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Diane Aoki: Playwright and Copyeditor
Diane Aoki is a Hawaiʻi-based playwright and educator whose work explores memory, cultural identity, and family legacy. Her play Memory Beads, premiering at Kumu Kahua Theatre in May 2026, traces five generations of mother-daughter relationships through stories and heirlooms rooted in Okinawan and Hawaiian history. Diane is also a Story Circle Coordinator and contributing playwright with PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company, where she helps transform real community stories into theatrical works. Her writing reflects a deep commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices and fostering connection through the arts. |
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Deanna Espinas – Performer, Interviewer & Community Advocate
A passionate champion of diverse voices, Deanna Espinas brings depth, empathy, and skill to inclusive storytelling and community story gathering. Born and raised in Honolulu, she now lives in Pālolo Valley and is a retired correctional librarian with over 31 years of service at the Department of Public Safety. Deanna serves on the boards of several community organizations, including Hawai‘i’s Plantation Village, the Filipino-American Historical Society of Hawai‘i, Friends of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and the Hawai‘i People’s Fund. She is deeply involved in cultural and civic life, participating in activities that celebrate Hawai‘i’s rich social tapestry. An active member of Keolumana United Methodist Church and Faith Action for Community Equity, Deanna recently began her term on the Hawai‘i District Board of United Methodist Women. Her theatrical work with PlayBuilders of Hawai‘i Theater Company includes performances in The Waipahu Project and Dragonfly: The Story of a Young Local Girl’s Journey Through Foster Care. |
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Terri Madden, MFA – Playwright, Director & Founder of PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company
Terri Madden is a playwright, director, and community-based theatre artist who founded PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company in 2011. For over a decade, she has led the company in creating award-winning, collaboratively developed plays rooted in the lived experiences of Hawai‘i’s diverse communities. Terri has written and directed numerous productions, including Dragonfly: The Journey of a Young Local Girl Through Foster Care, Wahiawa: Remembah Wen, and co-directed Yes I Am: Stories from Honolulu’s (and then Leeward Community College) LGBTQ+ Community. Most recently, she wrote The Super Executive Aunties of the Mālama the Caregivers Collective in collaboration with non-professional family caregivers . In addition to her creative leadership, Terri manages grant writing, production, and outreach for PlayBuilders. She is currently working with Lee Tonouchi on the Okinawan project and is developing a training handbook and a series of workshops to expand PlayBuilders’ methodology and impact across the islands. Terri is an active member of the Hawaii State Theatre Council and is it's immediate past president and is now serving as secretary. |
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Elaine Valdov, PhD
Elaine Valdov is a peace and human rights activist, psychotherapist, and UN NGO representative known for her global work in nonviolence and trauma healing. She offers post-theatre workshops for PlayBuilders of Hawai‘i Theater Company, supporting participants after intensive community-based productions. Dr. Valdov also leads an annual workshop series on nonviolence and peace-building, helping individuals cultivate resilience, compassion, and social change.
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Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, PhD
Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak is an internationally respected theatre scholar, translator and pioneer in bringing Jingju (Pekin Opera) to western audiences. As an educator and performer, she has broken cultural and linguistic boundaries from training English-speaking students at the University of Hawai'i to performing on mainland Chinese stages. Her scholarly contributions and decades of cross-cultural engagement have made her a unique bridge between East and West in the performing arts. Elizabeth has been with PlayBuilders for many years and directed Bursting Bubbles: Jenny's Story, co-wrote the film script "Open Your Hearts Wide" and co-directed "The Super Executive Aunties of the Mālama the Caregivers Collective"
Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak is an internationally respected theatre scholar, translator and pioneer in bringing Jingju (Pekin Opera) to western audiences. As an educator and performer, she has broken cultural and linguistic boundaries from training English-speaking students at the University of Hawai'i to performing on mainland Chinese stages. Her scholarly contributions and decades of cross-cultural engagement have made her a unique bridge between East and West in the performing arts. Elizabeth has been with PlayBuilders for many years and directed Bursting Bubbles: Jenny's Story, co-wrote the film script "Open Your Hearts Wide" and co-directed "The Super Executive Aunties of the Mālama the Caregivers Collective"
