Kīhei Charter Presents Play “Charlotte’s Web”

Kīhei Charter School and Pro Arts Theater partner to produce the play “Charlotte’s Web” on May 17, 18, and 19, 2019.

The play at the Pro Arts Theater runs Friday, May 17, Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. The Friday and Saturday play begins at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is directed by Francis Tauʻa.

Director Francis Tau’a talks to young people who are a part of the Southside Youth Theater’s after school drama program before preparing to rehearse their upcoming play, Charlotte’s Web on May 17, 18, 19 at the Pro Arts Theater in Kīhei.
PC: Kīhei Charter School

The play is the result of a partnership that began with the Kīhei Charter School and the Pro Arts Theatre when Kristi Scott, who had been running the Charter School’s after-school drama club for 6th to 8th-grade students for 12 years, was hired as the Managing Director of the Pro Arts Theater.

“Once I started at Pro Arts I thought that’s perfect we can go over there and use the theater and just transfer there. We were able to involve other schools as well,” Scott said.

Kristian Hansen is 10 years old and plays the role of the Gander (a male goose) who is friends with Wilber and lives with him on Zukerman’s Farm, the center of the play. Hansen agrees with Scott that the drama program is a good idea.

“This is my first year doing a play. I like it a lot. I get to hang out with my friends and I really like acting. It’s really fun. I like acting out and expressing myself. Definitely doing it it’s a really cool experience and I can’t wait to actually perform it,” he said when asked if he liked acting in the play.

According to Scott, the young actors also learn skills such as teamwork, memory skills, communication skills, connecting them with their feelings, getting along with many different kids, responsibility and understanding their relationship to other people.

The Charter school continues to support the after-school drama program (the only one of its kind in Kīhei) with student recruitment, transportation to the theater and scholarships for the after-school program that runs from September to December and January to May. For information about how to get into the after-school drama program call (415) 595-3705.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and kids under 5 enter free. For tickets call (808) 463-6550 or buy them at the box office on the day of the show at least one half-hour before show time.