“Moana Jr.,” a Disney’s musical about a seafaring young girl with big dreams, opens Friday (Feb. 28) at the Joseph Rider Farrington Community Auditorium in Kalihi.
The musical, about a young girl named Moana from the mythical Motonui village somewhere in the Pacific, has a wide following, thanks to two animated cartoon features.
Moana hopes to hop in a canoe and explore her heritage. And how far she’ll go is the thrust of “Moana Jr.,” a 60-minute live-action stage based on the original “Moana” animated Disney cartoon.
The “Jr.” in the title alludes to the fact that the show, with a high school student cast, involves an abbreviated script, aimed students in drama, and has 60-minute running time.
But the spirit and aspirations of Moana are not reduced in the retelling of her dream, to discover her heritage.
“Moana” also has had a sequel film, “Moana 2,” released last year in the theaters, and a movie has been shooting in Hawaii, as a live-action film. Further, the Moana legacy is also being developed into what likely will be expanded into a Broadway stage musical, following the Disney tradition of such hits as “The Lion King,” “Beauty of the Beast,” and “Aladdin.”
The ”Moana Jr.” cast:
- Heavenlee Botelho-Sarcedo, as Moana.
- Dicen Kaahu-Akina, as Maui.
- Saphira Cabacongan-Aana, as Gramma Tala.
- Anselm Fautanu, Chief Tui.
- Natalie Kovach, as Sina.
- Marky Rafael, as Hei Hei.
- Julian Sanchez, as Pua.
- Jo Salazar, as Tamatoa.
- Axle Munoz, as Chief Ancestor.
- Kiana Ulep-Lambot, as Young Moana.
The ensemble: Chellcee Acosta, Prince Adena, Alexia Afable, Joel Alonzo, Jacy Brown, Joel Cabrales Jr., Wayne Cadoy, Karefullyn Jack, Leihua Kuhaulua, Kalani Milne, Kyle Rieta, Quincy Sablan, Jemima Titania, Kamakea Wright, Barbara Yano, Rain Young
Kirstyn Trombetta is director, Aubrey Lee Staley is choreographer and Justin Gardem is musical director.
The coming-of-age show explores the riches of Oceania history and taps characters, traditions, and beliefs reflecting the cultures of the South Seas and inserts the dynamaics of the aspirations of a heroine.
“Moana” has strong ties with the islands, since Auli‘i Cravalho, then a Kamehameha Schools student, was cast to provide the voice of the titular character in the landmark original feature. She delivered the film’s key tune “How Far I’ll Go,” which quickly became a staple on radio playlists.
“Moana Jr.” features the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known as the creator of “Hamilton” and its score. Miranda, a Tony, Grammy, Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning tunesmith, collaborated with Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa‘i to create a tapestry of original music for this fantasy about hopes, dreams, bravery and selflessness in the spirit of the proverbial “Disney princess.”
And a footnote: Miguel Cadoy III, an Academy Director at Farrington and a prolific actor in the community, has been on a leave of absence to prep a mainstage “Moana” production aboard Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Treasure ship.
His skills as a versatile performing artist and musician have been a plus at sea; the show is likely to evolve as a full-fledged Broadway attraction, timetable not certaini…
And that’s Show Biz…
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‘Moana Jr.’
A Disney stage musical, based on a South Seas heroine
What: A tale about Moana, a girl with big dreams, and her aspiration to become a voyager and sail the waters of the Pacific in search of her heritage
Where: Joseph Rider Farrington Community Auditorium, at Farrington High School.
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Feb. 28); repeats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (March 1) and 2 p.m. Sunday (March 2) and again March 7, 8 and 9.
Tickets: $10, adults 18 and older; $5 students 5 through 17; $3, Farrington students (tickets at box office, with student ID); free, keiki on laps
Reservations: https://cur8.com/projects/15389