Late-night theater launches season with 'Identity Crisis'

Devon Izumigawa performs in “Identity Crisis." Mareva Minerbi photo

The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance will begin its 2013-14 Late Night Theatre season with “Identity Crisis,” a dance concert featuring new choreography by six Theatre and Dance students.  The show will be the first dance performance in the Late Night series since the 2006-07 season, and will be directed by Dance MA candidate Kathryn Holt.  Performances will take place at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre on September 27 and 28, and October 4 and 5 at 11:00 p.m.

Holt (seen last season in UHM’s “Spring Footholds”) uses the show to address the common human issue of identity, and hopes the performance will lead audience members to ask themselves some important questions: How do we define ourselves as individuals?  What shapes us?  How is “who we are” defined by our experiences and surroundings?  The choreographers and performers will approach these questions employing a variety of styles, utilizing their diverse backgrounds in modern, ballet, jazz, Okinawan dance, Chinese dance, butoh, drag, hip hop, bharata natyam, hula and Irish dance.

Among the choreographers is Dance BFA candidate Lei Ishikawa, whose senior project is her choreographed piece “Exp.”  Ishikawa is known for doing Okinawan dance within the community, but has also trained in modern, ballet and other styles; her piece deals with the cultural conflicts she has felt as she pursued her art.  She describes the piece as an exploration of the question, “What type of dance represents me?” and concludes that “sometimes there are no clear answers.”  In addition to “Exp.," the show will feature work choreographed by undergraduate Kele Roberts, and graduate students Rohini Acharya, Sami L.A. Akuna and Ruby MacDougall.  Holt also contributed two pieces to the performance.

Holt felt it was crucial that “the voices of the dancers, and not just the choreographers,” be heard.  In addition to the choreographers’ work, the show will feature group and solo pieces that were created by the dancers out of improvisation; the goal is for each of the artists to explore and showcase their individuality as people and performers.  “This aspect of the concert is a little different from dancers’ usual experience of putting together a show,” remarks Holt.  “But then again, Late Night doesn’t always do dance productions, so I felt I wanted to set ‘Identity Crisis’ apart from other concerts and create a show that everyone can understand, connect with and enjoy.”

Tickets for “Identity Crisis” are available at the Kennedy Theatre box office on performance nights, one hour before the show.  Prices are $10 general admission; $8 seniors / military / UH faculty and staff / UHAA members / students; and $5 UHM students with validated Fall 2013 UHM photo ID.  Ticket prices include all service fees.  For further information, please visit the department’s website at hawaii.edu/kennedy, or call the theater(808) 956-7655.  For disability access, please call the theater.

EVENT:

“Identity Crisis”

PRESENTED BY:

UHM Department of Theatre and Dance

WHEN:

Sept. 27, 28, Oct. 4, 5 at 11 p.m.

WHERE:

UHM’s Kennedy Theatre Mainstage

1770 East-West Road, Honolulu

TICKET PRICES:

$10 general admission

$8 seniors / military / UH Faculty and staff / UHAA members / students

$5 UHM students with validated Fall 2013 UHM photo ID

PURCHASE INFO:

Tickets are available at the Kennedy Theatre box office on performance nights, one hour before the show.

For more information, visit: http://hawaii.edu/kennedy/2013/identitycrisis/

• Press Release