Waimea Community Theatre - The Play's The Thing...

Waimea Community Theatre
Celebrates 48 Years of Bringing Live Theatre to North Hawaii Audiences!

See Photos of the Production!! Click Here

WAIMEA COMMUNITY THEATRE OPENS “OLIVER!” NOVEMBER 11

November 11 marks the opening of Waimea Community Theatre’s much anticipated fall musical, “Oliver!” at the historic Parker School Theatre in central Waimea. Based on the Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist,” the musical features book, lyrics and music by Lionel Bart and is presented by special arrangement with Tams Witmark Music Library of New York City.

“Oliver!” is the story of a plucky orphan who is sold by his orphanage/workhouse to a local undertaker, and manages to escape and make his way to London to seek his fortune in the big city. Adopted by a gang of cheerful pickpockets, Oliver struggles to become one of the boys, but his naivete quickly lands him in the hands of the law for a theft he isn’t guilty of. Through happenstance he is released and adopted by the victim of the theft, an elderly gentleman with an as-yet unknown connection to the orphan boy. Through many delightful and memorable songs, the story plays itself out, and lucky Oliver finds a loving home at last.

“Oliver!” is directed by Miguel Bray, who has previously guided “Fiddler on the Roof”, “The King and I”, “Victor / Victoria” and “Peter Pan” for the active local theatre group, which presents four plays and two major choral concerts each year. Musical Direction is furnished by Barbara Kopra, a well-known local musician, choral director, and performance arts instructor for Hawai’I Preparatory Academy.

The show features a cast of fifty, with nearly 30 talented youngsters and teenagers playing the parts of the orphans, pickpockets and others who make Oliver feel at home in London. Through a twist of fate equal to that of the show, the parts of Oliver and The Artful Dodger, the play’s other leading child role, fell to talented brothers Parker and Bradley Hall of Waimea. Other adult and child roles are filled by a variety of actors hailing from as far away as lower Puna and South Kona.

Some of the hit songs to become popularized by the musical include “Consider Yourself One of Us”, “Where is Love”, Who Will Buy” and “As Long As He Needs Me”. The latter is sung by tragic heroine Nancy (portrayed by Hayley Blondin) about her violent boyfriend Bill Sykes (played by Waimea newcomer Greg Doppmann). The pickpocket ringleader, Fagin, is played by local architect Clem Lam, with a humorous twist sure to delight audiences as he sings several favorites, including the ever popular “I’m Reviewing the Situation”.

Performances span three weekends, from the 11th through Sunday, November 27. Curtain time for Friday and Saturday shows is 7:30 pm while Sunday matinees begin at 3:00 pm. Tickets, priced at $16 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, and $10 for children, are available in advance in Waimea from Waimea General Store and Without Boundaries. Kona area residents can find tickets at Suite Possibilities in downtown Kailua-Kona. Tickets purchased in advance from the ticket outlets or from cast members are discounted by $2 each and are good for general seating at any performance. Timely arrival is encouraged to secure optimal seating.

Further information is available from the Theatre’s website, waimeacommunitytheatre.org, or by visiting “Waimea Community Theatre and Chorus” on Facebook. Additional information can also be obtained by calling 938-3062.

With a final flair, WCT has finished casting its November production of the musical "Oliver!" Last week's auditions were monumental with more than 60 persons, ages 4 to 75, vying for the many colorful parts in the well known play.

Pursuing its policy of welcoming all community members, the Director has made a special effort to use as many as possible of the interested and talented auditioners for the show itself. More than 30 children and teenagers will take part in the production as Orphans, Pickpockets, Children in Street scenes and Chimney Sweeps. Older teens will portray young people in the pickpocket gang, the local constabulary, tavern hostesses and several teen parts in the script. In an unusual turn of fate, the two major child parts in the play (Oliver and the Artful Dodger) will be portrayed by stage newcomers and brothers, Bradley and Parker Hall.

Many of the choice parts in the show will go to newcomers to the Waimea stage, or indeed to Waimea itself, part of WCT's goal of broadening its draw on the talent pool of North Hawaii, and preserving the accessibility of performance opportunities for the greater community. Performers for Oliver! are drawn from as far afield as Lower Puna, South Kona, Hawi, and the Hamakua Coast, in addition to those hailing from the Waikoloa-Waimea-Honoka'a corridor. Youngsters in the production are drawn from eight local schools.

OLIVER! will be performed Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday Matinees at 3:00 pm for three weekends in November, opening November 11 and closing November 27, 2011. Ticket prices are anticipated at $16 for adults; $13 for Seniors and Students; $10 for children. A $2 discount will be available for advance sale purchases from cast members or our faithful ticket outlets, Waimea General Store and Without Boundaries in Waimea, and Suite Possibilities in Kailua-Kona. Advance sale tickets are expected to be available approximately October 24th.

Insofar as attendees at the nine performances are expected to exceed 2000 persons, WCT encourages local entrepreneurs, friends and supporters of Community Theatre to take the opportunity to place their business card or display ad in the show program. Reasonable rates make an advertisement both a worthwhile investment and a nod of support for the many volunteers that work to bring quality theatre performances to North Hawai'i audiences. (For information on advertising, contact 938-3062 or email: ads@waimeacommunitytheatre.org )

The cast list for Oliver! appears below. "Oliver!" is presented through a special arrangement with the Tams-Witmark Music Library of New York, NY. Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart. Based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist.

Name                                     Age     Role
Bradley Hall                             10       Oliver

Beyonce Corpuz                       8       Workhouse/Society Child
Hunter Kalahiki-Arnbrister 9       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Bruce Risley                              9       Workhouse/Society Child
Cooper Callender                     9       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Jadyn Ashcraft                        10       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Charlee Brown 10       Workhouse/Society Child
Violet Duncan 10       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Christian Gomez 10       Workhouse/Society Child
Keelee Thering 12       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Kyra Matsuda                          12       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep
Romily Benedict 12       Workhouse/Chimney Sweep

Parker Hall                               11 The Artful Dodger

Isabella Police                           8       Pickpocket
Pearl Dickson                            9       Pickpocket
Luke Harper                             10       Pickpocket
Maluhia Sanchez 11       Pickpocket / Pauper
Maya Krauss                            11       Pickpocket
Leonardo Hagan 12       Pickpocket
Emily Risley 12       Pickpocket
Tanner Legler 12       Pickpocket /Pauper
Jack Seymour 12       Pickpocket
Mick Miller 13       Pickpocket / Pauper
Selina Keawekane 16       Pickpocket/Pauper/Tavern Hostess

Kodi Edmondson 7       Society Child
Sean Dunnington 14       Chorus/Pickpocket
Raina Thering 15       Charlotte/Tavern Hostess/Chorus
Madyson (Mady) Harper 14       Bet
Aidan Wharton                        15       Bow Street Runnner/Chorus/Other
Aron Risley                              16       Noah/Chorus
Bryden Jones                          18   Bow Street Runner/Chorus/Other

Greg Doppmann Bill Sykes
Hayley Blondin                                   Nancy
Clem Lam                                          Fagin
Tom Buechele Mr. Bumble
Marya Anuhea Young Widow Corney
Jeff Jones Mr. Sowerberry
Jayne Kerns Mrs Sowerberry
Brian Thomas                                    Mr. Brownlow
Lisa Shattuck Mrs Bedwin
Gary Hagerman Dr Grimwig
Dedrie Miller Old Lady/Chorus
Brodie Callender Bow Street Runnner/Chorus/Other
Janie Edmondson Chorus
Katy Whitman                                    Chorus
John Stover Chorus
Cara McCann Flower Girl/Chorus