CUH Performing Arts Presents Comedic ‘Spacebar’

Chaminade University of Honolulu Division of Humanities and Fine Arts will present, “Spacebar: A Broadway Play by Kyle Sugarman,” by Michael Mitnick from Nov. 9-18. The play is a comedic coming-of-age story following an ambitious 16-year-old Colorado boy, Kyle Sugarman, as he chases his wildest dreams of getting his unproducible futuristic space play on Broadway while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage boy with a deadbeat father and getting the captain of the girls’ swim team to notice him.

Directing the play is CUH performing arts professor Bro. Gary Morris, who has 50 years of experience in directing live theater plays and musicals and has directed 31 productions at Chaminade between 2003 and 2018. Morris enjoyed “Spacebar” when he first saw it performed in California in 2014.

“I was very impressed by the concept and the performance I made a mental note to do the show at Chaminade one day,” he said. “This year was one when I knew I could cast it with all Chaminade students. We are especially fortunate to have the very talented Kainoa Enos in the role of Kyle. This is a key pivotal role and we had the right actor and ensemble cast to do this show.”

The 19-year-old CUH sophomore and male lead, Kainoa Enos, has been performing on stage since the age of 6 when he partook in Disney’s “Jungle Book” at Paliku Theatre in Kaneohe.

“Doing theater is a thing that runs in my family, it’s like tradition,” Enos said. “This would be my first Chaminade play but my first time doing a Chaminade production was when they put on the musical ‘Oliver!’ when I was 11. And if I’m being honest I wasn’t expecting the part of Kyle Sugarman. I’m usually a part of the ensemble, which is like the background people in a play, so I was expecting a supporting character.”

Playing the female lead and Sugarman’s love interest, Jessica, is CUH sophomore Jeni-Marin Ruis. The 19-year-old nursing student from Honolulu was a former member of the Hawaii Theatre Young Actors Ensemble and played the female lead Desdemona in the 2016 Hawaii Theatre production of “Othello,” a tragedy by William Shakespeare.

“Rehearsals plus school has been a challenge but it has also made my life much more interesting,” Ruis said. “I have a lot of late-night shows now but it’s worth it. I’m excited to see how we perform in front of a live audience. I was a hesitant to invite any family since this play has some colorful language and a very close scene with Kyle and Jessica. However, I think they might show up anyway.”

The play will feature an all-Chaminade student cast, designers and production team.

“I am excited because this is a Hawaii premiere for this play,” Morris said. “It is very unique and different from the realistic styles we have done in the past. It is a play that evokes laughter one minute and then suddenly offers moving and poignant issues in the characters’ lives.”

“Spacebar: A Broadway Play by Kyle Sugarman,” by Michael Mitnick will run Nov. 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee showings on Nov. 11 and 18 at 3:00 p.m. at the Vi and Paul Loo Theatre located on campus in Clarence T.C. Ching Hall.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for children, students with ID, faculty and staff. Tickets are available through showtix4u.com.