Crazymaking

Theatre for the Claremont Colleges, Pomona College Department of Theatre and Dance presents the world premiere of: Crazymaking!

Crazymaking follows the character Casana Lee, from her dreams of being a rock star in 1980s Los Angeles to her destiny as a teacher and healer in her native Hawai’i. The play begins with Casana trying to gain celebrity, but failing at using her own voice. When an unexpected series of encounters return her to her family roots in Hawai’i, Casana uncovers how the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 continues to impact her life. As she slowly learns to trust her ‘aumakua, they lead her to back and forth between the dream world and her waking life in order to heal her past and find her true voice.

Playwright C. Mamo Kim, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Hawai’i at M`anoa (UHM). She was the first publicly identified Native Hawaiian student in the history of UHM who became president of both the Associated Students and the Graduate Student Organization of UHM and was instrumental in many of the actions that furthered decolonization of the university including the implementation of a new vision and strategic plan (2002-2010) and the founding of Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, one of the largest schools of indigenous knowledge in the nation.

Crazymaking chronicles the main character’s journey to: come to terms with the abuse in her life that stems from the violence of colonization; to find herself, her connection to spirit, and her purpose in life. The figure of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, figures prominently in the story, because she is an ancestor of Kim’s and, as Kim points out, “Pele is a huge Hawaiian female archetype. . .everyone should have a bit of Pele in them but especially for women, that aspect has been conditioned out of us. Pele is your spark of life. That spark is all you have. Everybody has a right to that spark. You have a right to be in our integrity and your power. You have to honor the Pele in you.”

Joyce Lu, Ph.D. directs this production of Crazymaking in collaboration with Kumu Hula Keoni Chang of Chino Hills’ Halau Na Pua Lehua I Ka Ua Noe.

Crazymaking features three young dancers from this Halau who play the parts of Pele, Hi’iaka, and Kamapua’a.

Live sound created by sound healer, and vibrational coach Jaqueline Marie.