Hannah Ii-Epstein (she/her) is a Native Hawaiian creative writer and award-winning dramatist from the North Shore of Oʻahu. Her work centers Native Hawaiian identity and LGBTQIA+ experiences, blending cultural tradition with contemporary storytelling across theatre and film. She earned her MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University and is the Artistic Director of Nothing Without a Company. Hannah has written over fifteen 24-hour plays and produced ten. She is a founding member of BearCat Productions, a 50th season writer at Kumu Kahua Theatre, and a member of Tree Moss Hawaiʻi. She was part of the inaugural Native Hawaiian Storytelling Writers Immersive Program. Mahalo to all our collaborating companies. 24-hour plays are a wonderful way to create and connect in community.
Elizabeth Ung (they/she) is a Queer mixed-race Chinese theatre artist. Born on Tongva lands (California) and growing up on Piscataway Conoy lands (Maryland), they currently live on O'ahu. As a director, she has worked in Hawai'i, Maryland, and across digital platforms for productions of I AM MULAN (world premiere, Kennedy Theatre); Now Entering: Shrine of the Internet Goddess (Truepenny Projects); Man of God (virtual, Strand Theater Company); and Macbeth (virtual, Wyrd Sisters Shakespeare Society). They also assistant-directed on local projects Lovey Lee (KKT); The Chinese Lady (MVT); 20,000 Leagues (Kennedy Theatre); Kaisara (Kennedy Theatre); and Chinee Japanee All Mix Up (Kennedy Theatre). Her works revolve around her identity and communities, connecting intersections of the Asian diaspora and the Queer spectrum through performance. Education: Master of Fine Arts in Directing & Playwriting from University of Hawai'i at Manoa. www.elizabethung.com
Danielle Zalopany started her acting career at Kumu Kahua and is happy to return to that beautiful stage. Played the original “Honey Girl” in Hannah Ii-Epstein’s NOT ONE BAT (2016)
Alaura Ward is thrilled to be participating in the 24-hour playwright festival for her first time, though she's no stranger to the stage. Recently Ward was seen as Lisa in Kāmau and Kāmau A'e and Lucy Thurston in The Conversion of Ka'ahumanu at KKT. She also has been seen in shows all around the Hawai'i Theatre community such as Mr. Burns (KOA) and Honk! (MVT). Ward graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA.
20 years ago, Tafa'i made his community theatre debut here at Kumu Kahua Theatre in Albert Wendt's "The Songmaker's Chair", directed by Dennis Carroll, back in 2006. Since then, he has won a handful of Po`okela, namely a Po`okela for Best Featured Male in a play for his stellar performances as both Casca and Octavius Caesar in "Julius Caesar" for the Hawai`i Shakespeare Festival. He has played varied roles including Chief Broom in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at Mānoa Valley Theatre, Wilson in "Harvey" at The Actor's Group and The Queen of Hearts in "Alice in Chinatown" among others. This is his second 24-Hour Play Festival.
Brandon Hagio is a lecturer for the Hawaii Conservatory for Performing Arts. He is also a member of the Board of Stakeholders for Kumu Kahua Theatre. This will Brandon’s third time working with the 24-Hour Play Fest, and always looks forward to the occasion.
Kim Compoc was active as an actor and writer in the Filipino American theater scene in the San Francisco/Bay Area in the 1990s. In 2002, she co-founded Maui-based Talking Stories with Keali‘iwahine Hokoana-Gormley. During that time she directed Ai! You Stay Hapai! and Koi, Like the Fish, among other works. Today she is an associate professor of history at University of Hawaiʻi - West O‘ahu where she teaches classes on US empire, Filipinx American history, and a new class called Finding Your Roots. She is excited to be making theater once again and thanks the folks at Tree Moss for this opportunity!
Alakaʻi Cunningham is a level 2 certified actor-combatant with Dueling Arts International and recently performed in Two Nails One Love at Kumu Kahua Theater. Previous acting credits include Aloha Kaua, Kimo the Waiter, Oriental Faddah and Son, Demigods Anonymous, Love, Local Style, Wreaking Havoc in the Dragon’s Palace, (Palikū Theater). Other shows include Titus Andronicus, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet (touring) for Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and A Walking Shadow (as Myles Fukunaga, for KCACTF Region 8 in Los Angeles). He has studied in England, was an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship candidate, and was honored with the KCACTF Meritorious Achievement in Acting Award twice and two Po'okelas from the Hawai'i State Theatre Council.
