Modern Luxury Hawai’i – Arts & Philanthropy Issue
SINGING OUT – For its 2016-2017 season, Hawaii Opera Theatre continues to break out of the mold. In January, HOT will debut Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, adapted by acclaimed composer and conductor André Previn. In March, HOT produces the Hawai’i debut of Three Decembers, a bold drama about an aging actress estranged from her children. Some of the reason behind this exciting new direction is Simon Crookall, who took the role of executive director in 2013 and was reappointed as general director this year. Part of his mission is to grow and diversify HOT’s audience. A Brit who sang with the King’s College Choir at Cambridge University, Crookall came to HOT after serving with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Crookall grew up in a musical family; now, his job involves bringing opera to young people. HOT does outreach on four islands, with HOT Express. Last year, HOT visited 73 elementary schools doing a mini-performance of The Magic Flute. At five elementary schools each year, HOT offers a more in-depth program where students learn to perform an existing opera, or create their own. In 2014, the opera organization started a junior studio for teens. HOT also opens up each performance’s final dress rehearsal for middle school and high school students. “When you have a company that has such high resources in terms of music and theater, it would remiss of us if we didn’t offer it to the community,” says Crookall, adding that HOT reaches about 25,000 students each year. For some students, he says, it sparks a passion for music, inspires a career or even instills a future HOT patron. To support this mission, the organization is having its annu8al Opera Ball Nov. 12. The Sheraton Waikiki will be transformed into glittering Paris, with a La Bohème theme.