Kennedy Theatre

Media Release

Department of Theatre and Dance
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
1770 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822

Contact: Jessica L. Jacob, Publicity Director
Phone: (808) 956-2598
Fax: (808) 956-4234
Box Office: (808) 956-7655 (v/t)
email: theatre-pr@hawaii.edu

September 22, 2003
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS AND OTHER STORIES” AT THE KENNEDY THEATRE!

The University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents “The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories,” a play compilation of children’s author Robert Munsch’s finest tales as the opening production in Kennedy Theatre’s 40th anniversary season. Adapted for stage by Irene M. Watts and directed by Tamara Hunt, “The Paper Bag Princess” will be performed in the newly renovated Kennedy Theatre. New carpets, improved restroom accessibility including additional restroom stalls, a vertical chair lift and increased wheelchair seating update the 40-year-old facility. Performances of “The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories” will be on the Kennedy Theatre Mainstage Saturday, October 25 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m. The Sunday, October 26th matinee will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Subscribers have first choice of seats and can purchase tickets at the special discount price of $7 when purchasing at least five tickets to any mainstage show or combination of shows. The subscription deadline is October 1st. (Info: 956-7655 v/t)

In “The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories” the wildly popular books of Robert Munsch come to life as ”The Paper Bag Princess” outwits the pompous dragon; “Mud Puddle” teases his playmate; “Mortimer” keeps everyone awake; and “Angela’s Airplane” soars into the sky. Puppets of all shapes and sizes enhance this production, making this a delightful play experience for families with children eight and under. An ensemble cast of 12 includes Kevin Pacheco, seen in past family theatre productions “The Boy Who Stole The Stars” and “Eco-Circus” as well as “Boy Who Stole The Stars” dragon-puppet animator Paowaluk Suraswadi.

Director Hunt’s plays and musicals have been performed on the Kennedy Theatre stage annually to over 6,000 audience members for approximately 30 years. She is considered one of Hawai'i’s best directors of multi-cultural theatre and is recognized locally for her direction of Lisa Matsumoto’s popular “Once Upon One Time” trilogy. Articles about her work are found in many national journals and she has authored five books on educational puppetry including: “Puppetry in Early Childhood Education,” “Celebrate: Puppets and Creative Drama,” “Pocketful of Puppets: Mother Goose,” and “Greenpoems: Animals Around the World.” In 1998, Hunt was selected by Walt Disney to attend an Imaginations conference at the Disney Imagineering Center in California. Her students have graduated to become professional puppeteers with “Sesame Street” and “Eureka’s Castle” and have also appeared in “The Muppet Movie.”

Tickets for “The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories” go on sale Monday, October 13 at the Kennedy Theatre Box Office. Tickets may be purchased in person or charged-by-phone at 956-7655 (v/t) Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 regular, $10 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, $7 non-UHM students, children, $3 UHM students with validated Fall 2003 UHM photo ID. Tickets also available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 526-4400 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Service charges apply to Ticketmaster sales. For more information, charge-by-phone, or disability access, call the Kennedy Theatre Box office at 956-7655 (v/t).

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