Branner @ UHM

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Mark Branner

April 22, 23, 2024
Kumu Kahua Theatre

May 27, 28, 29, 2024
TAG Theatre

August 2 – 26, 2024
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Roles: Producer, Writer, Performer

WEBSITE (link)

PRODUCTION FLYER (link)

FRINGE AUDIENCE REVIEWS (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: In Funny Bones a clown contemplates life, death, and other laughing matters. After a disastrous bicycle accident, a professional circus performer is left to tame a stubborn soul who refuses to cooperate with his broken body. Featuring large-scale puppetry and  high-energy physical comedy, Funny Bones juggles distinctive storytelling with dynamic audience interaction. Audiences of all ages are invited to “step right up” and enjoy this powerful story of redemption.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Greg Banks

April 12, 13 2024

Kaimuki Christian School (KCS)
Roles: Director

AUDITION FLYER (link)

ADMINISTRATOR ASSESSMENT (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: KCS's second "All School" theatrical performance involved over 40 students in an active adaptation of the beloved Rudyard Kipling story. A child lost in the Indian jungle is adopted by Baloo the Bear, Bagheera the panther, and all the beasts who call the mysterious wilderness home. This fast-paced retelling keeps you perched on the edge of your seat as young Mowgli comes face-to-face with sneaky monkeys, noisy vultures and his mortal enemy: the tiger, Shere Khan.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Greg Banks

April 28, 29, 2023
Kaimuki Christian School (KCS)
Roles: Director

AUDITION FLYER (link)

ADMINISTRATOR ASSESSMENT (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: The first ever “All School” theatrical production at KCS showcases over twenty students (between Grade 4 and Grade 12) to bring this story to life. High-powered and action-packed, this is a lean, mean swordfight-fueled story of good vs. evil, trickery vs. heroism, compassion vs. greed. Blink and you’ll miss something: A sharp joke, a sly jab, a treacherous attack, a band of underground heroes rallying for those who cannot.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Marion Lyman-Mersereau

January 28 – February 6, 2022
Kennedy Theatre
Seating Capacity: 620
Roles: Director

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUPPET EXPERIMENTS (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: This imaginative TYA production incorporates giant puppetry, dance, 'ōlelo Hawai'i, pidgin, and hula to tell the story of Eddie Aikau's act of courage through the eyes of sea creatures who watched from underneath the upside-down canoe. Celebrating the story of one local hero who dared to dream big and put the lives of others before his own, this production shares Aikau’s legacy of hope and service to others. Suitable for the whole family.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

September 2021 – December 2022
Touring Oahu Island
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

ESSENTIAL INTRO (link)

VIDEO TEASER (link)

UHM PRESS RELEASE (link)

INSTAGRAM (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: JoyMobile, a partner project of Artists for Community Transformation, Intl., a 501(c)3 organization, seeks to bring joy to the people of Hawaiʻi. JoyMobile is a mobile performance vehicle that will serve as a backdrop for short performances of celebration, music, and laughter that promote community building.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION

By Marion Lyman-Mersereau
Adapted for the screen by Mark Branner and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak

Directed by Jeff Orig
Co-Directed by Mark Branner, Vicky Holt Takamine and Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak
Music Direction by Ina Young

Originated and Produced by Terri Madden

Streaming June 3 – 21, 2021

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

COMPANY WEBSITE (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: This comedic ghost story unpacks a complex part of Hawaiiʻs history. After Captain Cook arrived to the Hawaiian islands on January 18, 1778, it did not take long for more ships to arrive carrying with them not only sailors, but whalers and businessmen as well. These men brought with them disease that would decimate 71% of the population by 1820. What had once been a self-sufficient, pristine, healthy country was no longer the same.

Forty years later, soon after the Kapu system had been abolished, seven missionary couples arrived, seeking permission to land.

This film covers the early years of the missionaries arrival and explores their contributions and their relationship with the Hawaiian Aliʻi. Based on the recently transcribed Aliʻi Letters and several story circles that took place with missionary descendants between 2018 and 2019, "Open Your Hearts Wide" is almost 4 years in the making.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Fall 2020
Roles: Director, Devising Lead

ZOOM Shorts: Snippets of video goodness, highlighting the backstage efforts to bring Eddie Wenʻ Go to the stage.

Eddie Wenʻ Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe
by Marion Lyman-Mersereau
a TYA tribute to Eddie Aikau

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

FULL VIDEO LISTING (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Due to public health concerns, Kennedy Theatre's live performances of Eddie `Wen Go: The Story of the Upside-Down Canoe have been rescheduled to January 2022.

