T-Shirt Theater is low-
By Alisa Lavelle
tech but high-zest
Star-BulletinSEEING one of his former students performing with T-Shirt Theater "brought tears to my eyes," said kindergarten teacher Michael Kawaguchi about a 15-minute show at Puuhale Elementary.
Fellow kindergarten teacher Sherry Caldeira agreed with Kawaguchi that Tuesday's performance -- kicking off the school year -- helped reinvigorate and remind teachers that each year means a lot to their students.
Fifth-grade teacher Shannon Wong wanted more. "They should come every year and come mid-year for another boost," said Wong.
The show, "Rich Kids" --performed and written by students between ages 13 and 17 -- equates "rich" with life satisfaction rather than money. The students used comedy and their own experiences to help send the message.
Each show included monologues, a song called "Mother," dedicated to all teachers, and handshakes between performers and audience. The finale, "Everyone has the Right to be Wrong," brought laughter and loud applause.
"This increases their self-esteem when they write a scene, work it out and then, watch an audience get the message," said director and T-Shirt Theater founding father George Kon.
The students, three associate directors and Kon could be identified by their T-Shirt Theater T-shirts. The name comes out of their motto: Low tech, high zest. "There's nothing more low tech than a T-shirt," said assistant director Agaton Pasion, 26.
It all started in 1982 at Farrington High School, where student assemblies. were way too rowdy. "We wanted to take our assemblies back," Kon said.He and producer Walt Dulaney used drama to bring back the audience, getting football players to perform lines from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The performances were riveting.
"We tamed the audience in three years," Kon said. "All we had to say was 'Focus,' and they would remember how much guts it took to be up there (on stage)."
An Alliance Program grant three years later brought T-Shirt Theater to life.
One of the program's successes is Ova Saopeng, a 1987 graduate of Dole Middle School, who received a $22,000 scholarship from the University of Southern California and now works for two theater companies in Los Angeles.
"It's great to see these younger kids rise," Kon said.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the company.
Every year students are invited to try out for T-Shirt Theater by performing a monologue, a dance and a song.
"I was so scared in the auditorium," said Michelle Pannell, a 15-year-old Farrington High School student. "I didn't think I could make it."
Students needed to show more than talent. "We look for a quality of generosity," Kon said. "The ability to give and take the light."
This year's company includes 26 students from Farrington and Roosevelt high schools, Dole Middle School and Kalakaua Intermediate.
A group of 16 performed on Tuesday. For many, the performances were their first.
Richard Evans, 13, said it felt great.
"I would watch action movies and wanted be an actor," Evans said. "It feels good being in front of an audience."
The company began practice for "Rich Kids" on July 5, meeting Monday and Thursday evenings. The company will rehearse 11 months during the year, operating under the mantra, "I am prompt, prepared and pleased to be here."
For the students, performing has challenges and rewards.
"It's hard remembering lines and projection, because sometimes you get a long line or word you don't know and you have to act normal," Pannell said. "But, it's still fun.
The company performed the show at school libraries, cafeterias, auditoriums and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. They started Tuesday with a 7 a.m. practice and gave five performances at different schools between 8 and 11:30 a.m.
"We kept to our motto and turned anywhere into a performance area," said Nathaniel Corpuz, a 15-year-old student at University Lab School. "We use more imagination and less props."
"It's a rush to be on stage," Corpuz said. "I love it."
Ronald Rohr, 16, said he felt scared in front of the audience, but loved it when they laughed and looked happy. "It shows me I make a difference in somebody's life."
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