Through the , students at Windward Community College are bringing pop culture to the Palikū Theatre. Two original one-act productions, J-Pop Demon Killaz and The Hangry Games, will run from April 24 to May 3.

Directed by Taurie Kinoshita, the productions highlight emerging student performers through fast-paced storytelling, stylized stage combat and comedic satire. These projects reflect the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts’ commitment to hands-on learning in acting, movement and stage production.

J-Pop Demon Killaz, written by alumna Noalani Helelā, is set on Oʻahu and follows three local young women pursuing careers in the music industry while confronting supernatural challenges. The play combines humor, music and action-driven storytelling through a �鶹��ý-based perspective influenced by global pop culture.

The Hangry Games, written by alumnus Kekoa A. Shope, reimagines a dystopian competition in which survival depends on resourcefulness, resilience and determination. The production incorporates physical performance elements and topical humor that reflect current events, themes of power and scarcity.

Each production runs approximately one hour. They are recommended for audiences 14 and older due to staged violence, language and mature themes.

Performance Schedule

Fridays and Saturdays

• April 24, 25 and May 1, 2–7:30 p.m.

Thursday

• April 30–7:30 p.m.

Sundays

• April 26 and May 3–3 p.m.

Tickets may be or in person at the box office one hour prior to showtime. Student tickets are available in person only. For ticket information, contact the Palikū Theatre box office at (808) 235-7315 or paliku@hawaii.edu.

For more information about the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts and theatre courses at Windward Community College, visit . Additional information is available from Professor Nicolas Logue at logue@hawaii.edu or (808) 236-9138.

Windward Community College has solidified its reputation as a global launchpad for actors. Eight students from the spring 2025 and spring 2026 cohorts at the Windward CC’s auditioned for the in London, and the school offered spots to all eight.

This coincides with another major milestone. In fall 2025, East 15 Acting School—ranked fourth in the UK for drama in the Guardian University Guide 2024—officially elevated its relationship with Windward CC to Premium Partner status.

Ensuring access

The �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts at Windward CC is dedicated to ensuring this elite training is widely available to local students.

“We’re committed to leveling the playing field for anyone who has the tenacity to do this for a living,” said Professor Nicolas Logue. “No one should be excluded from the program because they can’t afford it.”

Every student who successfully auditions into Windward CC’s year-long program receives a Dr.. Dennis Carroll Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition. The new Premium Partner status further expands this financial support. Windward CC students transferring to East 15 are guaranteed a dedicated scholarship of $5,000 per year of study.

Building bridges

The partnership is the result of more than a decade of bridge-building by Logue and Resident Director Taurie Kinoshita, both of whom arrived at Windward CC in 2012 directly from East 15. Pioneered by former Windward CC student Brandon DiPaola, every Windward CC student who has matriculated to East 15 has graduated with the UK equivalent of summa cum laude (with highest honor).

Chris Main, East 15 director of acting, said, “Through summer programmes, via the audition process for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, to the numerous students who progressed from Windward CC to East 15, we have consistently witnessed the talent and craft of Windward CC students and graduates.”

First in �鶹��ý

The �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts is the first performing arts conservatory in the state. An articulation agreement signed in 2023 recognizes the Conservatory’s Foundation in Acting program as the academic equivalent of East 15’s own Foundation year, allowing Windward CC students to matriculate directly into the second year of East 15’s three-year bachelor’s degree programs.

With similar philosophies, the dedication to supporting students’ growth, and the recognition of the importance of story-telling, Windward CC’s partnership with East 15 is sure to grow.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in acting, at the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Boogie back to a time when the world seemed to be turning around, when we made more love than war, and even in the most profound grief there was humor and hope. Windward Community College’s presents William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing set in 1973, directed by Taurie Kinoshita, at April 25–May 4, 2025.

Much Ado About Nothing is a raucous comedy filled with dancing, drama, mistaken identity, decisive deceptions and hapless misunderstandings. Full of romantic liaisons and male rivalry, the verbal sparring of Benedick and the outspoken Beatrice is wildly fun and was revolutionary for its time. Subsequently, having female characters who were intellectual equals became popular on stage.

“The genius of Much Ado About Nothing is proven by nearly 500 years of continuous performance, and as one of Shakespeare’s most modern plays it’s accessible to all,” Kinoshita said. “Benedick and Beatrice are as immortal as Romeo and Juliet—but funnier, and spoiler alert: they don’t die! Disco, drag, dueling lovers and disguise-parties—what more could you want?”

In this retelling, young men are returning from the Vietnam War and negotiating civilian life while the political climate is changing radically: Roe v. Wade, Watergate, homosexuality no longer classified as a disease by the National Psychiatrics Board—it was an optimistic time. Despite events such as Kent State and the Second Wounded Knee, young people had a sense of empowerment.

Show dates and times:

• April 25, 26 and May 2, 3 (Fridays and Saturdays) 7:30 p.m.
• May 1 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m.
• April 27 and May 4 (Sundays) 3 p.m.

Ticket information:

• $25 General
• $20 Seniors (62+), active military with ID, �鶹��ýfaculty and staff, �鶹��ý Department of Education educators
• $15 Students (12+ and college students with ID). Available in person only.

Purchase tickets online at or in person at the box office one hour prior to the show. For more information call (808) 235-7315 or email paliku@hawaii.edu.

For more information about Much Ado About Nothing, contact Kinoshita at . To learn about the �鶹��ý Conservatory of Performing Arts, contact Associate Professor Nicolas Logue at logue@hawaii.edu.