In anticipation of next season's production of Eddie `Wen Go, we invite your classroom and your keiki to enjoy the free Getting Ready For Eddie educational docu-series. Tune in for an informative look behind the curtain as TYA Associate Professor Mark Branner and the cast, crew and artistic team of Eddie `Wen Go begin preparations to stage Marion Lyman-Mersereau’s family-friendly play about Eddie Aikau’s act of sacrifice, a story told from the point of view of undersea creatures.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

PlayBuilders of Hawaiʻi Theatre Company in collaboration with Hawaiian Missionary Houses Historic Site and Archives

A Community Collaborative Play
By Marion Lyman-Mersereau
Workshopped by Mark Branner and Will Haʻo
Audio Play Directed by Mark Branner

May – June, 2020

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

SAMPLE AUDIO FILE (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Over the course of a year, in preparation for the bicentennial of the arrival of the first missionaries to Hawaiʻi, playwright and missionary descendant Marion Lyman Mersereau conducted a series of story circles and personal interviews with fellow descendants to ask a simple question, “What is it like to be a Missionary Descendant and how do you feel about your ancestors?” The play explores multifaceted perspectives and incorporates excerpts from missionary journals and the recently discovered Aliʻi letters. Produced by PlayBuilders of Hawaii Theatre Company under special agreement with Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, with grants from the Cooke and Atherton Foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

New International Version (NIV), initially published 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society); 1984 by Zondervan

Live Performances; June/July 2018
Streaming Performance; August 2020
Roles: Actor

PRODUCTION POSTER 1 (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER 2 (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Many scholars believe that The Gospel of Mark was written for oral transmission as a continuous whole. Performed by one actor who speaks directly to the audience as if delivering the “good news” for the first time, this theatrical presentation brings to life the words, deeds, and story of Jesus directly from the Bible.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

September 20 – December 7, 2019
Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
Roles: Co-Director, Co-Devising Lead

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

AUDIENCE REVIEWS (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Celebrating the beauty, versatility, and importance of kalo to the land and culture of Hawaiʻi, this theatrically immersive piece promotes aloha ʻāina and is intended for very young audiences and their guests. Keiki Kalo is an expedition of the senses, offering an intimate look into the glorious worlds that flow in and out from the life of a single plant.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Sponsored USA Tour, 2022-2023
Holden & Arts Associates (link)

Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Tenney Theatre
Based on the Book by Bette Bao Lord
Adapted for the Stage by Mark Branner 

October 28 – November 23, 2019

HTY SEASON LISTING (link)

HTY PERFORMANCE GUIDE (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Adapted from an award-winning novel, this play is the touching story of a young Chinese American girl and her family moving from China to the United States in 1947. Told through humor, language, and a rich multi-media staging, the play celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of those who bring new perspectives to our country.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Three Chinese Comedies

February 16 – 25, 2018
Kennedy Theatre
Seating Capacity: 620

Inter-Island Tour, Spring, 2018 (link)

Director: Mark Branner & Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak

Fights and Delights won the Po'okela Award, 2018 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Outstanding Overall Non-Traditional Production of a Play, Outstanding Director of a Non-Traditional Play, and a Special Adjudicator’s Award for the “Guide for Young Audiences.”

VIDEO INTRODUCTION (link)

VIDEO PROMO (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 1 (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 2 (link)

PRESS REVIEW 1 (link)

PRESS REVIEW 2 (link)

ACTIVE AUDIENCE GUIDE (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PROGRAM GUIDE (adult/youth)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Showcasing the vibrancy of traditional  Chinese theatre, these delightfully contrasting plays celebrate the chou – or comic – character, an irrepressible force of comedy who continually reveals the laughter in life.  Filled with convoluted acrobatic contortions, mistaken identities, adorable lovers, and exhilarating battles, this celebration of “the clown” will appeal to audiences of all ages.


The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Stephen Adly Guirgis

August 18 – September 3, 2017
Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
Seating Capacity: 110
Roles: Producer, Director, Actor

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

YOUTUBE UPLOAD (link)

FUNDING CAMPAIGN (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Hailed by Time magazine and Entertainment Weekly as among the best plays of the year, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis unleashes his incendiary language and style upon Judas Iscariot, the Bible’s most notorious sinner.  Presented as a riveting and riotous courtroom drama in the depths of purgatory, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is an irresistible examination of human free will and divine mercy.  Judas features a wild cast of characters – Mother Teresa, Pontius Pilate, Sigmund Freud, even Satan himself – to ask the question, “What happened to Judas Iscariot?”  This fiercely ambitious work explores the consequences of faith, guilt and despair, alongside the boundaries of forgiveness and grace.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Based on the Play by Sophocles
Adapted for the Stage by Greg Banks 

