Making it in the entertainment industry may sound like a dream to most aspiring actors, but for three local talents, it could be a reality thanks to the Hawaii Conservatory for Performing Arts. Meet Kekoa “Koa” Shope, Yasmin Kogake Galvis, and Kevin J. Molina, graduates of the conservatory. Learn how the conservatory helped nurture their talent and passion for acting, prepared them for show business, and helped build a supportive community.
All the world’s his stage
Since he was a child, Shope loved to perform. He belonged to a dance studio, practiced gymnastics, and even wrote skits to entertain his family. “I’d act out what I did in school,” he says. “It was a way to channel all of my energy.”
He got serious about acting in high school when he was cast in She Kills Monsters at Kaimuki High School. It was then when he heard about the conservatory at Windward Community College from a fellow actor, who raved about the program. And it just so happened that Nicolas Logue, conservatory founder, education coordinator, and associate professor at Windward CC visited Shope’s high school for a stage combat demonstration. When Shope asked Logue about the conservatory, Logue told him it’s the only higher education program in the state focused on preparing performing artists for a career in the entertainment industry. “I couldn’t believe they offered full-ride scholarships for the one-year program,” Shope says. “They really want students to focus on their craft, not where their next meal is coming from.”
After graduating from high school, Shope auditioned for the conservatory and was accepted into the Foundation in Acting program. There, he discovered a new world built upon old classics, thanks to Taurie Kinoshita, the artistic director of the conservatory and theatre lecturer. “Taurie started with the basics, from scenes and monologues, all the way up to Shakespeare,” Shope says. “Then, as a part of the study abroad program, we went to London and performed with E15, the world-renowned acting school, and worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company!”
This experience was so transformative that it shaped Shope’s vision for his future. “Before visiting London, the idea of Shakespeare was so abstract, just words on a page or performances on the stage,” Shope says. “But after visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace, his grave, and his theatre, it all became so real. So, my big professional goal is to perform in Shakespeare’s Globe.”
Shope (left) and Galvis (right) in Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus.” Photo courtesy Hawaii Conservatory of Performing Arts
Just a few years ago, it may have seemed unlikely for a young person from Hawaii to reach that goal, but the conservatory is giving Shope the skills and opportunity to get there. “The program gave me a lot of direction, and I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love. I’ve learned so much from the program, the people in my cohort, teachers, and professionals they’ve introduced us to,” Shope says. “I’m ready for whatever’s next.”
Perhaps one of Shope’s biggest supporters is his father, Bradley Shope, a health data operations program manager at HMSA. “Koa is very motivated to achieve his acting-related goals. He’ll be touring with a show through Saipan and Guam and has two auditions in New York, one for Julliard,” he says. “Koa continues to amaze me with all he’s achieved.”
Finding a place in the world
While Galvis was interested in theater and took a few acting classes in high school, her passion for acting didn’t fully click until she was preparing for a performance as Queen Margaret in Richard III during her spring semester at the conservatory. “Before, I had struggled with self-confidence, and I was trying to push myself,” Galvis says. “And suddenly, all my preparation and all the techniques I learned came together. For the first time, I felt like a real actor, and saw what my future could be if I continued down this path. It was a pivotal moment in my life.”
Part of the reason Galvis thinks the conservatory is successful in bringing out the best in its students is acceptance. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, what you look like, or where you’re from. There’s no box you have to fit into,” she says. “We’re allowed, encouraged even, to be our authentic selves.”
Galvis (left) at play rehearsal. Photo courtesy Kevin Molina
This authenticity translates into powerful performances that resonate with audiences as well as the students. “I used to think that being of mixed ethnicity was a disadvantage because there aren’t a lot of roles out there for me,” she says. “But when Scot Reese, who’s an accomplished performer, came to talk to us, he helped me realize that being mixed can work to my advantage. He said that when those roles do come up, I can confidently read for them and that there’s a space for me in the acting world.”
Because of this confidence, Galvis plans on pursuing acting as a career. “I have a great love for the theater, and I’d like to eventually go into film,” she says. “Taurie says that the best foundation is stage acting. And I really feel like the conservatory has prepared me more than anything. I hope this program goes on forever. Nick and Taurie have created something meaningful and lasting, and I’m lucky to be a part of it.”
Be nice, create community
Though Kevin J. Molina grew up singing in the school choir and performing in plays, it wasn’t until he was a student at the conservatory that he realized it takes more than just talent to make it in the entertainment industry. “While we start with the foundations of acting, we also learn about how to conduct ourselves behind the scenes,” he says. “A lot of people don’t realize that simply being nice and professional can have a huge, positive effect on a production.”
Molina credits Kinoshita for teaching him these valuable skills. He also calls her a mini agency for the students. “Taurie knows what’s going on in the acting world, and she’s constantly sending us auditions,” he says. “Then, the teachers at the conservatory will help us get ready for auditions even during their free time so we can walk in confident and prepared. Where else can you get that?”
Galvis and Molina performing in “Aloha Attire.” Photo courtesy Brad Goda
Molina also learned how valuable it is to have strong headshots. “Now I understand what casting directors are looking for,” he says. “In fact, since photography is a hobby of mine, I take my own headshots and will take headshots for anyone who needs them for free. It’s a small way that I can give back to a community I care so much about.”
Now that he’s been in several local shows, Molina has his sights set on Broadway. “Though it’s still a long-term goal, it’s actually doable thanks to the conservatory,” he says. “I can dream big, and they’ll help me get there.”
Learn more about the conservatory in our interview with Nicolas Logue in hawaii conservatory for performing arts: where local talent shines. Or, visit their website or email logue@hawaii.edu.
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