Manuel "Manny" Moreno was born in the Southern half of California's Central Valley and raised by his grandmother after his mother returned to Mexico to support his father. As a proud gay Hispanic. Manny was drawn to the non-binary perspectives of native Hawaiian culture, and ventured to Hawai'i to Study with the Hawaii Conservatory of Performing Arts at WCC. Since moving to Oahu, Manny has acted for Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, Palikū Theatre, University of Hawaii Mánoa, and Kumu Kahua Theater.
Barrie Kealoha is excited to check off another box on her 2026 Bingoals by making her Kumu Kahua debut! She has appeared on island as Wicked Stepsister Joy in CINDERELLA (DHT), Elena Firenzi in LEND ME A SOPRANO (MVT), Hawai’i Comedy Fest (DDT), and as Player King/Fortinbras in HAMLET for HSF. She is often sailing the high seas performing her solo shows ISLAND GIRL and BOTTOMS UP! on cruise ships, and her voice can be heard chanting jn ‘ōlelo on Survivor, narrating audiobooks, and in commercials for Hawaiian Airlines, CPB, HMSA, and Aloha Kia, to name a few. Big mahalos to Hannah and Anna-Rose for this opportunity, and nui ke aloha to Dan and Marshall.
Kealiʻiwahine Hokoana is a playwright from Maui. She has her BA in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo. She is most known for The Legend of Kaululāʻau and Koi, Like the Fish.
Anna Rose Ii-Epstein (she/her/they/them) is a queer filmmaker, theatremaker, and Producing Director at Nothing Without a Company (NWaC) in Chicago. She co-founded NWaC in 2008 and has directed and produced immersive, site-specific work across theatre and film. As a filmmaker, her inventive storytelling earned Best Director awards in Chicago’s 48 Hour Film Project for Something Different (2018) and Redesign Your Life (2019). She also directed Not One Batu: The Film Experience. Her latest award winning short, Queer Up the Details, is currently on the festival circuit. This is Anna Rose’s fifth production with Kumu Kauha Theatre. Credits include 2018 (24 HPF), 2021 (24 HPF virtual), 2021 (Reset Series virtual) & 2023 (Kasha of Kaimuki virtual).
Kirk Lapilio Jr. has appeared in over 30 productions having performed at Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, Kumu Kahua Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre, Diamond Head Theatre, Kennedy Theatre, and The Leeward Theatre. Recent credits include Lisa Matsumoto’s Once Upon One Time Trilogy, Smother, and Lucky Come Hawaii. Kirk is a huge nerd and avid anime fan and is excited to see Monkey D Luffy will become the King of the Pirates.
Ms. Ho is an aspiring actress whose experience includes Kumu Kahua Theatre, Hawaiian Mission Houses, and Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival. Her most recent acting was in KKT’s productions of “Ryan Okinaka’s ʻThe Golden Gays’, Moses Goods’ “Lovey Lee”, and Alani Apio’s “Kāmau Aʻe”. She also has worked as a lighting and sound designer for KKT, HSF, and HMH.
Brandon Caban, from Wahiawa, Oahu, trained as an actor and playwright at HB Studio in New York City. Some stage credits include Cambodian Rock Band at MVT, Sweat and The Happiest Song Plays Last at TAG, Pride and Prejudice at KOA, and Twelf Nite O Wateva at HMH. He is currently a teaching artist for the Alliance For Drama Education and a company dancer for IONA Contemporary Dance. Prior to acting, he coached volleyball and worked in the local film industry where his first job was as a Pig Wrangler on 2014’s Godzilla. This weekend is his 40th birthday weekend and marks the 10 year anniversary of his first audition.
Wil Kahele is a Hawai‘i-based actor, director, and playwright who likes telling local stories about family, culture, and everyday life. His work mixes humor and heart, usually centered around real, sometimes messy relationships. As a performer, he keeps things natural and easy, and a familiar presence. He’s always working on new pieces that are honest, relatable, and rooted in the islands.
Eriq James is making his directorial debut. He was last seen in Ryan Okinaka’s The Golden Gays at KKT. He attended Kumu Kahua Theatre’s Directing Workshop led by Artistic Director Harry Wong III. Other stage credits include Lend Me A Soprano, Matilda the Musical, Billy Elliott the Musical; Assistant to the Director for The Who’s Tommy and The Toxic Avenger at MVT and My Fair Lady atDHT.
Jared Duldulao has been in many musical productions and is excited to jump into the realm of play production and all that comes with it. Hope you all enjoy the beautiful stories that will be told tonight.
Andrew Chow has appeared in several KKT and HSF productions over the years. Most recently appearing in KKT's "Lucky Come Hawaii" and "Smother" and HSF's "One Odda Midsumma" and "As You Like It."
