiving practices and issues, hospice, death and dying for the Mālama Caregivers Theatre Project. Assistant Story Circle Fascilitator. Kalawai’a Goo was born and raised in Hawai’i. He retired from the military as a combat medic, preferring to save rather than take lives. After the service, he sailed with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, where he learned more about traditional Hawaiian culture. To promote harmony among crew members, Ho’oponopono was practiced... Kalawai’a is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW). He got his master’s in social work from the University of Hawai’i, with a concentration on mental health, and child and family. His professional experiences include working with teens and young adults, prison populations, crisis therapist, and development of policies for social justice. Currently, he is a hospice social worker, addressing psychosocial issues with dying patients and their loved ones. |
"Malama the Caregivers"
Details PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theater Company is a professional theater company based in Honolulu. Since 2011, we have been creating plays with, for, and about the diverse communities in Hawai’i. We now are creating a new play in collaboration with interested caregivers in Hawaiʻi, because at some time in our lives, all of us will either need a caregiver and/or become a caregiver. It's part of the cycle of life, and we believe the theatrical exploration of this topic will spark great conversations here on Oahu, that will benefit all of Hawaii’s people. The play will be created based on actual caregiving experiences caring for Kupuna and those with disabilities. The stories will be gathered during a series of talk- story circles and individual interviews organized and hosted by PlayBuilders with help from community partners such as the Kupuna Collective, 'Ōlelo Community Media, Hawaii's Plantation Village, and Hawai'i Life real Estate Company. Congratulations to Our Actor-Creator Community Members! Allan Okubo Ashley Zednick Cathy Restivo Darryl Soriano Dean Mo Deanna Espinas Elizabeth (Liz) Dixon Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak Evern Williams Georgette Stevens Ke’ala Ford Lindsay A Desrochers Terri Madden William Ha'o Between now and the end of March 2023, Director of Play Devising for the Malama the Caregivers Project, Catherine Ann Restivo, will hold devising workshops rehearsals with the caregivers we have met over the past several months and together we will write a play under the working title, "Malama the Caregivers." On April 2nd, PlayBuilders will hold an invited reading of the new play for those who shared their stories with us in order to obtain special permission to do a full production of the newly community-engaged and created play for the general public in November of 2023 which is National Caregivers Month. We will spend the summer of 2023 editing and making the community requested changes to the script. Then finally, we will hold auditions and cast caregivers to perform onstage along side our veteran performers in late August. Rehearsals will commence immediately. Finally, lights will be hung. costumes will be made, and actors will be ready for everyone in the community to come and see "Malama the Caregivers." PlayBuilders’ mission is to gather and share real stories that resonate with, empower, and connect the many culturally rich and diverse people of Hawai’i. If you have ideas to share or want more information about participating, please contact Terri Madden at 808-218-0103, or terri.madden@playbuilders.org. ### 
To purchase tickets for
Mālama I nā Kahu Mālama, a New Works Festival “Take Care of the Caregiver" Tue, Apr 18, 6:00 PM Kumu Kahua Theatre • Honolulu, HI Starts at $10.00 Go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/malama-i-na-kahu-malama-a-new-works-festival-take-care-of-the-caregiver-tickets-540026282147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch *** If you know of a caregiver, kupuna, or disability organization that may be interested in having their stories and expertise shared and would be willing to collaborate with us on this project, please call Terri Madden at 808-218-0103 or email her at Terri.madden@playbuilders.org. Mahalo! *** |
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PLAYBUILDERS MISSION IS TO GATHER AND SHARE REAL STORIES THAT RESONATE WITH, EMPOWER, AND CONNECT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CULTURALLY RICH AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF HAWAI'I.
About PlayBuilders
PlayBuilders original plays have been supported by the Hawaii Peoples Fund, the Hawaii Community Coalition, The Geist Foundation, The Cooke Foundation, The Atherton Foundation, and The National Endowment of the Arts. Our work would be impossible without the support of individual donors like you. Mahalo nui loa
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News
Community partners for past shows include The Wahiawa Historic Society, Catholic Charities, Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University, Family Programs Hawaii, Waipahu Community Coalition, The Foster Care Training Committee, Partners in Development, Leeward Community College, the Mele Program of Honolulu Community College, Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, and the Hawai'i State Department of Health.
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Coming Up Next
We are always working on new projects, performances, and collaborations. Stay tuned for news on upcoming plays, behind-the-scenes updates, live events, and more. Coming soon: "Open Your Hearts Wide" by Marion Lyman-Mersereau and "Bursting Bubbles" by Laura Clark Greaver. PlayBuilders' PlayFestival will be held here on this website during the entire month of September!
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