I LAND
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009‘I LAND’ — Off-Broadway Sensation
Set Performances at the CCP on January 22-25
What happens when the hula meets hip-hop?
Fresh from its off-Broadway successful run, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Asian Cultural Council Philippines proudly present “I LAND” starring acclaimed actor and hula dancer Keo Woolford.
Set for a limited run on January 22, 2009 (Gala Night Opening – 8 p.m.) with regular performances on Jan. 23 and 24 (8 p.m.) and Jan. 25 (3 p.m.) at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
This fund raising activity spearheaded by the Asian Cultural Council Philippines is for the benefit of the ACC Philippine Fellowship Program that gives grants to individuals and cultural institutions in the Philippines for international exchange activities in Asia and the United States in various fields of the arts. It shall also benefit the Makiling Academic and Research Institute for the Arts (MARIA) Scholarship which represents the CCP’s continuous development of young Filipino artists by providing financial assistance for their college education. The top students of the graduating class of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) representing the six (6) art fields will receive the MARIA Scholarship for Visual Arts, Music, Ballet, Folk Dance, Literature/Creative Writing, and Theatre Arts.
“I LAND” is Keo Woolford’s moving search for the meaning of heritage in a post-modern world weaving together traditional Hawaiian hula, Hip-Hop, Hawaiian talk story and spoken word. In this semi-autobiographical journey, Woolford chronicles his first exposure to the hula and how he came under the instruction of his idol, whom he dubs the “Hula god.” He also describes his fleeting brush with fame as a member of a boy band that almost hits the big time; his subsequent descent into a world of drugs and partying; and his rediscovery of the dance that connects him to both his culture and to himself.
Keo Woolford is a multi-disciplinary artist, born and raised in Hawaii, who began dancing hula in high school. In 1999, he became a member of Robert Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei. Since then he has been performing hula with the halau and The Brothers Cazimero around the U.S. and Japan. His career in theater began in 1995 with his critically acclaimed and self-penned one-man show, He Hawai`i Au. He went on to play The Councilor in East-West Players’ multiple Ovation Award-winning production of Pacific Overtures and originated the role of Chang in EWP’s world premiere of Heading East. In 1996, he garnered the Virgo Award for Best Actor for his role as Franco in In My Father’s House. At the end of 1998, Keo returned home to become a member of Brownskin (Hawaii’s equivalent to ‘NSync). Their self-titled release was the best-selling pop album in 1999. His final concert with the group was before a sell-out crowd of 12,000 as co-headliners with Christina Aguilera. Keo is also a prolific songwriter, having written many songs for Brownskin and a number of other recording artists in Hawaii and Japan. His songs are featured in the films Kids In America and Americanese. As a songwriter and vocalist, he contributed to the Island Warriors CD, which was the first album from the U.S. ever to be nominated for a Grammy® Award in the Best Reggae Album category. In 2002, Keo completed his starring run as the King in Rogers And Hammerstein’s The King And I at the London Palladium in London’s West End. It was the longest running revival of a R&H production in history. In New York, he has been seen in Karaoke Stories, The Greeks, References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Sonnets For An Old Century and The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen. His film and TV appearances include East Broadway, Hawaii, True Vengeance, and Happy, Texas. He continues dancing with Halau Na Kamalei, including their recent appearance at the 2005 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival where the group was awarded first prize in the kahiko (ancient), auana (modern), overall male and overall festival categories. Keo is the co-producer of the award-winning documentary featuring Robert Cazimero, Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula. He is a graduate of William Esper in New York City and currently studies under Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles.
Ticket prices are P 3,000.00 (Gala – Orchestra Center), P 2,000.00 (Gala – Orchestra Side), P 500.00 and P 300.00 (Regular shows). 50% discount for students with I.D. and 20% for senior citizens. Call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or 832-1125 loc. 1409 or call Ticketworld at 891-9999.
