PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theater Company, in collaboration with The Leeward Theatre at Leeward Community College, presents The Waipahu Project written by Leeward CC student and PlayBuilders’ 2015 Playwright-in-Residence, Kirstyn Trombetta, under the tutelage of award winning playwright, Kemuel DeMoville. The Waipahu Project will show at The Leeward Theatre on April 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m.
Directed by Leeward CC theatre instructor and professional director Ashley DeMoville, The Waipahu Project is based on stories shared by Waipahu residents with the help of PlayBuilders community organizers between April of 2014 and February 2015.
Methods for story collection included a series of story circles hosted by community organizations such as Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Village, Waipahu Community Coalition, Leeward CC and Waipahu High School Early College program. In addition, the play continues in the tradition of community-collaborative—a large number of Waipahu residents as performers in the piece.
The Waipahu Project reflects on the evolution of this sometimes-marginalized community displaying moments throughout history when Waipahu was a leader in what would become island-wide change. From the days when fresh water burst forth from the Waipahu artisan spring and was considered by Hawaiians the capital of Oʻahu, to the Oʻahu Sugar Company days when immigrants from all over the world worked the fields, to the arrival of other immigrant groups and the challenges of today’s Honolulu Rail Transit Project.
The public is invited to join in the celebration of love, hardship and resilience through the amazing history of Waipahu.
Watch The Waipahu Project Trailer from PlayBuilders on Vimeo.
Ticket information
Ticket prices
- $25 general admission
- $20 seniors/military/Leeward CC faculty and staff
- $15 youth and Leeward CC students
Tickets can be purchased online or at the Leeward CC Theatre box office. For more information, visit the Playbuilders of Hawaiʻi website.
