By Finn Gallagher | Special to Hawaii 24/7

To most people “A Christmas Story” is a holiday tradition movie, but this year Max Troberg is living it.

Troberg, a Kealakehe Intermediate School student, is playing Ralphie in “A Christmas Story, a presentation by Aloha Teen Theatre and APAC in Kainaliu.

In the story, Ralphie is a young boy growing up in 1940s Indiana, who dreams of owning a BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good ‘ol Santa Claus himself.

Troberg, who has appeared in Kealakehe plays, said he was very nervous on opening night, but it was a real treat for his dad to see Max in his first lead role after his recent moped accident.

Jerry Tracy, APAC artistic director and long-time actor and director, said “It is a delight and pleasure working with Max.”

Robb Dahlke, who plays Ralphie as an adult and narrates the story, said “It’s great. I enjoy working with Max. We would always make up each others mistakes in the show. He is a natural actor.”

Troberg said he learned a lot working with experienced actors, especially Tracy, who plays his ‘Old Man.’

“It is very hard working with this cast,” he said. “Mr.Tracy is very intimidating.”

When Troberg first saw the script he said had some laughs, but was a little scared about all the lines he had to memorize. He watched the original movie to help him prepare for playing Ralphie.

Troberg said the rehearsals were hard work, especially the quick costume change into the dreaded bunny outfit, sent by Aunt Clara.

“I had my grandma up there helping me try to get ready in time, but it was difficult to do and people kept yelling at me to hurry up,” Troberg said. “These people have no aloha!”

One of the funniest mistakes that happened at rehearsal was that Pierce Marr, also known as Ralphie’s friend Schwartz, kept calling Esther Jane “estrogen.”

“That was pretty funny,” Troberg said.

Troberg said he has never owned an airgun but he would really like one just like Ralphie’s – an official Red Rider zooshot carbine action rang model air rifle with a compass and this thing that tells time built right into the stock!

Troberg said it was such a great experience, he definitely will be auditioning for future plays.

There are three more showings left at the Aloha Theatre so here’s your chance to see a real Christmas story.

The rest of the cast

Ralphie’s family includes Simon Ellis as his little brother Randy and Karen Barry as his mother.

Other characters include Ralphie’s teacher, Miss Shields, played by Pamela Hicks; Scut Farkas, the town bully, played by Jacob Simpson; his buddies Flick and Schwartz, played by Alika Tolzmann and Pierce Marr; classmates Esther Jane and Helen, played by Courtney Nelson and Maya Krauss; and neighbor kids Molly and Sally, played by Amanda Nelson and Kiana Ching.

Most crew positions are filled by teens, including Amanda Madigan, assistant director and stage manager; Elliott Jacobson, props; Alex Miyashiro, set; Amanda Nelson and Delaney Ross, costumes; Miel Krauss and Raisa Klyne, makeup and hair; Bowen Ressler, lights; Jonathan Kutsunai, house management; Kristiana Van Pernis, concessions; BriAnna Johnson, box office, and Mia Davis, sound.

Adult mentors include Kate Jacobson, Ann Marsh, April Mai, Jeannie Kutsunai, Jill Collier, Michelle Solomon, Gerald Lucena, Eugene Gall, Jerry Tracy, and David A. Payne.

Show times and dates

* 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 (Discount night – all seats $15)

* 7:30 p.m Saturday, Dec. 19

* 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Reserved seating tickets are available at the Aloha Theatre, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, online, or by calling 322-1648.

Tickets costs are $18 Adults; $15 Seniors (65+); $15 Students/Children (3-18)

— Find out more:

www.apachawaii.org

(Finn Gallagher is a Kealakehe Intermediate School student. He enjoys going to the theater and recently appeared with Troberg in the school production of ‘Into the Woods.’)

MEDIA RELEASE

Free Readers Theatre; 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22

To mark the 46th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Aloha Performing Arts Company presents “Kennedy’s Children,” a drama by Robert Patrick.

Six unrelated characters gather in a seedy New York bar in 1974 and perform a series of monologues examining their lives in the 1960’s. They have each reached a point of paralysis and stagnation, and together offer an insightful look at the convulsions of the post-summer of love era and its consequences for the decades to come.

The two act play, directed by Jerry Tracy, will be presented as a staged reading, with actors carrying scripts.

Curtain time is 2:30 p.m. and admission is free.

The characters are: Mark, a traumatized young Vietnam veteran, played by Sam Valenti; Sparger, a young alcoholic who works in underground theatre, played by Michael Cservenak; Carla, a frustrated fashion model born a bit too late, played by Kestrel Bishop; Rona, a hippie chick growing up, played by Tiffany Rose Brown; Wanda, a school teacher obsessed with the Kennedys and Camelot, played by Cathy Riehle; and the bartender, played by Joel Michaelson.

