Child’s play

Most volunteers give hours to the organizations they support. Fewer commit months to helping behind the scenes.

And then, you have Ron Horoshko and Debra Blachowiak.

The two have given years, even more than a decade, to the Hawaii Children’s Theater. Name a task that has needed to be done, and it’s almost a sure bet they’ve done it. Marketing? Yep. Set design? That, too. Props? Of course. Set up and tear down? Yes. Fundraising? Absolutely.

“It never stops,” Horoshko said, smiling.

Blachowiak has been involved with HCT since 1997 and is the board secretary. Horoshko came along about 2003 and is today vice president. Volunteers forever, because they believe so strongly in this organization that puts kids in the spotlight.

Horoshko snaps off a list of three life priorities: Wife, golf and HCT. 

“Hawaii Children’s Theater means everything to me. I love to keep kids off the streets and doing something,” he said.

Blachowiak considers HCT not just a theater, but a school. Kids learn about art, about teamwork, about commitment and develop self-esteem.

“It’s amazing the talent we have on this island,” she said. “It’s good to give them an opportunity.”

 Ironically, while her daughter and husband have taken the stage, Blachowiak has not. Never.

“I can’t sing. I have stage fright, basically. And I’m more effective doing this. Someone has got to do this,” she said during an interview with The Garden Island.

Seeing a production through, from start to finish, is much like birthing a baby, she said. It’s hard work, it’s not without pain, but the end result is beautiful.  They talk about past plays “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Music Man,” and “Wizard of Oz” and know it’s something they will always treasure.

“Every year we’ve got to live up to what we created from the years before, so it’s a challenge,” she said.

Next up for HCT is “Shrek The Musical,” coming in November. It will be the Hawaii premier of the production, which is just off Broadway. 

“It’s a huge amount of work,” she said. “But we have an amazing, dedicated staff.”

Both believe HCT’s productions, kids and adults, are top notch. The current “after dark” adult show at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse, “Avenue Q,” is filling seats. Horoshko, by the way is the man behind set construction and design and Blachowiak is involved with promotion.

Horoshko, owner of Birdie’s Cafe, and Blachowiak, principal broker with Sleeping Giant Sotheby’s International Realty, are no doubt busy with their careers. But each has vowed to donate what they can to Kauai’s kids. The years have been good. The applause is wonderful. They laugh as they recount stories of creating costumes, pulling together children’s shows that seemed impossible and making final preparations just minutes to the curtain going up.

They always did more than pull it off. They excelled.

Blachowiak recalls that she began volunteering because of her family’s involvement.

“I started because my daughter had to sing, had to dance, had to be up there,” she said. “Then, my husband Ernie, had to be up there. I enjoy it. We enjoy it. We enjoy making this for the community. We enjoy making amazing theater productions for the community.”

HCT tries to raise about $30,000 a year in donations to cover costs, which isn’t easy.

“Being an arts organization, it’s a lot harder to come up with donations,” Blachowiak said. “We have to reinvent the wheel every year.”

But again, since it’s for the kids, it’s worth it.

The shows are popular and attract a strong cast of characters. Kids anxiously look forward to their roles.

“Not everybody is an athlete,” Blachowiak said. “These kids shine this way.”

Horoshko, whose love for theater dates back to his childhood and learning music from his mom, said he’s more than happy to help HCT, wherever and however needed, 

“One of the things I wanted to do was give back to the children,” he said. “I don’t sway from this at all.”