BYUH theatre program shares the inspiration, effort and growth behind the stories they shared with Scotland
After bearing witness to the scarcity of Pacific stories at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, theatre program head Dr. Michael Morris returned to Hawaii with a vision: to bring greater Pacific Islander representation to the world’s largest performing arts festival. Fast forward to now, BYU–Hawaii’s theatre department is heading thousands of miles from the island to present two stories of faith, culture and identity on an international stage. These productions were two of thousands at the open-access offshoot of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Culture and identity on stage
Morris said his original works, “STAY.” and “Black Russian,” explore the beauty of faith, identity, tradition and the struggles that come in between. “I found there weren’t as many productions that were uplifting,” said Morris of last year’s festival—an experience that inspired the choice to present the stories of Lola and Frederick Bruce Thomas.
“STAY.” follows Lola, a young woman wrestling with questions of faith and identity. The themes embedded into the story, Morris said, are drawn from his observations of cultural diversity in Laie. “I was thinking specifically about what it’s like to be a Pacific Islander here in Laie—a place where there are so many cultures, where you have access to different aspects of your culture, but where not everyone is connected in the same way, and where people are trying to understand what it means to be a mix of cultural identities,” he explained.
Meanwhile, “Black Russian” follows Frederick Bruce Thomas, the son of formerly enslaved parents who eventually became a successful and influential entertainer in imperial Russia. Morris said this is an autobiographical piece tracing his experience as an African American missionary in Russia and his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “It focuses on [my mission experience], as well as my awareness of my own identity as an African American and the struggles of racism, … and my choice to get baptized when I was in college,” he shared.
“STAY.” and “Black Russian” are stories that carry deep cultural weight, and Morris said that’s precisely what makes the productions both challenging and rewarding. “It’s about collaborating closely with the students to help bring their cultural knowledge to the production, to make sure we’re representing everything well and with positive intent,” he said, wary of the way viewers would interpret the cultural depth of their shows.
From idea to reality
The trip, according to Morris, was sponsored by the Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship and doubled as a lesson in cultural entrepreneurship. He said it was designed to teach students “what it takes to go from an idea to a realized performance.”
Beyond performing, student actors engaged with the entrepreneurship side of launching a new cultural product to the market. They learned how live performances are marketed, budgeted and managed under real-world pressure. “For example, the students will be handing out flyers and having small conversations with people to get them to come to the show, … [and] we’ll also attend panels and meet with different artists,” Morris said.
Cast members expressed gratitude for the opportunity not only to represent their culture but also to expand their entrepreneurial tool belt. “STAY.” cast member Tanoa Lemaire, a business management major from Tahiti, said this marked his first time standing on an international stage outside the island. He said he hopes the show, with its wealth of emotions, was as memorable an experience for the audience as it was for the cast. “The show goes from a strong beginning, then switches to a moment of sadness, a moment of realization and at the end, a moment of happiness,” he shared.
Similarly, Dallin Bacudo, a vocal performance major from the Philippines, said having his first theatre performance set in Scotland is both a strange and momentous experience. “I’m very happy, proud and grateful for this opportunity. It’s going to be a great adventure, especially with everything I learned from different cultures, different stories and Dr. Morris’ direction,” he expressed.
Tee Tuaina, a health and human science major from Samoa, described his participation in the production as transformative. He was already a performer even before he first stood on BYU–Hawaii’s theatre stage, but this experience enlightened him to how endless learning could be.
You don’t have to stop where you’re at. There’s always more, so give more—offer more. Working with everyone in this production has shown me that there’s more to learn in my own culture, and that learning about other cultures is amazing.
AmeliaLola Morgan, a vocal performance major from Utah who plays the lead role in “STAY.”, shared the personal weight of the story. “During the rehearsals, we found out that my own dad had cancer, so I really connected to the character,” she said, referring to how Lola in the show discovers that a family member suffers from the same illness. She said this helped her feel closer to the story, reinforcing her faith as she continued to wear Lola’s shoes.
First look at "STAY." and "Black Russian"
The BYU–Hawaii community was given the chance to preview “STAY.” and “Black Russian” on July 31, a week before the team heads to Scotland. Applause and a joyful chorus of chee-hoos filled the McKay Auditorium as families, faculty and friends gathered to support the cast. Audience members commended the show’s narrative and cultural depth.
Maraia Druava, a sophomore in health and human science from Fiji, described the performances as memorable and emotional. “I had goosebumps the whole time. It was just heartwarming and special because you see all those cultures come together. I don’t even know how they could have done it better,” she said, noting her favorite part was seeing different Polynesian cultures unite.
Heydden Tiori, a junior in science education from Tahiti, praised the diverse mix of Polynesian cultures. She was especially moved by hearing familiar words from her own language in one of the songs, which gave her a strong sense of pride and connection to her own culture. Tiori said she loved how the performers connected with the audience, adding that they “kept the audience engaged with the show. It’s inspiring—spiritual in a way.”
Momoka Oishi, a junior in computer science from Japan, said the show successfully brought together meaningful themes of culture, music, gospel teachings and storytelling within a single hour. Oishi said the performance is a “reflection of BYU–Hawaii’s gospel-living and diversity.” She said she felt a personal connection to the story: “We all feel like our prayers have not been heard, but God answers them through people.”