Carolyn Grace Corley is an actor and stage combat choreographer who loves cats, Shakespeare, and fake violence with shiny swords. Since arriving on O’ahu in February 2023, she has performed in Measure for Measure (HSF), Haoleland (KKT), Perfect Arrangement (TAG), Ua Pau (KKT), Fool for Love (TAG), and The Comedy of Errors (HSF).
Noalani Helela is a multimedia artist of Hawaiian-Chinese-Japanese-and various White descent, whose work includes playwriting, filmmaking, music, and poetry. Her works staged and published works include Demigods Annonymous, staged at Kumu Kahua Theatre in 2018 and again at Windward Community College by the Conservatory of Performing Arts in 2022, as well as Aloha Kaua which was also staged at the WCC by the conservatory and as at Iao Theatre in Maui in 2025. The themes of her largely Hawaii-based work include queer identity, racial disparity, intersectional feminism, and native struggles.
Reyn Afaga (he/they)is a theatrical artist currently based in Honolulu. Many of his skills were cultivated within Honolulu’s vibrant theatre community, receiving training from Dr. Paul Cravath, Betty Burdick, Sami Akuna, and Harry Wong III. He made his directorial debut with Cymbeline for the Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival’s 2024 season, and most recently directed Outlandish by Eric Anderson (Kumu Kahua Theatre, 2025). Reyn currently serves on the Board of Stakeholders at Kumu Kahua Theatre, and also serves as the Associate Artistic Director for the Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival.
Berkley Spivey is thrilled to take part in another 24hour play festival. He has worked over the years with many theaters including Kumu Kahua, TAG, Kailua On stage Arts and the Hawaii Shakesfest.
Shiro Kawai is an actor from Tokyo, Japan. He began acting in small theaters in Tokyo and, after moving to the U.S., has appeared in plays at Kumu Kahua Theatre as well as in local films and TV series. When he’s not acting, he writes computer programs. He has a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo.
Alysia-Leila Kepa’a is a Kanaka ʻŌiwi actor from Nānākuli, Oʻahu. She was last seen in Smother at Kumu Kahua Theatre. She has trained with the Hawai'i Conservatory of Performing Arts, based at Windward Community College. Alysia is a proud member of the Improv Superrette and was a company actor at Honolulu Theatre for Youth in 2023-2025. She spends her free time helping out the Nānākuli Performing Arts Center.
Jeannie Barroga. Since December 2025: Stanford University now houses the full collection of The Jeannie Barroga Papers at Green Library’s Special Collections. Searchworks link: https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/11056978.
She is a Lifetime Dramatists Guild Member. Among dozens of plays, both WALLS and BUFFALO’ED are key productions and in international theater studies and drama syllabi.
After 50-some years in the Bay Area, she is now based and celebrated with her husband, Tony Williams, their Silver Anniversary in Hawai'i. More info: https://newplayexchange.org/users/23938/jeannie-barroga#
Julia Avilla LoPresti is an actor, director, and educator from 'Aiea, O'ahu. She holds an MA in Theatre Production from Central Washington University and this year she celebrates her 20th year teaching and directing theater in Hawai'i public schools. During her tenure Julia has directed over 30 plays and musicals at her alma mater, 'Aiea Intermediate School, and at Central Theater Arts Academy (CTAA) including A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Piece of My Heart, Guys and Dolls Jr. and Little Shop of Horrors. She is currently directing Macbeth at CTAA, which opens this May. Her most recent stage credits include Outlandish (KKT) and Cymbeline (HSF).
Kanoe Perreira's first acting role was in Hamlet as part of the 2025 Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival and she was recently in the cast of Outlandish at Kumu Kahua. She is a graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute where she studied hula and found her love of theater.
DANN SEKI has been performing as a stage and screen actor since 1989. He has appeared on the stages of most of the theatres in Honolulu and received a Po’okela award for his performance in MVT’s Allegiance. His TV and film credits include many productions filmed in Hawaii. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA and is on the Board of Kumu Kahua Theatre. A graduate of Aiea High School, Dann was also on the air at KUMU-FM for 15 years.
Iāsona Kaper is a playwright, actor and director from Heʻeia, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu. He has been involved in productions at Kumu Kahua Theatre since 2006, and was last seen onstage in Sara Ward's The Sapphic Mantodea Complication, presented by The Work. His short play Hell Kitty was also featured in The Work last year. Other recent work includes appearing in Alani Apio's Kāmau trilogy in 2024, writing and directing Kaisara at UH-Mānoa in 2023, and directing Wil Kāhele's Blue in 2022.