Voices From Okinawa at the McCoy Studio Theater Maui
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Voices from Okinawa is a fascinating example of how interconnected The World can be and the amazing journey that an idea can travel. Jon Shirota ‘s father and three brothers left Okinawa in 1907, the father became a pineapple grower on Maui, his brothers returned to Okinawa while Shirota’s family remained on Maui, and over time Jon moved to Los Angeles.
Voices from Okinawa was first produced and presented by the East-West Players in Los Angeles. Now the famed Honolulu Kumu Kahua Theater is presenting it on Maui, at the delightful McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahului, Maui on Friday & Saturday January 15 & 16 2010 at 7:30 PM.
Voices From Okinawa “tells the story of Kama Hutchins, an American of Okinawan ancestry who is on the island to teach English to local Okinawans. He eschews traditional ESL teaching methods and asks his students to relate personal stories in front of the class. As each story unfolds, the attitudes of the students toward the American soldiers stationed on the island change. It’s a story of the connection between two cultures: their differences, similarities and the relationship that comes out of it.”
Jon Shirota is a gifted novelist as well as a playwright whose story is dramatic & comedic, informative without being preachy, and the play is certainly in ‘good hands & voices’ as anyone who has seen a Kumu Kahua production can testify. “Cast members include Kumu Kahua Theatre veterans: Stu Hirayama, Tyler Tanabe, Julia Nakamoto, Valerie Falle, Daniel Akiyama and Dann Seki. Kumu Kahua newcomers are: Yumi Nakama and Aya Ohara.”
Tickets are a mere $22, made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. There is some ‘mature content. You may email your requests or questions to boxoffice@mauiarts.org or fax 808-244-8850.
The ever delicious Ba-Le Catering is offering a pre-show dinner from 5:30PM. Check out the dinner menu here. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch this wonderful play.