September 16 – 25, 2016
Kennedy Theatre Lawn
Seating Capacity: 350
Roles: Director

Antigone won the Po'okela Award, 2016 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Outstanding Director of a Play and Outstanding Overall Production of a Play.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRESS REVIEW 1 (link)

PRESS REVIEW 2 (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  After both of her brothers die on opposing sides of a civil war, Antigone dares to defy King Creon, her uncle, by burying her "traitor" brother.  This unique theatre for young audiences presentation of the classic play explores the boundaries of honor and duty for young people in every generation.  Testing the conflicts of family versus state, moral conviction versus national law and individual responsibility versus communal harmony, Antigone is a furious and fast-paced thrill ride.  Uniquely situated in an outdoor location on the UHM campus.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Mark St. Germain
Suggested by The Question of God
by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr.

September 4 – 13, 2015
Lobby @ C4: Christ Centered Community Church
Multipurpose Venue @ Kaimuki Christian Church
Seating Capacity: 80
Roles: Director

Freud's Last Session won the Po'okela Award, 2015 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Best Director of a Play and Best Overall Production of a Play.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTCARD (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Freud’s Last Session centers on legendary psychoanalyst Dr. Sigmund Freud, who invites the rising young Oxford Don, C.S. Lewis, to his home in London. On the day England enters World War Two, Freud and Lewis clash over love, sex, the existence of God, and the meaning of life, just weeks before Freud takes his own life.  Freud’s Last Session is a riveting play, addressing the deepest questions of existence through the minds, hearts and souls of two brilliant men.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Mark Branner, Margot Fitzsimmons, Nathaniel Niemi, Aubrey Watkins
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

April – July, 2015
Touring Oahu Island Schools & Libraries
Roles: Producer, Playwright, Director

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION FLYER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Join Apoha, native Hawaiian o’opu fish, on The Journey Home – an interactive puppet show based on the City and County of Honolulu’s engaging children’s booklets.  Joined by his friend Holokai, a ninja opae shrimp, Apoha heads back up the stream to visit his family.  But when blocked from moving up the stream by the trash minions of the evil Dr. Insquidious Pollutin, Apoha and Holokai must find a way to clear the stream.  Together they enlist the help of Malia and Keoni to become “Clean Water Heroes” – the greatest superheroes of all in this hilarious tuneful adventure.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Paul Maar
Adapted and Translated by Anita and Alex Page

March 2-6, 2016
Hawaii Theatre Center
Seating Capacity: 1,400
Roles: Director

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: In the comic tradition of Laurel and Hardy, two clowns, Zacharias and Pepper, each possesses a box – their own private spaces that they love to show off but refuse to share. Preying on the clowns’ childish bickering, the pompous, high-handed Drum Major schemes to steal both boxes, forcing the two clowns to renegotiate their relationship. Through hilarious trial and error Zacharias and Pepper magically acquire one new box, which they learn to share and enjoy together.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Based on the Book by Anthony Browne
Adapted for the Stage by Rachel Barnett

December 12 – 20, 2015
Commons Art Gallery
Seating Capacity: 35
Roles: Director

Gorilla won the Po'okela Award, 2015 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Play.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRESS NOTICE 1 (link)

PRESS NOTICE 2 (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB:  Hannah loves gorillas, but she’s never seen a real one.  It’s the night before her birthday and something amazing is about to happen.  Join Hannah and the world's friendliest gorilla as they embark on a thrilling, moonlit adventure in this adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Anthony Browne, England's former Children’s Laureate. Playing in the intimate Commons Art Gallery at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Perfect for children ages 3 – 8. 
 

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

From the Book by Roald Dahl
Adapted for the Stage by David Wood

November 14 – 23, 2014
Kennedy Theatre
Seating Capacity: 620
Roles: Director

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PRESS FEATURE (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Roald Dahl's classic book about the 24-feet-high Big Friendly Giant and a little orphan named Sophie brings to the stage some of Dahl's most memorable characters. The BFG and Sophie team up to save the children of England from the child-eating giants: Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater, Bonecruncher, Meatdripper, Childchewer, and Gizzardgulper. Though the book is intended for young readers, audiences of all ages will laugh out loud at these loveable characters.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Marion Lyman-Mersereau

September 16 – 20, 2014
Hawaii Theatre Center
Seating Capacity: 1,400
Roles: Director

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Coinciding with Hōkūleʻa’s round-the-world voyage, this imaginative production uses hula, chant, masks and puppetry to tell of Eddie Aikau’s act of sacrifice through the eyes of sea creatures who watched from underneath the upside-down canoe. 

