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Dance Maui

Adaptations Dance Theater presents festival Saturday

Nicole Yezzi (from left) Hallie Hunt and Nicole Humphrey perform with Adaptations Dance Theater. TRISH BARKER photo

In its second year, Dance Maui has already seen an increase in participation and support, with 15 professional dance organizations and student groups taking the stage in back-to-back performances.

“Maui is a hub for cultural diversity in every aspect of life, and as a professional dance company, we wanted to celebrate that diversity through dance,” said Adaptation Dance Theater co-founder and Dance Maui Director Nicole Humphrey. “This festival is just one of the ways ADT hopes to contribute to and unite the thriving dance community on the island, and help increase the public’s awareness of dance as a significant player in Maui’s greater arts sector.”

This year’s lineup of dance troupes includes ADT, Akari Ueoka (performing Izanai Yosakoi from Japan), Alex Hutaff-Bautista (breakdancing), Darshan Dance Project (classical Indian Odissi), Halau Ka ‘Imi Na’auao O Hawai’i Nei, Lasensua Osborne (salsa dance), Maui Aerial Arts, Maui Argentine Tango group (waltz and tango), Maui Belly Groove Raqset Project (Egyptian folkloric dance), Samba Maui with the Village Pulse Dancers and Sumek Dance (swing). Student dance companies participating are Alexander Academy of Performing Arts, Dancewear Maui LLC, the Maui Academy of Performing Arts and the Seabury Hall Dance Ensemble.

“I believe that various forms of art exist to share our human experiences with others,” says Ueoka. “If 10 people experienced the same phenomenon, there would be 10 ways to interpret and portray it. To observe others’ experiences helps us to deepen our own experiences, which then inspires us to think about the world outside of our accustomed norm, while being given the opportunity to get in touch with the space inside of our hearts.”

“It is extremely exciting to bring back Dance Maui after such a warm and welcoming response from our audience last year,” says Humphrey. “To know that the community is just as eager to support this event as we are to produce it — as we can see from the increase in dancers, volunteers, sponsors and donors involved in this year’s production – it gives us the added confidence to bring it back on an annual basis and see how it will grow.”

Jacob Keyser (from left), Carl Molinaro, Kela Rothstein, Carver Glomb and Kalan Birnie star in “Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy.” JACK GRACE photo

* Adaptations Dance Theater presents the second annual Dance Maui 2016, a festival showcasing Maui’s dance organizations as one community. The performance will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ke’opuolani Regional Park Amphitheater in Wailuku. Open grass seating tickets are $12, with children 10 and younger admitted for free. Low-back beach chairs or blanket are recommended. Free parking is available at War Memorial Stadium. For information or to purchase tickets visit, www.adaptationsdancetheater.com.

MINI-REVIEW

Seabury Hall musicals come around once every two years. When you incorporate their phenomenal facility and the sensational educational staff, said productions are must-see shows.

This year, they have pulled out all the stops presenting not only a Maui premiere, but also a musical that has only been available to produce regionally for a few months. The libretto of “Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy” is a bit too formulaic and reminiscent of past Alan Menken songs, but just like the original Whoopi Goldberg film, it is loaded with laughs and perhaps better billed as a comedy-musical.

Kela Rothstein’s performance in the leading role is a stunning success. A standout ensemble star for many years, she shines as Delores Van Cartier. Rothstein is an exceptionally gifted dancer with strong vocals and has quality comic timing, but her highlight is in the more dramatic title song. Singing is acting, too, and when combined properly it is theater magic. The acerbic Nanea Haynes, as the Mother Superior, armed with razor-sharp comedic delivery bestows many of the biggest laughs of the show. When asked by Delores if there is a smoking section at the convent, Hayes’ Mother Superior replies, “Yes, and you’re headed there.”

Director and choreographer David Ward saves many of the largest laughs for the boys of “Sister Act.” Kalan Birnie as Delores’ married boyfriend, Curtis, gets several of them on “When I Find My Baby,” a soulful R&B love song that surprises when he sings, “And when I find that girl,

I’m gonna kill that girl. I’m gonna wham, bam, blam and drill that girl.” Birnie’s backup singers, Carver Glomb, Carl Molinaro and Jacob Keyser add to the hilarious number with their smooth Jackson 5 dance moves. Zander Madrano, as detective “Sweaty” Eddie, has the most show-stopping moment in “Sister Act” with his two uproarious instant costume change on “I Could Be That Guy.”

The musical highlight of the production is Jena Mukai as Sister Mary Robert, with pitch-perfect delivery of “The Life I Never Led.” What Seabury’s “Sister Act” may lack in a mature choral sound is more than made up for with top-notch choreography, explosive cast energy, fantastic costumes and nonstop laughs.

* Seabury Hall Performing Arts continues “Sister Act: A Divine Musical” by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Alan Menken. David Ward directs, with musical direction by Molly Schad. Final performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center on the Seabury campus in Makawao. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $8 for students and are available at www.seaburyhall.org.

*****

Baldwin High School opens its theater season this weekend with the classic, heart-warming drama “Flowers for Algernon.”

Set in the mid-1960s, the play centers around Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged 32-year-old janitor. The other employees at the bakery where Charlie works regularly taunt and make fun of him, but he is unable to understand that he is the victim of their mockery. Alice, his teacher, hears of an experimental intelligence-enhancing treatment and recommends Charlie for the surgery.

After taking tests alongside a mouse, Algernon, who has already had the surgery, and is now able to zoom through a maze with ease, Charlie volunteers to be a part of the experiment. When chosen, and as he becomes hyper-intelligent, Charlie realizes the world around him is not as nice as he thought. The rapid increase in intelligence reverses course just as quickly, however, and eventually he returns to his previous disabled state.

When the novel debuted followed by the Academy Award-winning film version (“Charly,” starring Cliff Robertson), it brought great attention upon the treatment of the mentally challenged. Was medical experimentation worth risking the roller-coaster ride of emotions that compromised Charlie’s happiness and quality of life?

From 6:15 to 7 p.m. Saturday, the Baldwin Theatre Guild will also hold its annual student gala to fund the guild’s end-of-year New York theater trip. The gala includes preshow entertainment, a silent auction, desserts and beverages. The $15 tickets include general admission to “Flowers for Algernon” and preferred seating.

n The Baldwin Performing Arts Learning Center and Baldwin Theatre Guild present “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, directed by Linda Carnevale. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. Sundays this week through Nov. 20 at the Loudon Mini-Theatre on the Baldwin High School campus. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students and $3 for children 10 and younger, and are available at the box office 45 minutes before show time. To makes reservations for the gala fundraiser, call 727-3297.

ALSO THIS WEEK

ONO!, “one night only” production, returns with a showcase of scenes and songs with audience participation by Maui OnStage’s Youth Theater students.

* The performance will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Historic Iao Theater in Wailuku. The free ONO! productions happen every second Monday of the month.

UPCOMING

Vinnie Linares performs in his seminal role as Father Damien in Aldyth Morris’ “Damien” at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kula.

* The performance is free, and donations are encouraged. Proceeds will benefit the Upcountry food bank. For more information, call 878-1485 or visit www.stjohnsmaui.org.

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