Perform in English and Hoike in Hawaiian Language. Sit in English and Noho in Hawaiian Language. Release in English and Hookuu in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Haa in Hawaiian Language. Hide in English and Pee in Hawaiian Language. Memorize in English and Hoopaanaau in Hawaiian Language. Touch in English and Hoopa in Hawaiian Language. Sing in English and Mele in Hawaiian Language. Appear in English and Oili in Hawaiian Language. Dive in English and Luu in Hawaiian Language. Crawl in English and Kolo in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Hula in Hawaiian Language. Balance in English and Kaulike in Hawaiian Language. Bellow in English and Kuo in Hawaiian Language. Breathe in English and Hanu in Hawaiian Language. Extend in English and Hoonui in Hawaiian Language. Embrace in English and Puliki in Hawaiian Language. Flinch in English and Kuemi in Hawaiian Language. Sit in English and Noho in Hawaiian Language. Release in English and Hookuu in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Haa in Hawaiian Language.
Hide in English and Pee in Hawaiian Language. Memorize in English and Hoopaanaau in Hawaiian Language. Touch in English and Hoopa in Hawaiian Language. Sing in English and Mele in Hawaiian Language. Appear in English and Oili in Hawaiian Language. Dive in English and Luu in Hawaiian Language. Crawl in English and Kolo in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Hula in Hawaiian Language. Balance in English and Kaulike in Hawaiian Language. Bellow in English and Kuo in Hawaiian Language. Breathe in English and Hanu in Hawaiian Language. Extend in English and Hoonui in Hawaiian Language. Embrace in English and Puliki in Hawaiian Language. Flinch in English and Kuemi in Hawaiian Language.

Western Theatre

This webpage is pending revision: UHM Theatre + Dance is currently evaluating and modifying its offerings and practices in order to better support anti-racist theatre and dance education. Changes coming soon!

Coursework in the Western Theatre program combines the academic disciplines of theatre history, theory, performance studies, and dramaturgy with the production specialties of acting and directing.  Research faculty in Western theatre have such diverse interests as Russian theatre, performance theory, the American avant-garde, and African-American drama. Teaching and productions in the Western area reflects a similar diversity and international scope. Students have also attended special workshops and training programs in commedia dell’arte, stage combat, Theatrical Biomechanics, clown, devised theatre, and TV.  Guest artists in residence have included Anna Deavere Smith, Gennadi Bogdanov, Antonio Fava, and Tim Miller.

Our department is widely renowned for its World Theatre history classes, which are co-taught by Western Theatre and Asian Theatre specialists. Western Theatre History courses treat topics from commedia dell’arte to women in theatre to contemporary political drama. Western Theory courses address major dramatic theories, contemporary critical theory, and performance studies. Students connect with their community through classes and work in dramaturgy, a field with increasing relevance in contemporary American theatre. Dramaturgs reach out to classrooms across the island through the Page to Stage program, an outreach effort that interfaces with secondary schools, community colleges, and universities. Recent Western theatre educational events include the “Brecht In/And Asia” international conference and a public event series on “The Zombie Renaissance.”

Western theatre faculty and directing students regularly present classic and contemporary work on the Kennedy Theatre Mainstage and in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Productions vary from the classics, such as Shakespeare, Aeschylus, Ibsen, and Gogol, to contemporary works, including Mee, Mamet, Churchill, Steinbeck, and Rodgers & Hammerstein, as well as new works by MFA playwrights.  Frequent collaborations with the Asian Theatre program result in uniquely exciting productions.  Late Night Theatre, a student-run theatre company, offers students opportunities in theatre management and artistic direction, as well as another venue for experimental theatre work in an intimate setting.