About Open Your Hearts Wide
The Community Collaborative Way OYHW Was Created
Several years ago PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theater company partnered with Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives to create a play with Hawaiiʻs missionary decedents to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries abroad the Thaddeus in in 1820 and commissioned playwright and missionary descendant Marion Lyman-Merseau to write it.
Marion then spent the next two 2 years with story circle leader Terri Madden, asking fellow descendants one simple question which was, "What is it like to be a descendant, and what do you think of your ancestors?" We spent the early part of 2020 workshopping the play with Mark Branner, William Ha'o, and a bevy of talented actors . We then invited the descendants (or cousins as they call themselves) to listen to an audio reading of the play on Patreon and to share their thoughts and ideas about the play through a survey form. Marion then took those ideas and finished the play.
We hoped that we would be able to create a live production, but Covid-19 had different plans, and so we hired Jeff Orig of Orig Entertainment and turned Marion's play into a film with co-directors and screenwriters Mark Branner and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczack and with input by co-director and PAʻI Foundation executive director, Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine.
This production is a massive community effort with 2 community partners, 3 directors, 3 assistant directors, 3 costumers, a music director, several singers, 27 professional actors and 19 community members. The Hawaii Arts Alliance, Kumu Kahua Theatre and the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance, generously shared their kokua in grant writing, costumes, and storage space. We owe a debt of gratitude to all these people and organizations. This project is supported in part by the Atherton Family Foundation, The Cooke Foundation, LTD. and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Synopsis
Kimo and Malia have very different opinions regarding early Protestant Missionaries to Hawai‘i. Kimo thinks they were selfless heroes who did wonderful things for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and its people. Malia thinks they were entirely self-serving and acquisitive people bent on manipulating and profiting off them and their land. While passing by the cemetery at Kawaiahaʻo Church, Kimo and Malia hear a beautiful voice emanating from the Hawaiian Missionary Houses Historic Site and Archives. They follow the voice and meet a friendly “Docent” who invites them to go on a tour. While being shown around the old buildings and quiet grounds, they continue to argue. But ghosts of both the early missionaries and the Ali'i appear and show and tell Kimo and Malia more than they ever imagined. The Docent helps them to zoom with missionary descendants to hear more, and even Siri and Alexia chime in from time to time. Perhaps history is not as black and white as they thought it was, but is actually much more colorful and complex?
Several years ago PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theater company partnered with Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives to create a play with Hawaiiʻs missionary decedents to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries abroad the Thaddeus in in 1820 and commissioned playwright and missionary descendant Marion Lyman-Merseau to write it.
Marion then spent the next two 2 years with story circle leader Terri Madden, asking fellow descendants one simple question which was, "What is it like to be a descendant, and what do you think of your ancestors?" We spent the early part of 2020 workshopping the play with Mark Branner, William Ha'o, and a bevy of talented actors . We then invited the descendants (or cousins as they call themselves) to listen to an audio reading of the play on Patreon and to share their thoughts and ideas about the play through a survey form. Marion then took those ideas and finished the play.
We hoped that we would be able to create a live production, but Covid-19 had different plans, and so we hired Jeff Orig of Orig Entertainment and turned Marion's play into a film with co-directors and screenwriters Mark Branner and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczack and with input by co-director and PAʻI Foundation executive director, Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine.
This production is a massive community effort with 2 community partners, 3 directors, 3 assistant directors, 3 costumers, a music director, several singers, 27 professional actors and 19 community members. The Hawaii Arts Alliance, Kumu Kahua Theatre and the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance, generously shared their kokua in grant writing, costumes, and storage space. We owe a debt of gratitude to all these people and organizations. This project is supported in part by the Atherton Family Foundation, The Cooke Foundation, LTD. and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Synopsis
Kimo and Malia have very different opinions regarding early Protestant Missionaries to Hawai‘i. Kimo thinks they were selfless heroes who did wonderful things for the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and its people. Malia thinks they were entirely self-serving and acquisitive people bent on manipulating and profiting off them and their land. While passing by the cemetery at Kawaiahaʻo Church, Kimo and Malia hear a beautiful voice emanating from the Hawaiian Missionary Houses Historic Site and Archives. They follow the voice and meet a friendly “Docent” who invites them to go on a tour. While being shown around the old buildings and quiet grounds, they continue to argue. But ghosts of both the early missionaries and the Ali'i appear and show and tell Kimo and Malia more than they ever imagined. The Docent helps them to zoom with missionary descendants to hear more, and even Siri and Alexia chime in from time to time. Perhaps history is not as black and white as they thought it was, but is actually much more colorful and complex?
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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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