Slack key guitar wunderkind Danny Carvalho, has created an original soundscape and will perform it live. The production is based on the children’s book by Marion Lyman-Mersereau who helped build the Hōkūleʻa, and was a crew member on its fateful journey in March 1978 and on a subsequent voyage to Tahiti in 1980.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

A musical
From the novel by George Saunders
Book and lyrics by Doug Cooney
Music by David O

April 11 – 20, 2014
Kennedy Theatre
Seating Capacity: 620
Roles: Director

The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip won the Po'okela Award, 2014 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Best Director of a Musical and Best Overall Production of a Musical.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PRESS REVIEW 1 (link)

PRESS REVIEW 2 (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: What do you do when hundreds of little orange monsters shriek with delight at the sight of your family's goat? This tuneful, hilarious and wildly theatrical musical for the young at heart is presented by quick-changing actors and a bevy of bright-orange, gleefully-squealing, goat-loving puppets...all accompanied by a toy piano! Based on an acclaimed book, all ages will love this story of how one person with brains and determination can make a difference.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

April, 2014
Hawaii State Art Museum
Dance Theatre Concert
Roles: Actor + Dancer

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Monkey Waterfall, a dance theatre company, was founded to explore the intersection of dance and theatre. The Honolulu-based company uses Asian and Western dance, theatre, storytelling, masks, and puppets to create performances for adults and children. The company performs and conducts residencies locally, nationally, and internationally.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

April, 2013
Arts at Mark's Garage
Dance Theatre Concert
Roles: Actor + Dancer

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Monkey Waterfall, a dance theatre company, was founded to explore the intersection of dance and theatre. The Honolulu-based company uses Asian and Western dance, theatre, storytelling, masks, and puppets to create performances for adults and children. The company performs and conducts residencies locally, nationally, and internationally.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

November, 2011
The Venue/Bamboo 2
Dance Theatre Concert
Roles: Actor + Dancer

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Monkey Waterfall, a dance theatre company, was founded to explore the intersection of dance and theatre. The Honolulu-based Company uses Asian and Western dance, theatre, storytelling, masks, and puppets to create performances for adults and children. The Company performs and conducts residencies locally, nationally, and internationally.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Based on the Newbery Award-winning Book by Lois Lowry
Adapted for the Stage by Eric Coble

September 21 – 30, 2012
Kennedy Theatre
Seating Capacity: 620
Roles: Director

The Giver won the Po'okela Award, 2013 (HSTC: Hawaii State Theatre Council) for Best Overall Production of a Play.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Jonas's world is perfect. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver -- to receive and keep the memories of the community. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life -- and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

From the Book by Roald Dahl
Adapted for the Stage by David Wood

March 6 – 10, 2014
Hawaii Theatre Center
Seating Capacity: 1,400
Roles: Actor (Mr. Twit)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, nastiest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything—except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

By Barry Kornhauser

April & May, 2013
Touring Production, Oahu Schools
Preschool-2nd Grade
Roles: Producer, Actor (Old Man)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PUBLICITY BLURB: Balloonacy is a show about an old man who has forgotten how to enjoy life.  Every day is the same for this gentleman.  He gets up, eats his breakfast, leaves the house to buy a newspaper, returns home to read the paper, etc.  It isn’t a bad life...but there is no joy, no play, no fun, no life.  Suddenly, a red balloon floats through the window and a new friendship is born that changes everything.

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Going Home
July/August, 2019
Liangshan Prefecture, China
Devised Theatre Touring Performance
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

UROP VIDEO PRESENTATION (link)

UROP NEWSLETTER (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 1 (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 2 (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 3 (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Collectively created/devised by a small group of CiRCO Redempto participants alongside UHM undergraduate and graduate students, Going Home explores “Family” and “Home” within current Nosu society.

The themes in Going Home were chosen by the participants themselves and subsequently performed as part of the “Mountain Village Theatre Tour.” Nosu Yi students returned to their village homes to perform, offering Nosu language stories and artwork to fathers, mothers, siblings, and extended families.

An award from UHMʻs UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) Faculty Mentoring Grants offered a rare opportunity for several undergraduate students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to travel freely to China, participating directly in this “applied theatre” project.

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

We Can! We Can!
July/August, 2016
Liangshan Prefecture, China
Devised Theatre Touring Performance
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 1 (link)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 2 (link)

PRODUCTION INFO FLYER (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Collectively created/devised by a small group of CiRCO students, We Can! We Can! tells the story of “A Yi Mo,” a successful Nosu woman whose story inspires a new generation.

