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Last year, the PlayBuilders Board of Directors decided that it would be a good idea to mark our 10th anniversary by having a fresh new logo created. Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak contacted Professor Chae Ho Lee, Chair of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoaʻs Department of Art and Art History, for help. Chae told us about a design worship he runs in the spring where the senior design students work on projects for non-profits, and after some vetting on his part, he chose PlayBuilders to be part of it. He said, "Non-profits often do not have the money to pay for good design, but they deserve good design." He chose us because he believed our mission would be meaningful to his students. We were thrilled when offered us the opportunity to have them design the logo for us.
The process was an amazing experience for us. The workshop was set up as a competitive experience for the students. Each had to interview the client. In this case, Terri Madden of PlayBuilders. They had to research our history, what we do, design the logos, and then present the logos in a business like manner with the goal of obtaining the commission. About 30 students competed against each other. Just like real life. Terri Madden says, "Being on the receiving end of those presentation was overwhelming. Each student understood our history and mission on a very deep level. It was like they were becoming an important part of who we are. The passion, thought and talent that went into each design was beautiful and affirming." Finally, each student did a final presentation of their finished logo to several board, and soon after, the class was notified of the selection. It was not an easy decision to make. All of the logos were excellent, and we could have proudly chosen several of them, but it was Abbey Drew's that drew us in because although it is modern, it has so much aloha. Each component of the design can be used as a teaching tool to help explain our methodology in community-based playmaking. We appreciate Professor Chae Ho Lee and all the students who put so much into the creation of amazing designs. Thank you for helping us and for serving hardworking non-profits of Hawaiʻi in this way. Mahalo nui to everyone and congratulations to Abbey Drew for being selected.
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World Premier ”Open Your Hearts Wide,”written by Marion Lyman-Mersereau. Produced by PlayBuilders in Partnership with Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives and the PAʻI Foundation. Event: The World Premiere of “Open Your Hearts Wide” by Marion Lyman-Mersereau. Screen play by Mark Branner and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak. Co-Directed by Mark Branner, Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, and Vicky Holt Takamine. an Orig Entertainment Film, Where and When: Streamed on line June 3 to June 24 (Watch any time or day, as many times as you wish,) For link and to purchase tickets go to playbuilders.org/OYHW (Tickets go on sale May 20. Family friendly. Ticket price: $20 The Synopsis Kimo and Malia each have their own opinions regarding Hawaiian Missionaries. Kimo thinks they were just about perfect. Malia thinks they were terrible people who took advantage of the Hawaiians. While visiting the cemetery at Kawaiahaʻo Church, they hear a beautiful voice coming from the Hawaiian Missionary Houses Historic Site and Archives. The follow the voice, meet a friendly “Docent” who invites them to go on a free tour. While being shown around, they continue to argue. Ghosts both Ali'i and Missionary, appear and show Kimo and Malia more than they could ever imagine. They zoom with missionary descendants to hear more, and even Siri and Alexia chime in from time to time. Is history as black and white as we think it is, or are there more nuanced shades of gray? The movie features over 20 local actors and 19 real life missionary descendants. Family friendly. Creator and Producer Terri Madden, shares, “We really hoped that we would be able to create a live production, but Covid-19 had different plans, and so for the first time in PlayBuilders history, we made a movie! We hired Jeff Orig of Orig Entertainment and turned Marion's play into a screenplay by co-directors Mark Branner and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak with input by co-director Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine. I see this as the first of 3 productions. The second production will be written with and for the Hawaiian community and the third will be a “bridge play” where we bring both Hawaiian and missionary descendants together. “ The Collaborative Way OYHW was Written Playwright and Missionary descendant Marion Lyman-Mersereau spent 2 years holding story circles and interviews with PlayBuilders. asking her fellow descendants “cousins” one simple question in preparation for the bicentennial of the arrival o the Thaddeus in 1820 through a series of "Story Circles." That question was, "What is it like to be a descendant, and what do you think of your ancestors?" Marion turned the answers she received into the first draft of "Open Your Hearts Wide" last spring, PlayBuilders believes it is important to get the community's permission before going into production. Hence, we invited the cousins to listen to a recorded play reading on Patreon and invited them to fill out a Google survey form, letting us know their thoughts and ideas about the play. Marion then took those ideas and wrote a second draft. "Open Your Hearts Wide" by Marion Lyman-Mersereau was made possible in part through generous grants from the Cooke Foundation Limited, The Atherton Foundation, and the National Endowment for the ARTS. To find out more about how the National Endowment for the ARTs grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. PlayBuildersʻ community partners for this project were Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, (missionhouses.org) and the PAʻI Foundation (paifoundation.org). Mahalo nui loa to Kumu Kahua Theatre, and The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa for their kokua. We are currently working to make "Open Your Hearts Wide Available" to Hawaii schools though special programing. For more information check under past projects at the top of the page. HONOLULU- www.playbuilders.org. 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. Bursting Bubbles Project PlayBuilders is currently working with recovering survivors of domestic violence, meeting once a week, sharing stories while working on a collaborative play that will educate the public regarding this very complex topic.
 PlayBuilders of Hawai‘i Theatre Company to Receive $10,000 Grant From the National Endowment for the Arts
A Honolulu theatre company founded in 2011 will receive funding to support their first production in a trilogy of plays that will explore the complex social history between Missionary Descendants and Hawaiian Ali’i Mahalo to Jackie Young of Hawaii Business Magazine and to Kalamaikamala Elouise Margaret Sylvester for having the courage to share her story and experiences with PlayBuilders.
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"Open Your Hearts Wide" by Marion Lyman-Mersereau was made possible in part through generous grants from the Cooke Foundation Limited, The Atherton Foundation, and the National Endowment for the ARTS. To find out more about how the National Endowment for the ARTs grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
PlayBuildersʻ community partners for this project were Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, (missionhouses.org) and the PAʻI Foundation (paifoundation.org).
Mahalo nui loa to Kumu Kahua Theatre, and The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa for their kokua. We are currently working to make "Open Your Hearts Wide Available" to Hawaii schools though special programing. For more information check under past projects at the top of the page.
PlayBuildersʻ community partners for this project were Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, (missionhouses.org) and the PAʻI Foundation (paifoundation.org).
Mahalo nui loa to Kumu Kahua Theatre, and The University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa for their kokua. We are currently working to make "Open Your Hearts Wide Available" to Hawaii schools though special programing. For more information check under past projects at the top of the page.
©2019 PlayBuilders of Hawai'i. All rights reserved.