LIHUE — Often, the rich, the famous, the talented, seemed to have it all — looks, money, fame and adoring fans.
But sometimes, looks are deceiving, said Crystal Garma, youth minister at King’s Chapel.
And it was that simple realization that led to the production of “Living Dead” by the church’s Surge and Velocity youth ministries. About 25 junior and senior high students will be putting on four 45-minute shows tonight at Kukui Grove Center next to Starbucks that include dancing, lipsyching and music. They put on three performances Friday night.
This is more than entertainment, Garma said. There’s a message.
“We want to let the youth and this generation know that a lot of time we look up to artists and people in Hollywood and they seem so glamorous and they have it all together,” Garma said. “They have the money, they have the fame, and all that, but in reality, sometimes they are dying inside.”
Minister Victoria Franks said they hope to raise awareness of the negative effects of drugs, alcohol and suicide and “take a look behind the curtain at the lives of some of our world’s most iconic celebrities.”
In short dance numbers from solos to groups, youth will portray some superstars of the big screen and in the music world who fought their own demons.
One youth will portray rapper Mac Miller, who passed away at age 26 earlier this year of what was reported to be a drug overdose at home. Another will play Chester Bennington, a singer and songwriter who committed suicide last year at age 41.
“The kids, they look up to all these people,” Franks said.
The free performances start at 4 p.m.
Noe Borrero will dance and lip sync to a song by singer, songwriter Julia Michaels. She has been practicing for a month by watching Michaels’ music videos to see how she moves
“She’s really inspiring person,” Borrero said,
Borrero said Living Dead might not sound like it, but it’s a good community outreach.
“Nobody will assume a church is putting on a production with secular music,” she said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Garma and her husband Bryson lead King’s Chapel youth ministry.
“We just want to tell this generation, there’s real hope out there,” she said. “God says we can live life, and life abundant, so we just want to share that message. There is hope.”
People look up to many idols, Garma said, “but there is true joy and true happiness with God.”
Right on!