"PlayBuilders Mission is to gather and share real stories that resonate with, empower and connect individuals within the many culturally rich and diverse communities of Hawaii."
About Playbuilders
PlayBuilders is known as a community-based, applied, or community-specific theatre. Our mission is to "gather and share real-life stories that resonate with, empower and connect the many culturally rich and diverse communities of Hawaiʻi" We are now able to include the neighboring islands!
We sometimes travel to Hawaii’s geographic neighborhoods or invite small special interest groups to join us at The Downtown Arts Center in Chinatown or Mission Memorial Auditorum to write and present plays based on knowledge shared by community members. Although there are other companies of this type in the United States and other parts of the world, as far as we know, PlayBuilders is Hawaii’s first and only.
Over the last 14 years we have created many original plays with residential areaʻs such Chinatown, Wahiawa, and Waipahu, historic interest plays like Hawaiian Missionary Descendants, as well as with special concern groups like Domestic abuse Survivors, Former Foster Youth, the unhoused, family caregivers and others. We are currently collaborating with the Okinawan Community on a community-based play by Lee Tonouchi titled “Our Okinawan Community" and for the first time will be touring to neighboring islands.
We sometimes travel to Hawaii’s geographic neighborhoods or invite small special interest groups to join us at The Downtown Arts Center in Chinatown or Mission Memorial Auditorum to write and present plays based on knowledge shared by community members. Although there are other companies of this type in the United States and other parts of the world, as far as we know, PlayBuilders is Hawaii’s first and only.
Over the last 14 years we have created many original plays with residential areaʻs such Chinatown, Wahiawa, and Waipahu, historic interest plays like Hawaiian Missionary Descendants, as well as with special concern groups like Domestic abuse Survivors, Former Foster Youth, the unhoused, family caregivers and others. We are currently collaborating with the Okinawan Community on a community-based play by Lee Tonouchi titled “Our Okinawan Community" and for the first time will be touring to neighboring islands.
PLAYBUILDERS BUILDS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE THEATER
When you sponsor a PlayBuilders production, you participate in the most empowering human exchange there is, the sharing of story, of place, of history and of personal struggles. You also participate in making our communities stronger, happier, and safer places to live.
What people say about PlayBuilders:
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to get so intimate an awareness of a life so different than my own.”
- David Starr, Someone Else’s Slippahs
“I will continue to tape my dad’s stories because he has sooo many more to tell. In fact, I did not know about his gorilla days in the Philippines and his brother’s death at Bataan until the play.”
– Norma Combs, Wahiawa Remembah Wen
“I needed to see the play tonight- especially the SB1 rally scene. I see now that I am not the only one who had experienced that hatred. I am not crazy. This has been very healing and I am so glad I came."
- Audience Member, Yes I am, Leeward Edition
“I always thought when I passed a homeless person on the street that they were just lazy or on dumb and deserved to be where they were. I now know better and learned to be more compassionate that evening.”
- Audience Member, Houseless in Paradise
“I need to get home to my kids. I need to recommit myself to being a better parent.”
- Audience Member, Dragonfly, The Story of a Young Local Girls Journey Through Foster Care
“I owe my grown kids an apology. I never understood what I put them through until now.
I just didn’t understand how much I hurt them.”
– Audience Member Dragonfly, The Story of a Young Local Girls Journey Through Foster Care.
“...If my story can help somebody, just one person, it’s worth it. All the things I went though, the pain, it’s worth it.”
- A community member who shared her story, Houseless in Paradise
Sponsorship Levels
$2,500 Ohana Sponsorship
- Name in printed program, posters, website, press release, and PlayBuilders emails, recognizing you as an OHANA Sponsor
- 4 tickets to PlayBuilders Festival
- 4 tickets to one PlayBuilders’ “Bursting Bubbles”
- 4 tickets to PlayBuilders and Hawaiian Missionary Houses Historic Site and Archives production of “ Open Your Hearts Wide.”
$5,000 Malama Sponsorship
- Name in printed program, posters, website, press release, and PlayBuilders emails, recognizing you as a MALAMA Sponsor
- 6 tickets to PlayBuilders Festival
- 6 tickets to one PlayBuilders’ “Bursting Bubbles”
- 6 tickets to PlayBuilders production of “Open Your Hearts Wide”
- 6 Invitations to opening night pre-show party.
$10,000 Pono Sponsorship
- Name in printed program, posters, website, press release, and PlayBuilders emails, recognizing you as a PONO Sponsor
- 8 tickets to PlayBuilders Festival
- 8 tickets to one PlayBuilders’ “Bursting Bubbles”
- 8 tickets to PlayBuilders production of “ Open Your Hearts Wide.”
- 8 Invitations to opening night pre-show party.
$15,000 Mana Sponsorship
- Name in printed program, posters, website, press release, and PlayBuilders emails, recognizing you as a MANA Sponsor
- 10 tickets to PlayBuilders Festival
- 10 tickets to one PlayBuilders’ “Bursting Bubbles”
- 10 tickets to PlayBuilders production of “Open Your Hearts Wide”
- Executive Director and Founder Terri Madden will hold a free 2 hour Story Circle workshop for your company or group using PlayBuilders artistic tools, methods, strategies and processes to help you create stronger and more connected relationships.
CUSTOM PACKAGES CAN BE DEVELOPED FOR SPONSORS ABOVE $15,000
For more information on PlayBuilders Sponsorship, please contact Terri Madden at [email protected] or call her at 808-218-0103. Mahalo nui!
