[ WEEKEND ]
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Devin Lucid, left, as Amahl, and Mary Chestnut Hicks as his mother in the production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors."
Julius Dae-Sung Ahn died bravely last year -- that is, as a doomed passenger in Diamond Head Theatre's production of "Titanic."
He returned to DHT this fall to play an anonymous black vigilante in "Ragtime" and then delivered a stand-out performance in a dual role as two of the designated villains in Army Community Theatre's recent revival of "Man of La Mancha."
Now he's taking a break from musical theater to play the benevolent King Kaspar in Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors."
Hawaii Opera Theatre presents "Amahl and the Night Visitors"
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, 1822 Keeaumoku St.When: 5 and 7 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 for age 17 and younger; available at the HOT box office, 985 Waimanu St., and at the door
Call: 596-7858
"I'm trying to delve into both -- I like musical theater, I like opera. I'm trying to pursue a career in vocal performing, and that's what I'm trying to get experience in, and I'm enjoying it," Ahn explained.
Ahn happens to be one of the relatively few people in local theater whose day job meshes with his love of performance. The former paralegal currently works days in the HOT offices in Kakaako.
This year's "Amahl," which opens at the First Presbyterian Church tomorrow, will be the third version that Ahn has performed in. He played the Page when HOT staged it last year, and was one of several cast members who were then invited to be part of the show staged by the Kona Association of Performing Arts (KAPA) on the Big Island.
The beloved opera by Gian Carlo Menotti is centered around the familiar Bible story of the three wise men following a star to Bethlehem. Amahl, a poor, crippled shepherd boy, offers his staff as an additional gift for the baby when the wise men come to his and his mother's home.
This year marks a step forward into a bigger role for him. The show will also be his third in a row with Mary Chesnut Hicks, who appeared opposite him in both "Ragtime" and "Man of La Mancha," and reprises her performance as Amahl's mother. It is also a reunion with another "Ragtime" alumnus, Devin Lucid, who will appear in the title role.
"Leon Williams is going to be fantastic as (King) Melchior, and I think the principals have a great blend. ... It's going to be a good show," Ahn said.
"I've been singing opera for almost three years, but you could say that opera found me," he added, explaining that he was working as a paralegal when a friend suggested that he audition for a place in the Honolulu Symphony Chorus (then known as the Oahu Choral Society). Ahn did, and as the group was preparing for a performance with the symphony, he was told that he should be singing opera.
"Stelio Scordilis wrote a Greek requiem, had me sing on it, then dragged me down to opera rehearsals, and 'Tales of Hoffman' was my first opera. That's how it got started."
AHN SAYS that his formal training started in 2001 with a few voice lessons from Larry Paxton. After that it was "this and that" as he sought out opportunities to sing. Ahn made his local theater debut with a speaking role in "Titanic" in 2002.
Like many other entertainers, Ahn recalls his parents trying to steer him toward a more secure profession. They were musicians themselves and wanted their son to become an attorney or doctor.
"I was highly regarded as a smart kid and an intelligent kid, and they didn't want me to go into the music business because they said it was a lonely and dirty business -- and no stability. I've loved singing all my life, but I never thought about pursuing it (as a career) until recently."
Ahn, 32, came to Hawaii "right before the millennium, December 30th of '99," after doing some research on opportunities for paralegals here.
"I just wanted to start anew 'cause I got burnt out of New York. I was working on Wall Street, and I literally said, 'Hawaii sounds good to me.' I was pursing law at the time and planning to go to law school, and there were firms (in Hawaii) interested (in hiring paralegals), so I moved out here."
Ahn is now "completely out of law" and working full time on his performance skills.
"Working at Hawaii Opera Theatre is a great place to be. ... All my supervisors know that is where my passion lies, and they've been very supportive of that."
Ahn will be busy for the next three months. He does "Amahl" this weekend and then will be singing in all three HOT shows in 2004. Look for him in the chorus of "Othello" and "Cosi Fan Tutte," and he will be one of the featured cast members in "The Merry Widow."
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