Audience members are cautioned this is an adult theatre piece, with some explicit language and vulgar references, and so is recommended for mature audiences.

For more information, call 322-9924, or visit the APAC website at www.apachawaii.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Auditions for ‘To Kill a Mockingbird” are planned 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.

One of the greatest novels of the 20th Century, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “To Kill A Mockingbird,” will be presented in play form May 8-23 on the Aloha Theatre stage by Aloha Performing Arts Company.

Adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel and directed by Jerry Tracy, “To Kill A Mockingbird” is an artful and compassionate story of innocence, courage and what it means to be a family.

Set in the Great Depression in Maycomb, Ala. in the 1930s, “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the coming of age story of Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the daughter of Atticus, a lawyer who, despite threats to himself and his family, defends a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. 

The play is true to the novel, delivering a powerful message about prejudice, injustice, and humanity.

Auditons will be held to cast adults between the ages of 25-65 in a variety of roles. Three of the roles are for African American actors: Calpurnia, the family housekeeper; Reverend Sykes, a minister; and Tom Robinson, the young man wrongly accused of assault. 

Other roles available include Atticus, about 50 years old and the hero of the story; Boo Radley, a recluse neighbor; Mrs. Dubose, a bitter old dying woman; and Mayella, a 19 year-old, lonely, poor, overworked white girl, afraid to tell the truth. 

Children’s roles are Scout, (girl ages 9 – 11) a tomboy, spunky and head strong; Jem, (boy 12-14) Scout’s older brother and protector, a young man on the brink of manhood; and Dill, (boy age 9 – 11) Jem’s friend, imaginative with a sense of adventure. In all, at least 15 actors are sought. No exprience is required and newcomers are welcome to audition.

Rehearsals will begin March 30 and will be held Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, approximately three hours per session. Not all actors will be required at every rehearsal; the specific time committment depends on the role.

Performers must commit to the rehearsal schedule and performance schedule. Those under 18 may audition only with consent from a parent or guardian. Consent forms as well as audition forms are available at www.apachawaii.org.

Audition registration will begin at 6 p.m. each night, and those auditioning should be prepared to share a 1 to 2 minute story or monologue in a Southern accent. The rest of the audition will consist of readings from the script. A limited number of scripts are available for onsite perusal 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 

For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.

MEDIA RELEASE

“Hail to the Chiefs,” a spring break production workshop for 8-12 year olds, will be led March 23-29 by APAC artistic director Jerry Tracy, with a free public performance Sunday, March 29. 

Each student is guaranteed a speaking role in the show, and will also assist with technical preparations such as props, costumes, and set pieces. Tracy will be assisted by members of Aloha Teen Theatre.

The workshop will meet each day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Aloha Theatre. We will not meet Saturday, but instead 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday, with the show at 4 p.m. 

Tuition, which includes all materials, is $175 per student, and limited scholarships are available. A $50 deposit is required to hold your child’s spot. Students will need to bring a lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack will be provided. Enrollment is limited to 20 participants. 

Early dropoff at 8 a.m. may be offered if there is sufficient demand, for an additional fee of $30. 

This workshop offers more than 30 hours of instruction in the various aspects of play production, with a professional artist/educator as the leader. 

Online registration is available at www.apachawaii.org. For more information, call 322-9924.

MEDIA RELEASE

Aloha Performing Arts Company artistic director Jerry Tracy brings his one man show, “Mark Twain Talks Story,” to the Aloha Theatre for one benefit performance only, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, with proceeds going to help defray the expenses of APAC’s next mainstage production, “Big River, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” the Broadway musical by Roger Miller based on Twain’s masterpiece.

Tracy will share the humor and insight of Mark Twain as he recalls his visit to Hawaii, and specifically the Big Island in 1866, interlaced with comments on current events, local and nationwide. He shares stories of visiting with royalty in Honolulu, swimming at Kealakekua Bay, planting the Mark Twain Monkeypod Tree at Waiohinu, sailing on boats that used to carry residents from port to port along the coast, traveling from village to village on horseback, and visiting the “Great Volcano of Kilauea.”

The program will also feature a musical sneak preview of “Big River” with Dale Ross at the piano and some of the members of the orchestra of the February production.

Tickets are $12 and are available by phone at 322-1648, online at www.apachawaii.org, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain. The Aloha Theatre Cafe will be open prior to the performance, and APAC will sell beer, wine, soda, and snacks from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. and again at intermission.

For more information, call 322-9924.