A total of 15 teachers from public and private schools all over Oahu are appearing in the musical "Children of Eden," a story of family, forgiveness and second chances. The show runs until Sept. 29 at Windward Community College's Palikū Theatre. It's a joint production between the theater and I’m A Bright Kid Foundation, named for the late Ron Bright, a gifted and beloved Castle High drama and theater teacher who mentored generations of performers and stage crew members.
Three of the teachers performing in the show are Bright's son and daughter-in-law, Michael Bright and Jade Anguay Bright, along with his daughter Jodi Bright-Stein.
Here are the names of the teacher performers in the above photo as well as the schools where they teach.
Front row: (L to R) Annie Yoshida, teacher at Le Jardin Academy, Kailua; Moku Durant, teacher at Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama; Anna Foster, teacher at Punahou School, Manoa.
Second row: (L to R) Jamie Blu Craycroft, teacher at St. Michael School, Waialua; Cassie Favreau-Chung, teacher at Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center, Kaimuki; Jodi Bright-Stein, teacher at Shafter Elementary, Honolulu; (standing) Jade Bright, teacher at Ahuimanu Elementary, Kaneohe.
Third row: (L to R) Mary Chesnut Hicks, teacher at ‘Iolani School, Honolulu; Allan Lau, teacher at Kaimiloa Elementary School, Ewa Beach; Dane Ison, former teacher at Mililani High and Waialua High, Oahu; (standing) Michael Bright, teacher at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama.
Fourth row: (L to R) Melinda Moore, teacher at Punahou School, Manoa; Miguel Cadoy III, teacher at Farrington High, Kalihi; Bailey Barnes, teacher at Pearlridge Elementary, Aiea.
Back row: (L to R) Darian Aquino, teacher at After School Program at Hongwanji Mission School, Nuuanu.
The show's director, Mary Chesnut Hicks, said there is a universal message from "Children Of Eden."
"Even though the story is based on characters from the Bible from the first nine chapters of Genesis, this is truly a story about families," Hicks said. "It is a story about the incredible challenges of being a parent, the struggles of growing up in a society with rules and expectations, the need to balance authority with the innate desire in each of us to question things and find our own way. It is also a story of husbands and wives and the struggles of siblings. It is a story of second chances, learning from past mistakes… and hope for the future."
"Children of Eden" starts at the very beginning: the creation of the universe. The production casts the beloved biblical stories of Genesis through the personal lens of family. Father breathes life into his children, Adam and Eve, and learns that the hardest part of being a loving Father is letting go. It’s a lesson that translates into the parenting of Cain, Abel and Seth and is reiterated once again as Noah parents his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth.
This joyous and inspiring production celebrates the difficulty of choice, the importance of passion, the value of questioning and the pain in allowing those you love to take risks and face the consequences.
Composer Stephen Schwartz, famous for creating shows such as "Wicked," "Godspell," "Pippin" and other Broadway blockbusters, wrote the music and lyrics.
Dates and ticket information
The remaining performances are Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 13–14, 20–21, 27–28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, Sept. 15, 22, 29 at 4 p.m.
For tickets and more information, go to the I’m A Bright Kid Foundation website.