6-7 Thursday, July 20, 2017 Passing the torch Festival presenting ‘The Mikado’ and Opera for Kids program By KATIE YOUNG YAMANAKA Special to the Tribune-Herald The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” — a complete theatrically staged opera featuring a full orchestra — in two Big Island performances: at 7 p.m. Friday at Palace Theater in Hilo, and at 4 p.m. Sunday at Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. The 1885 comic opera pokes fun at British politics and politicians, thinly disguised as Japanese people. Justin John Moniz serves as stage director with artistic direction by Val Underwood, and music direction by Jennifer Tung. This season, HPAF also is offering a special event for youth for the first time: Opera for Kids at 2 p.m. Sunday, before the closing performance at the Kahilu Theatre. “Participants will be invited backstage to take a look behind the scenes,” explains HPAF associate executive director Moniz. “Attendees will learn about makeup and costumes and how rehearsals are run. “They will also discover how set pieces and lighting elements are incorporated into the production and have an opportunity meet the singers before the show. At the end of their tour, they will create their own Japanese hand fans to take home.” Brett Sprague, who is directing the event, is a rising young tenor in the music world, who has conducted similar programs at Opera Colorado and other festivals. Parents of kids ages 5-14 can sign up for Opera for Kids by emailing info@hawaiipaf.org or calling 333-7378. The program is free (thanks to underwriting from Dr. Marcia and Stanley Wishnick of Waimea), and parents must accompany kids younger than 10. Those who sign up for the youth program (keiki and See MIKADO Page 9
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