University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Late Night Theatre will present Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, by award-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley, as its first production of the spring semester. The play will be performed at 11 p.m. on Feb. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at Kennedy Theatre’s Earle Ernst Lab.
Undergraduate theatre major Lavour Addison (seen this semester in UH Mānoa’s productions of Handler and Sonnets for an Old Century) makes his directing debut with Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. “I chose this play because it showcases the strength of humanity overcoming circumstance,” he said, adding that it challenges the actors to work on showing both range and emotional vulnerability. Due to some violent and sexual content, the show is recommended for mature audiences.
The play asks whether these two people—who are finally articulating their hopes and fears—will be able to move on from their past and step into a brighter future, or will be forever be consumed by devils they’re unable to shake.
Kaitlin Souza (most recently seen as Sister Alice in Handler) and newcomer Leon Sheen are challenged with taking on these two complex characters. They meet by happenstance one night in a Bronx bar while grappling with their individual demons. As they begin to learn about one another, they also begin to learn about themselves. Shanley described the play as a “dance of passion” which incorporates images of physical violence while still remaining incredibly beautiful and powerful.
Ticket information
Tickets for Danny and the Deep Blue Sea go on sale at the box office one hour before show time each night.
Prices are $10 for general admission; $8 for UH faculty and staff, seniors, military and non-UH Mānoa students; and $5 for UH Mānoa students with a validated spring 2013 UH Mānoa photo ID. Latecomers will not be admitted once the performance has begun.
For more information, visit the Kennedy Theatre website or call the theatre at (808) 956-7655 for disability access and other questions.
