Inspired by his late mentor Ron Bright, educator/actor/director Miguel Cadoy III has energized Farrington High School by mounting the first musical staged in the campus’ renovated auditorium, whose roof caved in during a fiery storm in 2012.
“Grease,” the kid-popular ’60s musical that was both a stage and film favorite, has united students and faculty alike and premieres Friday. It also will mark the launch of the Farrington Performing Arts Center.
Cadoy — a 2007 Farrington grad who is the school’s choral director — has assembled a cast of 29 enthusiasts (26 from Farrington, three from nearby Kalakaua Middle School). Abraham Hughes, a senior with no theatrical experience, is singing-dancing Danny Zuko, opposite Jewel Yere, a junior, as Sandy Dumbrowski. The roles were played in the 1978 film by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Cadoy also corralled science teacher Corey Harkins as his assistant director, Chelsey Muroda (counselor) and Erika Ebanez (math teacher) as choreographers, Erin Kamikawa (social studies) as costumer and 2012 Farrington alum Daven Medeiros as technical director. They’ve bonded in the mission to lay a foundation to gradually build up the Kalihi high school as a theatrical hub.
“I am extremely proud of every single student in the cast and crew,” Cadoy said. “This is their first time acting, singing or dancing on stage.” Hughes, in particular, “brings great energy to the cast.”
Cadoy hopes to instill in students what he learned from Bright: “Empower them to believe in yourself.” While not among the early wave of thespians trained by Bright, who did shows at Castle High School and later Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College, Cadoy said he “was able to become a Bright Kid and worked closely with Mr. B in his last four productions.”
Theatergoers may remember him as Hula Hoop (the Octopus) in Johnson Enos’ environmental-themed fantasy musical “Honu by the Sea,” and as Sebastian (the crab) in Diamond Head Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid.”
He hopes his actors make an imprint in Kalihi “because of our diverse ethnicities here” and is excited to provide the opportunity “to showcase our art through musical theater.”
With zero funding, FPAC sought community donations, raising $8,000 from a fall “Dream Big” concert, with supplementary support from the Farrington Alumni Community Foundation and Savers, the budget emporium down the street. Other high schools offered to loan costumes, and Facebook yielded donations and valuable exposure.
Cadoy also hopes to expand his drama reach to Kalihi feeder schools, the way Bright did for decades on the Windward side, in order to train and nurture future actors.
Performances of “Grease” are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through March 11. For tickets, call 305-5245 or visit ShowTix4U.com. …
AROUND TOWN
Frances Kakugawa, the award-winning island poet/educator/author, is here for readings and appearances in Honolulu and Hilo. She’ll read from and sign her latest book, “Dangerous Women: Poetry for the Ageless,” at 1 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center.
Now based in Sacramento, Calif., Kakugawa is a seasoned caregiving advocate who inspires caregivers to embrace poetry as an outlet for expression.
It’s hana hou for “The Films of Eddie and Myrna Kamae, From the Heart,” an online film fest of all 10 of the couple’s documentaries, beginning May 18 on PBS Hawaii. Eddie Kamae died in January 2017, but these docs are part of his and wife Myrna Kamae’s legacy now. Visit pbshawaii.org to support. …
SPAMALOT
Olympian gold medalist Chloe Kim, 17, adores Spam and eats it regularly. Gotta admire that, plus her snowboarding finesse. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
