KUMU KAHUA THEATRE BRINGS AUDIENCES BACK INTO THE AISLES OF A BELOVED LOCAL PHARMACY WITH LEE CATALUNA’S HILARIOUS HIT PLAY
KUMU KAHUA THEATRE BRINGS AUDIENCES BACK INTO THE AISLES OF A BELOVED
LOCAL PHARMACY WITH LEE CATALUNA’S HILARIOUS HIT PLAY
FOLKS YOU MEET IN LONGS
Proudly presented with sponsorships from HMSA and CVS/Longs Drugs, May 25 – June 25
HONOLULU (May 17, 2023) - Kumu Kahua Theatre rings up the finale of its 52 nd Season of audience
favorites with the smash hit Folks You Meet in Longs, Lee Cataluna's raucous collection of monologues
celebrating a wide, wild range of characters frequenting Hawaiʻi's favorite drugstore. The play returns to
Kumu Kahua’s downtown Honolulu stage in a new production under the direction of Alvin Chan and
showcasing a stellar ensemble cast. Tickets are on sale now for evening and matinee performances
running from May 25 – June 25 , 2023.
Born and raised on Maui, journalist and award-winning playwright Lee Cataluna has crafted stories that
reflect the cultural acuity of an artist who grew up in an international crossroads. Featuring familiar
characters, from a lip gloss-smacking teen to a pickled-mango-craving hāpai mom, Folks You Meet in
Longs continues to inspire a loyal following. Since the play premiered at Kumu Kahua Theatre in 2003, it
has gone on to numerous encore productions in Hawaiʻi and beyond, and become an award-winning book
taught in high schools and universities for over twenty years.
“It’s an honor to work on a piece that I consider to be part of Hawaii’s theater canon,” said Chan, a
Honolulu-based educator, actor, playwright, director, and designer who will also make his Kumu Kahua
Theater directorial debut with the new production of Folks You Meet in Longs.
The play will feature a tremendous local cast, including Alysia-Leila Kepaʻa (of Nanakuli), Brandon
Hagio (of Millilani), Cori Matsuoka (of Aiea), Darryl Soriano (of Millilani), Dawn Gohara (of Honolulu),
Jason Kanda (of Honolulu), Jonathan Reyn (of Honolulu), Juvy Lucina (of Wahiawa), Leleaʻe "Buffy"
Kahalepunw-Wong (Honolulu), Thoren Lagaʻali Black (of Waianae), and Krist10 Misaki (of Honolulu).
Wil Kalahele is the Assistant Director, with Technical Direction, Set Design, and Lighting Design by
Brian Sackett, Sound Design by Stu Hirayama, Costume Design by Iris Kim, Props Design by Sara Ward,
Board Op is Sanae Tokumura, and Stage Management by Wayne Paʻakaula. A post-show discussion with
members of the cast and crew will follow the performance on June 2.
The five week-long run is sponsored in part by HMSA, the most experienced health plan covering more
than half of Hawaiʻi’s population and proudly serving its members for 85 years, and CVS/Longs Drugs,
the trusted pharmacy that has become a community mainstay with its popular Sunday newspaper ads
featuring the latest specials. In addition to sponsorship support, authentic Longs Drugs displays and
uniforms have been donated for use in the production, and both HMSA and CVS/Longs will host tables at
the theatre to engage with audiences during matinee intermissions and offer take-home swag.
“HMSA has been serving the people of Hawaii for 85 years and is proud to support Kumu Kahua Theatre
and this local production featuring local talent,” said Dr. Stefanie Park, chief medical officer, HMSA.
“This play embodies the relationships built between two longtime Hawaii brands and our local
community.”
Community is also reflected in the nonprofit theatre’s care measures for its guests, artists, and staff. While
masks are no longer required at Kumu Kahua, they are strongly recommended. The theatre is a mask-
friendly venue and encourages everyone’s continued awareness and malama. It has also invested in
community safety, with dedicated security services provided during presentations and rehearsals of the
play.
Patrons are encouraged to reserve seats as soon as possible at www.kumukahua.org or by contacting the
theatre box office at (808) 536-4441. Tickets prices range from $5-$25, with showtimes offered at 7 p.m.
on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Kumu Kahua productions are supported in part by the NME Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation,
the Island Insurance Foundation, The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, through appropriations
from the Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi, The AAPI Community Fund, The Richard Aadland Fund,
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Spectrum/Charter
Communications, ABC Stores, the Gloria Kosasa Gainsley Fund, Hawaiʻi Public Radio, H. Hawaii
Media, Simply Storage, The Kim Coco Fund for Justice of the Iwamoto Family Foundation, Vacations
Hawaiʻi, Zippy’s Restaurants, Highway Inn, Generations Magazine, CVS/Longs Drugs, HMSA,
Hawaiian Electric, Edric Sakamoto, Ron and Rachel Heller, Leonard and Charlotte Chow, and other
foundations, businesses, and loyal patrons.