Love is in the air at the historic Hilo Palace Theater! Preparations and rehearsals are underway to celebrate Valentine’s Day through music, comedy, and dance. On Sunday, February 14 at 7pm, the Palace Theater presents the romance-themed show: “Songs In The Key Of Love – A Virtual Valentine to Hilo.”
This Hybrid concert event will be broadcast live for free, at-home viewing via hilopalace.com, in addition to hosting a socially-distanced live audience. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase via the Palace website, and COVID safety protocols will be strictly enforced on-site, including temperature checks and hand sanitizer at the doors. Masks must be worn to attend the event. To accommodate proper social distancing between parties, only 1/5 of the theater’s total capacity will be available for reserved seating.
“Songs In The Key of Love,” conceived by Charles Bankhead Haines and Larry Reitzer, will feature some of Hilo’s premiere male vocalists singing their favorite love songs. Performances range from radio classics to disco dancehall, from pop anthems to show tunes, and smooth R&B to Hawaiian music; featuring hula dancing, juggling, and a three-piece house band to bring it all together! There truly is a little something for everyone in this heart-warming and love-filled night like no other.
“Our hope is that people prepare a nice dinner or order in something for their special someone and sit down at 7:00 to join us for an evening of romantic musical stylings from this incredibly talented cast,” said Phillips Payson, Executive Director of the Hilo Palace Theater. “Just like getting a Valentine’s Day card in the mail, which conveys love, longing, and a desire to be together, this concert hopes to provide a sense of warmth and unity to anyone celebrating alone or away from their loved ones.”
This show is a celebration of the full spectrum of love… ranging from the love we have for our families, our kids, our pets, the love we hold for ourselves and the world around us. Featuring songs about first-time love, break-ups, and unrequited love. The show is designed to speak to everyone no matter who you are, what you are going through or how you celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The show stars Charles Bankhead Haines, Jorden Kealoha-Yamanaka, Makoa, Kaiulu Tiogangco, Sam Deitch, Alexander Knapp, and Ku’uhiapo Jeong. It is being directed for the stage by Larry Reitzer, directed for film/live stream by Phillips Payson and musically directed by Charles Bankhead Haines and Asha Azama. The three-piece band is being led by Azama.
Just as sweet and joy-filled as a heart-shaped box of chocolates and as breathtaking as a dozen roses, this one-hour concert will enchant young and old alike as it features a playlist of love-laden songs by such incredible artists as Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Daniel Caesar, Lauryn Hill, The Bee Gees, Chad Takatsugi, Roberta Flack, The Fugees, Frankie Valli, and Elton John.
The show, which has been rehearsing nightly for the past month, has been rehearsed and will be filmed under the strictest of COVID-19 protocols. For a full breakdown of Palace COVID policies and procedures, please visit hilopalace.com.
A very limited number of in-person tickets are available for $20 via hilopalace.com, or by calling the Hilo Palace Theater at 934-7010. People attending must agree to socially distance, wear a mask and have their temperature taken at the door. The Palace will only be selling one hundred of the five hundred seat capacity to ensure the audience is comfortable and distanced.
E Komo Mai, either in person on virtually, to the Palace’s “Songs in the Key of Love.”
