Rachel DeBoer Makes Hawaii Glow in the Dark

By Katie McMillan

Rachel DeBoer’s canvas is not made out of fabric—it is the human body and she is transforming how we traditionally experience theatre through black light.  DeBoer’s theater company, Next Level Theater Productions, is gaining recognition by creating powerful, glow-in-the dark visual presentations of Hawaiian cultural, mythological and educational themes.

Aumakua Creator Rachel DeBoer

DeBoer’s latest black light theatre production, Aumakua, was recently accepted by Ritz Carlton Kapalua Cultural Advisor, Clifford Nae’ole to premiere at the 19^th Annual Hawaii Celebration of the Arts. The Hawaii Celebration of the Arts is Hawaii’s premiere hands-on arts and cultural festival taking place at the Ritz Carleton Kapalua from April 22^nd-24^th 2011. The event theme is “E na Aumakua: A Call to All things of Nature”  and is sponsored by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.

“Aumakua was accepted for the kids entertainment at the festival by Clifford Nae’ole because of its exceptional Hawaiian cultural themes about Aumakua itself and the visual magic that black light costumes, props, puppets, and face painting on actors delivers. The show is children centered. Its a black light puppet show about the meaning of Aumakua, family, and ones ancestors.” states DeBoer.

No stranger to the performing arts, DeBoer has been involved in theatre for over twenty-five years.  In addition to her black light productions, she is currently working with the Maui Theatre on creating mural projects for ‘Ulalena.

DeBoer states, “My mission is to amaze and astonish people through the visual magic of black light mythological multi-media and multi-cultural theatre presentations.”

To learn more about Next Level Theatre Productions and Rachel DeBoer, go to www.racheldeboer.com or contact Rachael directly at 808-268-8651.

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