Program Coordinator – Allan J.N. Lau is an elementary school teacher at Ka`imiloa Elementary School in Ewa Beach. A graduate of `Iolani School, the University of Hawai`i and Chaminade University, he has a B.A. in Speech and an M.Ed in Elementary Education, along with dual licensure with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board in elementary education and special education. He also is the director of the NextGen Company at 24-VII Danceforce Studio in Kane`ohe. Allan began his affiliation with Mr. Bright as a dancer in Flower Drum Song, and performed in numerous CPAC shows under Mr. Bʻs direction. He was the first production manager for the Castle Performing Arts Center from 1985-1991. He then rejoined Mr. B at Paliku Theatre in 2003, serving as production manager again from 2005-2014.
Music Instructor – Moku Durant was born and raised in Maunawili and in fact grew up two doors down from Mr. B. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and UH Manoa, where he earned his BA in English. In the Fall of 2020, he will begin his MFA program in acting at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. He has been music director for several Keaka Kamehameha productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Into the Woods, and most recently, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, among many others. Moku has also been seen onstage as Piraguero in In the Heights at Leeward Theatre, as Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas at Diamond Head Theater, and most recently as the Bank Manager in Once at Mānoa Valley Theatre. Moku is extremely excited to be back this year teaching music for the I’m A Bright Kid Foundation Summer Program.
Artistic Director – Jade Stice was born and raised in Kane`ohe and is an alumni of Castle High School. As young child, she participated in local arts education – taking gymnastics and ballet on the Windward side. Beginning in middle school and throughout her early college years, she was fortunate to have worked with Ron Bright. Through Mr. Bright’s guidance and preparation, Jade was cast in the Original Broadway Company of Miss Saigon in 1991. Other notable successes in NYC include a national tour of Jekyll & Hyde, performing solos at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and working with award winning composers such as Brian Yorkey, Jason Robert Brown and lyricist Tim Rice. She is currently the state program manager for Family Hui Hawaii, is a certified natural childbirth educator and an advocate for women and children’s health and well being.
Dance Instructor – Annie Yoshida is ecstatic to join this incredible production team again this summer. Annie is a choreographer and Adult Company member at 24-VII Danceforce where she feels blessed to share the love of music and dance with young people. A few of her favorite shows she has been part of include Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and most recently, Children of Eden at Paliku Theater. Professionally, Annie is in her 19th year teaching Pre-Kindergarten at Le Jardin Academy in Kailua. On Sunday mornings she can often be found singing and teaching music at Harris United Methodist Church, where she has been a member since she was a child.
Dance Instructor – Lisa Herlinger-Thompson (MA, BA) is a Bright kid who grew up in Hawaiʻi and teaches elementary school Dance in the New York City Department of Education. She received her MA in Dance Education from New York University, where she received a Susan Carol Hersh Scholarship, was awarded Outstanding Graduate Student in Dance Education, and participated in the outreach company Kaleidoscope Dancers II. Lisa was a participant in NYU’s first Dance Education Study Abroad Program to Uganda in 2006 and has presented at the National Dance Education Organization Conference on this topic. She was a founding member of LIMBIC SIX, company member of Troika Ranch, and continues to perform and choreograph in NYC. Lisa also dances Hula in the Maʻiki Aiu Lake tradition with Nā Lehua Melemele. Instagram: @PlateLunchDance