Tucked beneath the majestic Koolau mountain range in Kaneohe is Hawaii’s best kept secret for budding actors, actresses, or anyone interested in developing or fine-tuning their dramatic chops: the Hawaii Conservatory for Performing Arts.
Established in 2021, the conservatory at Windward Community College is the only higher education program in the state focused on preparing performing artists for a career in the entertainment industry. Committed to showcasing original projects based on Hawaii’s unique local culture, the conservatory has launched dozens of careers with alumni appearing in productions around the world. We spoke with Nicolas Logue, conservatory founder, associate professor, and education coordinator, about the first-of-its-kind conservatory in Hawaii.
Exterior of Paliku Theatre, where many of the conservatory’s showcases take place.
Inspiration from abroad
Before Logue was hired as a tenure-track theater professor at Windward CC, he worked in England at the East 15 Acting School in London. “I ran a professional training program called the World Performance Program,” he says. “The curriculum has students studying performance across disciplines all over the world learning different kinds of theater forms.”
This experience was crucial when Logue was given the biggest challenge of his career after arriving at Windward CC. “I was tasked with building a world-class theater program that could serve local kids and give them the opportunities to get real career training as performers,” he says. “So, I assembled a team of professionals I’d worked with in England and the best local talent. And together, we developed a top-tier conservatory with the same level of training we delivered in England at literally the top ranked school.”
The one-year Foundation in Acting program explores approaches to acting for the stage and screen. Students get professional-level training in voice and movement, as well as stage combat and other industry-relevant skills. “The training fulfills the first year of an associate’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in theater,” Logue says. “The cool thing about our program is it’s only one year, and we offer scholarships. So far, we’ve been able to cover the full tuition for every student. In fact, my job as an education coordinator is to raise money so we can continue to cover tuition for our students so they can focus on their craft.”
Students create and train with professionals and produce and perform their work in two student productions. “This is a program for anyone who loves theater and is being told it’s not a real job,” Logue says. “Because that’s not true. All of our instructors have been doing this for a living for a long time. And everyone who teaches at the conservatory still works in the industry. For example, I’m still a fight director, as I choreograph stage fights. This work takes me all over the world. It also helps me make connections that benefit my students.”
Dueling students during stage combat rehearsal.
The program is also valuable for those who’ve done plays and musicals and are looking for the next step. “When I moved to Hawaii for graduate school, I was staggered that nothing like the conservatory already existed. There was no infrastructure to help a young kid who wants to start their career,” Logue says. “The advice is just move to Los Angeles? That’s the worst advice!”
Hopeful actors moving to LA or New York with no training and no credits will likely get lost in a sea of others just like them. “You disappear,” Logue says. “Instead, what you want to do is build up some good credits first, have professional headshots and a solid resume, get trained on how to behave at an audition and on a set. That’s where we come in.”
And because the conservatory is based at a community college, you’ll also find nontraditional students, meaning they’re not necessarily straight out of high school studying full-time. “Some of our students are already professional working actors who have credits in blockbuster movies. But, they want a way to hone their skills,” Logue says. “We’ve developed partnerships with agents who will send us folks who are interested in upskilling their abilities. This is great for the younger students because they have a seasoned professional actor training alongside them, which, of course, is like a beacon of how to behave on set, on stage, or backstage. These experienced actors are role models and also bring a level of maturity.”
A performance of Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus.” Photo courtesy Hawaii Conservatory of Performing Arts
Representation matters
The conservatory, like Kumu Kahua Theatre, offers an opportunity for local people to showcase their experiences and unique voices. “We produce amazing local stories while mixing it up,” Logue says. “We do one historical piece every year, commissioned by a local playwright or one of our alumni who’s growing as a writer. We bring them on through a program called the Emerging Island Artist Program.”
Giving a platform to local talent to express themselves is essential to inspiring future generations. “All the great cities that are known for live theater produce their own material and stories,” Logue says. “Compare this with places that import art that’s made elsewhere. Outside art becomes their art. Here, we can cultivate the stories of places young people can relate to. And hopefully, they’ll be inspired to share their own stories. Representation matters.”
Take the stage
Anyone interested in the Foundation in Acting cohort can audition. “We hold three auditions a year,” Logue says. “And if you can’t make any of those dates, we also audition by appointment. The whole purpose is to make the industry training as accessible as possible.”
If someone isn’t sure if they want to commit to the cohort, they can apply to Windward CC and try classes such as Theater 101: Introduction to Drama and Theatre or Theatre 132: Beginning Sword Stage Combat, depending on what’s being offered that semester.
Each year, there’s one cohort of 12 to 20 students, but Logue hopes to expand the program. “Talent is everywhere. These are such wonderful kids,” he says. “And as long as you want to do it, as long as you love it, we want to help you. That’s our pledge to you. If you commit to us, we’ll commit to you 100%.”
Logue (second from left) with conservatory graduates.
For more information about the Hawaii Conservatory of Performing Arts, visit their website or email logue@hawaii.edu.
See what the program is like from participants of the program in our follow up article, hawaii’s rising stars.
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