Raised in poverty in the mountains of Liangshan, A Yi Mo overcomes the challenges of her past and resists the temptations of her surroundings. Through education she is able to forge a new story, giving back to her family, her community, and her people.

Once again, this “Mountain Village Theatre Tour” piece is performed entirely in Nosu – engaging Nosu audiences in their “heart language” and speaking directly to them about the issues and challenges they face.

We Can! We Can! builds on the devising work of previous summer projects, tying in messages of AIDS prevention, cultural pride, and female empowerment to tell a cohesive and compelling story. The rehearsal process culminated in several remote school performances, reaching young Nosu audiences with the empowering message of A Yi Mo.

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

The FIRE of the Nosu is Rising
August, 2015
Liangshan Prefecture, China
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Collectively created/devised by a small group of CiRCO Redempto students, The FIRE of the Nosu is Rising combines previous CiRCO projects – Nosu Yi/Nosu 1, AIDS Bing, Women Can! – to highlight the themes of education, empowerment, cultural pride, and the dangers and temptations facing modern Nosu communities.

The themes in The FIRE of the Nosu is Rising were chosen by the participants themselves. The final line of the piece sums up the overall message:

“Friends, sisters, brothers...let us aim HIGHER! Overcoming our obstacles, the fire of the Nosu is rising!”

After an intensive rehearsal process, the show premiered at the home village of many of the CiRCO students, allowing the performers to speak directly to their relatives and friends. Additional shows were given in nearby villages along with a “pop up” street performance in the prefectural capital of Xichang.

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Women Can!
August, 2014
Liangshan Prefecture, China
Devised Theatre Touring Performance
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PRODUCTION INFO FLYER (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Collectively created/devised by a small group of CiRCO Redempto students, Women Can! focuses on the capacities of young women, challenging many of the traditional roles of women in both Nosu and Chinese society.  

The themes in Women Can! were chosen by the participants themselves, since a significant number of female students in the CiRCO Redempto program were encouraged by family members at various times to drop out of school, due solely to the fact that they were female. 

After an intensive rehearsal process, the show premiered at several remote Nosu villages in the context of CiRCO Redempto's summer camp programs.

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

AIDS Bing (AIDS Sickness)
August, 2013
Liangshan Prefecture, China
Devised Theatre Touring Performance
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

TRANSLATED TEXT (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PRODUCTION INFO FLYER (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Collectively created/devised by students from the UHM Department of Theatre + Dance and a small group of CiRCO Redempto students, AIDS Bing (AIDS Sickness) focuses on preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS in a region that is known as the most heavily AIDS-infected area within China.  

The piece is performed entirely in Nosu – perhaps the first theatrical piece in history to use the Nosu language exclusively – and seeks to engage people with a warning about the dangers of HIV/AIDS along with a clear presentation of how the disease is spread. 

After a rehearsal process that culminated in a public "house showing," the show toured to a remote Nosu village where over 20% of the population has been infected with HIV/AIDS in the last five years.  CiRCO Redempto is hoping to tour AIDS Bing to dozens of villages during subsequent summer programs. 

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Nosu Yi / Nosu 1
July, 2012
Nordica Art Gallery, Kunming, China
Devised Theatre Performance
Roles: Producer, Director, Devising Lead

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (link)

TRANSLATED TEXT (link)

PRODUCTION POSTER (link)

PRODUCTION PROGRAM (link)

PRODUCTION INFO FLYER (link)

DEVISING COMPANY (link)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Collectively created/devised by students from the UHM Department of Theatre + Dance and a small group of CiRCO Redempto students, Nosu Yi / Nosu 1 explores what it is to be Nosu, a minority people group living within the modern geographic boundaries of China.  The piece asked the following questions:

What do others say of your people?  What do you say of your people?  What are the challenges that are unique to your people?  What aspects of your culture and people inspire you?

These questions prompted an exciting rehearsal process that culminated in a public "house showing," followed by a performance tour to Kunming, a large city to the south of the Nosu Yi area.  After seeing a preview of the piece, one Nosu audience member came forward with tears in her eyes saying, "This is the story of my life!"

ORGANIZATION: CiRCO Redempto is a community outreach program designed to benefit children from the Nosu Yi minority nationality of central China. CiRCO Redempto champions artistic artistic efforts in the pursuit of redemptive work.

circoredempto.org

The photographs, images, and videos used here are intended for educational purposes only, documenting Mark Branner's work at UHM.