NOT ONE BATU

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

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NOTHING WITHOUT A COMPANY 

ANNOUNCES CAST OF NOT ONE BATU

CHICAGO - May 16th, 2018 - Nothing Without a Company is proud to announce casting for the award winning Not One Batu*, written by Co-Artistic Director Hannah Ii-Epstein, directed by Rachel Slavick, in partnership with cultural specialist Lanialoha Lee and the Aloha Center Chicago. The cast features Lelea’e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong, Marie Tredway, Scott Hanada, Bobby Wilhelmson, Jae K. Renfrow, Gloria Alvarez, Tony Rossi, Ian Voltaire Deanes and Heather Jencks. Not One Batu previews June 22nd - 26th, opens on June 27th, and closes on July 21st. The play runs Wednesday through Saturday at 7pm, at Berger Park Cultural Center Coach House, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago IL. Tickets will go on sale beginning May 25th at NothingWithoutaCompany.org.

Not One Batu is the first full-length Hawaiian Pidgin-English play produced and to premiere in Chicago, and is centered around the meth epidemic in Hawai’i, and how it can impact families for generations. Not One Batu was the 2016 winner of 6 Po’okela Awards, including Overall Play Guest Artist (Non-Hawaii Resident) (recipient Hannah Ii-Epstein), Featured Female in a Play (recipient Lelea’e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong), and Leading Female in a Play (recipient Danielle Zalopany). Lelea’e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong will be flown in from Hawai’i to reprise her role as Ma.

SYNOPSIS: Meet Honey Girl: a former meth user, now an expert drug dealer. At Hale’iwa beach park one morning, Honey Girl meets with customers and friends, rival dealers, and her addict mother. Amusing, intimate and occasionally disturbing, Not One Batu follows Honey Girl’s struggle to stay clean in a world turned upside down by meth. The play begins with a pre-show gathering to talk story** with Honey Girl and her crew and enjoy live entertainment by The Aloha Center Chicago. Performances will begin in the Berger Park Coach House, then audience will move outside to the beach front for the final act. This play contains strong language and drug use.

 

* “Batu” is Hawaiian Pidgin for methamphetamine.

** “Talk story” means to chit-chat or gossip.