Hawai'i Public Theatre
Mission Statement
The Hawaiʻi Public Theatre is a 501 (c-3) non-profit theatre of, by, and for all people. We believe in theatre as the most human and immediate medium to tell the stories of our time, and affirm the primacy and centrality of comedy and laughter to the form, with a focus on Hawaiʻi.
Artist-driven, radically inclusive, and fundamentally democratic, The Hawaiʻi Public Theatre is a civic institution engaging, both on-stage and off, with some of the most important ideas and social issues of today. Theatre is an essential cultural force and that art and culture belonging to everyone. Thereʻll be performing, devising, festival, educational and community components.
Board of Directors
Suzen Murakoshi - Artistic Director
Anna Walden - Associate Artistic Director
Mareva Minerbi - Secretary/Director
Ann Catania, Director
Susan Suzuki, Director
Hawaiʻi Pubic Theatre was formed in February, 2016 by SH Murakoshi to train people in physical comedy theatre with the people of Hawaiʻi and visiting artists under the direction of Aitor Basauri. Originally partnered with the ARTS at Marks performing space, with Rich Richardson and Lala Nuss, this was the beginning of a four-year partnership. This training continued in February, 2017, where there was a public performance for the community. In January, 2018 and January, 2019, visiting artists were invited to perform, in addition to the training and student ho`ike performances. There were two to three nights, respectively, of performances for the community In 2019, SH Murakoshi was also able to enter the Kapolei Detention Center to work with an at-risk youth to write a play, “Iʻm Gonna Hunt You Down,” with a staged reading for her family and friends.
In 2020, the Aloha Hā Hā Hā Fest will continue to feature shows by visiting and local artists. The popular Sun, Surf, Physical Comedy Boot Camp will happen over two weekends, Jan. 18 - 20 and Jan. 24 - 26. Recently recognised as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) entity, Nov., 2019.
The UH Manoa Kennedy Earle Ernst Lab Theatre hosted Hā Hā Hawai`i, the Show, in January, 2020 for two performances.
Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 the Orlando Fringe Festival scheduled for May 12 - 25, 2020 was canceled due to lockdown.
In 2021, the Aloha Hāhā Fest consisted of 3 workshops via ZOOM led by Aitor Basauri in January. As a result, the Hā Hā Club Clown Hui was established as a Lab via ZOOM in February, 2021 by Aitor Basauri with the Hawai`i Public Theatre. The Hui is meeting once a month to work on new material, pitches and refine devised work via ZOOM. Eva Lansberryʻs "COOKING SHOW," Madelyn Bivenʻs "FEDERICO" as well as "MARY" devised by a local trio, are three pieces from the Aloha Hāhā Fest, 2021.
The Hā Hā Club Clown Hui now meets monthly with artists from all over the world, led by Aitor Basauri. Contact us for Information!