Music swells, bodies soar, feet pound. Dancers become instruments as they beat the rhythm on the Castle Theater stage floor. "Rhythmic Revolution" is a sizzling celebration of global movement and percussion, combining tap, flamenco, Afro-Cuban, Indian Odissi and Brazilian rhythms, arranged by Chloe Arnold and featuring renowned performers from around the world.
The show represents a landmark for the Maui dance community. Maui-based performer Sarala Dandekar, a world-class Indian Odissi dancer, said, "This is the first time someone has initiated a collaboration like this on the island. World music is already well established - musicians have been experimenting with blending different styles and techniques for years. But dance, especially dance on Maui, tends to stay within its own genre."
"Rhythmic Revolution" breaks down barriers, fomenting dialogue between dance genres from different countries and cultures. Each solo piece showcases a particular style, but as the pieces transition, the diverse styles collide, communicate and begin to connect.
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Jason Samuel Smith
The internationally acclaimed cast includes Chloe Arnold, artistic director and choreographer for Debbie Allen Productions and the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Tap Festivals; Jason Samuel Smith, Emmy Award winner and co-star of "Bring in da Noise," Bring in da Funk," "India Jazz Suites" and "Tap Heat"; Mark Mendonca, Broadway star and lead dancer in the movie "The Polar Express," who has performed at the White House for the past three presidents; and Japan's percussive sensation Yukiko Misumi, artistic director of the Tokyo International Tap Festival.
Special guests include India's Sarala Dandekar and the Odissi Dance Co., flamenco dancer Vanessa Cerrito and Indio, and urban Caribbean fusion from Sunny Gorg.
This vibrant dance fusion also features live musical accompaniment, a rare treat for dance lovers on Maui.
* "Rhythmic Revolution" takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Tickets are $12, $22 and $32 (plus applicable fees), available from the MACC?box office, 242-7469 or www.MauiArts.org.
This Weekend
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz": ProArts is presenting "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," adapted by Jonathan Lehman from the beloved story by L. Frank Baum. Tyler Charbonneau stars as Dorothy Gale from Kansas on her magical journey to the merry old land of Oz. The show features 12 talented Maui performers, including Dale Button, Joseph Duncan, Bill Schnitzer, Laurel Sherwood and Kalani Whitford.
* "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday and plays weekends through Nov. 21; at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 and 4 p.m. Sundays at the ProArts Playhouse at Azeka Mall in Kihei. There will be no performances this Sunday. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for floor seating. Call 463-6520 for tickets or more information.
"The Drowsy Chaperone" is a new musical masquerading as an old '20s musical. This fun madcap romp of pure entertainment all begins when a die-hard musical-theater fan invites us to listen to his "favorite 1920s musical," puts the record on his turntable, and the characters literally burst to life in his living room! Just released after finishing its recent Broadway run, "The Drowsy Chaperone" won the Tony Award for its book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.
"We're so happy to be doing a new musical, just off Broadway, a Maui premiere," says director/choreographer David Ward. "Nobody's seen this one yet!" Two dozen Seabury students are working with Ward and music director Stephen Haines.
* "The Drowsy Chaperone" opens at 7 p.m. Friday and runs three weekends: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 14 and 21 at the Seabury Hall Performance Studio. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7 for students. Call 573-1257 for reservations and information.
"Rock-n-Roll" is a sweet, hilarious, and fun-filled trip back to the 1950s with great music, energetic dances and outrageous characters. Meet the unforgettable cast from Herbert Hoover High School: There's Corndoggie, who stands up dream girl Betsy Lou on prom night, leaving both completely miserable and alone; cool Manfred; dim-witted Duffy; the head rally girl Darlene; super-jock trouble-maker Forrest Barrett; and more jocks, more rally girls and even the misfit biker gang "Duh Wheels" who end up cornering Corndoggie and his pals in a chase scene that tumbles over into the audience. A large cast of 48 Baldwin students are working with director Linda Carnevale and music director Tana Larson.
* "Rock-n-Roll" opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday and runs two weekends; 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays; and a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Loudon Mini Theater on the Baldwin campus. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for kids 17 and under. No reservations are necessary.
LOL@MACC with Bret Ernst: Laugh Out Loud at the second show in the MACC's new stand-up comedy series, featuring the nation's hottest comedians from the live circuit and TV. Bret Ernst is a headliner in top comedy clubs across the country and has earned the prestigious honor of marquee status on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.
* Bret Ernst performs at 7:30 tonight at the McCoy Studio Theater at the MACC. Tickets are $25 and $45 for VIP seating with post-show meet and greet (plus applicable fees). MACC tickets available as above.
Bach for Coffee: The big personalities of Bach and Telemann share the stage in this musical comedy that infuses factual history about the composers' works into a humorous performance. On the program will be Bach's "Coffee Cantata" and Telemann's "Dead Canary Cantata," featuring soloists Lauren Pomerantz, Cameron Keys and Lisa Paulsen with the Maui Madrigale and musicians of Early Music Maui. Timothy Wolfe performs as Bach, Paul Janes-Brown as Telemann and Vinnie Linares as Zimmermann. The cantatas are sung in English so the audience may appreciate the full humor of these secular works.
* "Bach for Coffee" shows at 7 p.m. Saturday at the MACC's McCoy Studio Theater. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors and free to students 18 years & younger (plus applicable fees), available as above.
The Comedy Hui: This island improv comedy show at the MACC features fast-paced games, wacky characters and even a few musicals. If you liked the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" you won't want to miss this one, which is character-based comedy from audience suggestion. Each performance is completely different because each audience co-creates the show with the cast and a live band. Get your giggles on and don't forget to bring your friends for a night full of fun.
* The Comedy Hui performs at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at McCoy Studio Theater at the MACC. Tickets are $27 and $12 with Hawai'i ID (plus applicable fees). Not recommended for kids under 16. Tickets available as above.
Coming Up
"Nutcracker Sweets": Tickets are now on sale for "Nutcracker Sweets," a whimsical, family-friendly ballet based on the holiday classic.
Running for two performances only, the ballet features guest artist Derek Sakakura and more than 100 Maui Academy of Performing Arts dancers.
* "Nutcracker Sweets" shows at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday Dec. 5 at Maui Theater (home of " 'Ulalena"). Seating is reserved. Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for children 12 and younger. Call 244-8760 for tickets.
