Hawaii Shakespeare Announces 2019 Festival

The Hawaii Shakespeare Festival (HSF) is pleased to announce its eighteenth season--with some big changes. The season kicks off with Shakespeare's final masterpiece, The Tempest, opening July 12. Next up is Much Ado About Nothing, a romantic comedy of codpieces and fake news, opening August 1. The season concludes with Shakespeare's dark tragedy, Macbeth, opening August 9.

Some big changes for HSF this season include our new partnership with Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH). After a trial run last year, with our remount of All's Well That Ends Well, HSF will be partnering with HMH to present Much Ado About Nothing outdoors. We also have a new director this year, Jordan Cho, making this the first season with two women directors. And, for the first time ever, none of the co-founders (R. Kevin Garcia Doyle, Tony Pisculli, Harry Wong III) are directing. This marks a big step forward for the Festival in outgrowing its origins. (But don't worry, they'll all be back at some point.)

Jordan Cho, first-time director with HSF, helms our season opener The Tempest at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Cho has previously been a performer with HSF, seen most recently as Lafew in All's Well That Ends Well and Lysander in the invented-language Midsummer Night's Dream. She also served as Assistant Director on Seagull and directed the one-act Lifeboat for Hawaii Opera Theatre. Says Cho, As someone who believes that theatre and magic are inextricable, I am deeply honored by this opportunity to direct Shakespeare's enchanting final masterpiece.

Next up is the comedy Much Ado About Nothing which will be presented at Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives. Jason Kanda previously directed Edward III and Twelfth Night for HSF. Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives are, thrilled to be a community partner with Hawaii Shakespeare Festival! Shakespeare has been performed in Hawai'i since 1834 and theater productions have been performed at our historic site since 1908. This partnership will enable our organizations to continue the tradition of the only outdoor performance of Shakespeare on O ahu.

Our 2019 season concludes with Shakespeare's Macbeth at The ARTS at Marks Garage, directed by Taurie Kinoshita, HSF's Education Director. Kinoshita has previously directed As You Like It, Henry VIII, and The Witch of Edmonton for HSF.

Auditions will take place in April (details to be announced), and shows will be on sale in June. For more information visit HawaiiShakes.org.

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