NOTHING WITHOUT A COMPANY TEAMS UP WITH CREATIVES FROM HAWAI‘I TO PRESENT 24-HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL: MANA WAHINE

Collaboration bringing brand new plays and performances to life in one day premieres April 12, 2026 HONOLULU - In an exhilarating celebration of creativity, collaboration, and women-centered storytelling, "Kumu Kahua Theatre teams up with Tree Moss Hawai‘i and Chicago’s Nothing Without a Company to present" MANA WAHINE: A 24-Hour Play Festival on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The festival’s theme will be centered around women’s voices and experiences, highlighting the strength, complexity, and creativity of women both onstage and behind-the-scenes. This dynamic, fast paced event will bring together 30 Hawai’i-based theatre artists to create and perform six brand new 10-minute plays all within a single 24-hour period.

Now in its 10th iteration from the innovative minds at Nothing Without a Company, the upcoming 24-hour fest marks the company’s third collaboration with Kumu Kahua Theatre. Tree Moss Hawai‘i, a collective of playwrights of Hawai‘i focused on new play development and advocacy, will join in the festival for the first time. 

“The 24-hour festival is such a creative rush—not only for the organizations and artists coming together and producing pure theatre magic, but also for the audiences taking in the results at showtime,” said Kumu Kahua Theatre Managing Director, Donna Blanchard. “We’re honored to be invited back for a new round by Nothing Without a Company and to join forces with our friends at Tree Moss Hawai‘i as we explore where 24 little hours takes us!”

How it Works

Six playwrights, six directors, and 18 actors will be randomly sorted into teams, with each team assigned a specific space to devise, write, and rehearse brand-new 10-minute plays. At the end of 24 hours, a final public performance of the six resulting plays immediately follows!" 

When: Performance, showcasing results of last 24 hour, held April 12, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Kumu Kahua Theatre, located at 46 Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu. 

Tickets: Available now at Kumu Kahua Theatre’s website,  www.kumukahua.org, tickets are $24—just one dollar for every hour put into creating the festival process!

Pink Ribbon Plays presented by CIRCA-Pintig and Nothing Without a Company is fast-paced 24-Hour Play Festival bringing together 30 AANHPI artists to create six original short plays in just one day, centering community storytelling around breast cancer, healing, and collective care, supported by the SCREEN Project and the Asian Health Coalition.

What is a 24-Hour Play Festival?

A 24-Hour Play Festival at the Rizal Center brings together six playwrights, six directors, and eighteen actors who are randomly sorted into six teams composed of a writer, director, and three actors. Every team is assigned a specific location within the building and given 24 hours to devise a brand-new ten-minute play inspired by their space. The festival celebrates collaboration, site-responsive storytelling, and the excitement of creating live theatre under a shared deadline.

Accessible Theatre

Pay-What-You-Can tickets will be available at the box office on the day of the event, subject to availability. If the performance sells out, a Pay-What-You-Can waitlist will be offered.

Who is CIRCA-Pintig?

For 35 years, CIRCA Pintig has been at the forefront of Filipino American theatre in Chicago, creating powerful, socially relevant productions that educate, entertain, and inspire. The company remains committed to amplifying diverse voices, developing new works, and addressing pressing social issues through the power of theatre.

Who is Nothing Without a Company?

Nothing Without a Company (NWaC) is a Chicago-based theatre and film company committed to immersive, site-specific storytelling that puts audiences inside the action. We collaborate to create original work that is raw, inventive, and built for shared spaces where art and community meet.

What is the SCREEN Project?

The SCREEN Project (Screening for Cancer, Reducing Inequity, and Engaging Asian Neighborhoods) is a community health initiative led by the Asian Health Coalition that works to reduce cancer disparities across Asian neighborhoods in Chicagoland. At its core, SCREEN combines culturally and linguistically appropriate breast health education with community-centered storytelling to address stigma, shame, fear, and misinformation, while also increasing access to screening and strengthening pathways to timely follow-up care.