Arts & Activities

KPAC production, ‘Our Town’

7 p.m. today, Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday

Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center

Kaua‘i Performing Arts Center’s latest production is a Thornton Wilder Pulitzer Prize winning play. The cast includes students from Waimea, Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i high schools and Hawai‘i Tech Academy.

Director Dennis McGraw described it as a play about life where through the characters and the town of Grover’s Corners Wilder paints a picture of life, human faults, frailties and strengths. Narrated by the Stage Manager (Toby Riggle), the people of Grover’s Corners go about their lives with the manager interrupting occasionally to comment on action or ask the audience questions. Considered the most frequently staged American play, “Our Town” is unconventional in that the stage is nearly empty of props. Actors mime the action — eating imaginary food and looking out imaginary windows — the stark presentation intended to focus attention on characters and themes.

General admission, $15; students, $10. Tickets available from cast members or at the door. For more information call, 651-2417.

Eloquence of the Body workshop

6:30 p.m. today; Saturday and Sunday

Kapa‘a

What dynamics are at work in great stories and how can people learn to tap into these to bring healing? This is just one of the questions posited by storytellers Ashley Ramsden and Nancy Mellon in their book, “Body Eloquence: The Power of Myth and Story to Awaken the Body’s Energies.” Ramsden and Mellon will teach their workshop this weekend. The three-day workshop is $205 if paid in full by today. Individual classes are $15 for Friday and $105 each, Saturday and Sunday. Class times are 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. To register and for directions call, 346-5967 or e-mail kiminkauai@yahoo.com.

CD release party

8 p.m. Saturday

Trees Lounge

Acoustic Medicine’s debut CD “Seeds of Revolution” is acoustic rock with a jazzy edge. The CD was produced by Dorian Wright of L Records. Wright is son of Gary Wright, of the hit “Dream Weaver” in the 80s. Acoustic Medicine is fresh from playing several dates in New York City as well as shooting a video there for, “More To This World”  which was a finalist in the BMG Kaua‘i Music Festival songwriting contest. Kaua‘i musicians Rick Goding, Kekai Chock, Kona Conrad, Steve Dubey, Phil Watts, Marty Leonard and Mario Rodriguez will perform their politically conscientious, original tunes. Everyone who comes will get a free copy of the CD which will soon be available at Amazon.com. For more information visit, myspace.com/acousticmedicineband

Fine Arts Exhibit

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday

Princeville Community Center

The exhibit will feature artists from Kilauea to Ke‘e. The opening is being catered by Mark Wender of Ono Oh Yeah. Twenty-two recognized painters, sculptors and ceramicists chose one piece each from their portfolios to submit for review. The resulting group of works showcases the art being created by the art community on the North Shore.

Book signing

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Kaua‘i Museum

Kaua‘i Museum offers fans of Hanalei author Daniel Harrington’s educational and fun childrens’ books a chance to meet him and acquire an autographed copy of his latest, “What am I? Volume 2.” His appearance is a part of the November ‘Ohana Day activities. Each month Kaua‘i Museum opens its doors to the community free of charge. 

Illustrated by Susan Brandt, this Hawai‘i animal guessing game book is a follow up to the first volume. Harrington lives in Hanalei where he teaches. Brandt was born and raised in Hawai‘i. She has an art degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Concert Fest benefit

Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Kaua‘i Hilton Resort

Kapa‘a Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band will be attending the Heritage Music Festival and Disney Magic Music Days in March in Anaheim, Calif. This benefit concert will help defer costs.

The musical line up includes Shilo Pa; Aldrine Guerrero and Ryan Esaki from Ukulele Underground; Fred Aki, Jr., Moku and Friends, Norman Ka‘awa Solomon and Papa‘a Bay Boys.

 There will be vendors, raffles, a country store, games and food provided by the Hilton.

Tickets are available at Kaua‘i Music and Sound in Kapa‘a. Adults, $10; students, $5; children under 3, free.

Hawaiian and Scottish Benefit 

4 p.m. Sunday

Storybook Theatre, Hanapepe

Spend an afternoon of music, history and theater celebrating the life of Hawaiian Princess Victoria Ka‘iulani Cleghorn. Learn the truth about Ka‘iulani and hear selected scenes from the new script, “Ka’iulani, The Island Rose” by Jennifer Fahrni and Carol Harvie-Yamaguchi.

Writing the Garden Isle 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5

Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens

Do you long to express you love of Kaua’i with the written word? Here’s your chance to unleash creativity by spending a day with author and teacher Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and fellow writers exploring the wonders of Kaua‘i’s native plant life in words.

Cost of the workshop is $65. Bring lunch, a notebook and a favorite pen. To sign up contact Jennifer Downs, 828-0575 or e-mail events@naainakai.org.

Call for art, KSA Small Works show

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14

Kukui Grove Shopping Center

Kaua‘i Society of Artists Small works ‘09 exhibition will be accepting entries at the KSA art space at Kukui Grove. Artists may submit up to five works and at least one work will be hung. There is a size limit on the entries, and a $5 per entry will be charged. Jaimey Hamilton from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Art Department will be the judge for the exhibition opening at 5 p.m. Nov. 21.  She will do a walk and talk at the opening. Entry forms will be available at the Art Shop on Akahi St. in Lihu‘e and the KSA Kukui Grove Art Space. For more information call Anabell Spielman, 431-4817 or Sally French, 651-5822.

Vendors sought

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 6

National Tropical Botanical Garden

The South Shore’s premier holiday craft fair, Christmas in the Garden, is seeking crafters and artisans. In 2008 Christmas in the Garden was attended by well over 400 people. The 6th annual craft fair will be held  at the Southshore Visitors Center across from Spouting Horn Park. Admission to the fair is free for attendees. In addition to unique, local products and crafts, the public will be drawn by favorite food vendors, fresh flower and plant sales, entertainment, complimentary massages, exciting activities for adults  and keiki. To reserve booth space and arrange to have crafts juried for inclusion in Christmas in the Garden, call, 742-2433. Information and craft fair applications can be found at news.ntbg.org.

Call for Nominations

Hawai‘i Literary Arts Council

Deadline Jan. 15

The 2009 Elliot Cades Award for Literature nominations began Nov. 1. The Elliot Cades Awards for Literature, given annually since 1988, were established by Charlotte and J. Russell Cades in memory of his brother, Elliot, a teacher and lover of literature. The awards are administered by the Hawai‘i Literary Arts Council to encourage and promote literature and literary activity in Hawai‘i. The awards are accompanied by a substantial cash amount. The awards are given to two writers whose published work demonstrates high literary quality. The first award is given to an established artist with a substantial body of work. The second is given to an emerging artist whose work shows great promise. Work relating to life in Hawai‘i is sought, but so is fine literary writing of any kind by a resident of Hawai‘i. Nominations should consist of a letter of nomination and supporting material(s), including published work, which will be used during the judging  process. Nominees can be poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists or others associated with the literary arts in Hawai‘i. Previous winners are not eligible. Send to Elliot Cades Award for Literature, Hawai‘i Literary Arts Council, P.O. Box 11213, Honolulu, HI 96828-0213.