Show Funds Special-needs Dance Class

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Mayor Molly-May (Victoria Chang)
appears a wee bit distressed in
The Movement Center’s ‘Sepia
Town’ musical comedy, which
is live at Mamiya Theatre this
weekend (see page 1). Photo from
Fernando Martinez.

The Movement Center presents its eighth annual Summer Sensations benefit this weekend with three performances of an original musical that promises to have you “laughing in the aisles” at Mamiya Theatre.

Saturday’s shows of Sepia Town - A Ramen Western start at 2 and 7 p.m. In between them (from 5 to 7 p.m.), guests can partake of an old-fashioned barbecue and country fair with entertainment by Jon Osorio and friends. A Sunday matinee is set for 2 p.m.

The shows support programs that allow special-needs and disadvantaged students to learn the performing arts, paying for scholarships, instructor training and a hoped-for program for children and adults in wheel-chairs.

“We never turn anyone away,” said TMC operations manager Colleen Lum, recalling one special-needs student who came to the Kaimuki center after being turned away at several other schools.

“We said, ‘Absolutely, bring him in.’ That was 5 or 6 years ago. Now we just have them come, and they can jump into any class that we offer. It’s great for them, it’s great for the other children. It works out beautifully for everybody.”

Sepia Town will showcase 140 of TMC’s singers, dancers and actors bringing to life a comedy written by their instructor Nicole Young with music by Wayne Wakai of the Society of Seven Las Vegas.

Founded in 1999, the center enrolls more than 600 students in 100 classes, including singing, acting, tap, hip hop, ballet and jazz-funk. Last year it gave out more than $16,000 in scholarships.

For tickets, call 735-8641 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)