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Test your Will

Auditions will be held Wednesday for "Battle of Will," the debut production of Kennedy Theatre's 2005-06 season.

Running Nov. 11-20, "Battle of Will" is the American premiere of French playwright Laurent Gaudé's play about the power struggle between the head of a criminal organization and a young man whose family he murdered. The director is Markus Wessendorf.

Tryouts will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the theater, on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus. E-mail the director at wessendo@hawaii.edu for a script or other information.

Playwrights wanted

Kumu Kahua Theatre is offering a free playwriting workshop for those interested in working on an original play.

Writers will meet from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning Saturday, and continuing Saturdays on Sept. 17, Oct. 1, 15 and 29, Nov. 12 and 26, and Dec. 10. All but two of the meetings will be in Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant St.

The workshop will be directed by Harry Wong III, artistic director of Kumu Kahua, and Dennis Carroll, a co-founder of the theater who teaches beginning and advanced playwriting at the University of Hawaii-Manoa's Theatre and Dance Department. Guest advisors may help with individual sessions.

Sessions are open to novice and experienced playwrights. A short scene assignment each week will be designed to explore an aspect of playwriting. Scenes will then be read aloud.

The open admissions policy comes with two provisos: The workshop must be used to work on a theater play, not a work for film or television; and the play must be set in Hawaii or involve characters from Hawaii. Participants are urged to bring a short scene as a sample of their writing to the first meeting. To register, call 536-4222.

Run for it

Athletic programs in Hawaii's schools will be the beneficiaries of two Nike-sponsored events on Oct. 2: the 2005 Niketown 5K and the NikeGo 1 Mile Kids Run/Walk.

All of the entry fees collected will be donated to physical education or sports programs at schools selected by the participants. The races, first held in 2000, have raised $300,000.

There's something in it for the participants, too: Top finishers in the 5K will win Niketown gift certificates; all finishers in the 1-mile event will receive gift bags.

Both events will take place in the Niketown area in Waikiki.

Entry fee is $15. Entry forms are available at Niketown and Jamba Juice stores, and at www.niketown5k.com Call 943-6453. Deadline is Sept. 16 (late-entry fee will be $30).

Niketown is offering training runs for the 5K at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 and 24.

Recognizing recovery

Join hands for a moment of silence on Sunday in respect for individuals in recovery and those who are still suffering from addiction at "Hands Across the State" events at Maili Beach Park and Ala Moana Beach Park.

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona will proclaim September "Recovery Month" -- for National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month -- at Maili at 11:45 a.m. A moment of silence, with participants joining hands, will follow at noon.

But it won't all be somber: Festivities and volleyball games will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 330-4276 or visit www.waianaemeninrecovery.com.

Another moment of silence and other activities will be held at Ala Moana Beach Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 554-4831.

Related events will be held later in the month:

» Recovery Walk: At Kakaako Gateway Park, 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25. To register call 236-2600, ext. 285, or e-mail recoverywalk@hinamauka.org.

» Family Day: Parents are encouraged to sit down for a meal with their children on Sept. 26 as part of a national event promoting parental engagement as a way to reduce substance abuse by children and teens. Free brochures are available at Zippy's locations on Oahu or at the University of Hawaii Center on the Family. Call 956-4132 or visit www.casafamilyday.org.

A schedule of events for Recovery Month, including neighbor-island activities, can be found at www.hawaii.gov/hawaiidrugcontrolstrategy.

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Theater for teens explores world of stage

Teens looking to perform can join Honolulu Theatre for Youth's Teen Acting Company (TACo). Applications are being accepted from teens ages 13 to 18, with the session beginning on Sept. 8.

The acting ensemble rehearses and performs over a nine-month period, exploring theater through acting, improvisation and character development. The students also delve into stage combat, masks, movement and circus techniques.

Rehearsals are held at Maryknoll High School from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Cost is $250. Call 839-9885, ext. 14 to register.

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