A TIMELESS PRINCESS
Ciana Pelekai (Princess Kaiulani)
Ciana is an 18-year old Waianae native and graduate of Radford High School. She moved to Las Vegas in June of 2018 to pursue her passion and love for music. From a humble beginning, Ciana showed remarkable potential and talent. She appeared on America’s Got Talent twice, advancing into the quarterfinals in New York City and performed on the Radio City Music Hall stage. Ciana was also featured on Maury’s Most Talented Kids show and has performed at numerous professional sporting events.
Outside of professional performances, Ciana’s theatrical experience had her gracing the Hawaii stage as lead in the Diamond in the Rough productions of “13,” “Grease” and “Once Upon a Disney.” She also excelled in pivotal roles as the remarkable mersisters in “The Little Mermaid,” and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods.” Ciana won top awards in Hawaii vocal competitions, such as Brown Bags to Stardom, Hawaii Keiki Stars, Koko Marina Singing contest, and the regional and national Spotlight Vocal competitions. She was also cast in numerous commercials for Game Stop, HECO and Disney’s Aulani Resort.
In addition to acting and singing, Ciana is a Community Ambassador and a vocal advocate. She was crowned Miss Teen America 2017 and promoted her platform called “Sing Your Song,” encouraging others to believe in their voices and live their dreams. Besides her successful pageant career, Ciana is an avid volunteer with Hawaii Food Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Next Step Homeless Shelter. As a salute to the brave men and women of the Armed Services, Ciana has performed the National Anthem and Hawaii State song for multiple military events, such as the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary, Veteran’s Day Memorial Services, and Change of Command ceremonies.
In spite of her love for Hawaii, Ciana moved to Las Vegas to pursue her professional singing career. In January 2019, she signed a recording contract with Jon-Tonz Music Group in New York and shortly after, released her first single, “Bluff,” which received over 4 million views on sound cloud in the first two weeks. Besides performing and representing the Aloha spirit, Ciana enjoys spending time with family and friends, bowling, going to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and sharing her talents with the world!
Jeremiah Ulufanua (James Landsfield)
Jeremiah Ulufanua is very excited and humbled by this opportunity given to him be the directors. Jeremiah was previously seen in PACK's Newsies, Beauty and the Beast as Beast, and as Collins in CTAA's RENT. He would also like to thank his family for all the love and support in his career and life, Mr. Elika Santos for the years of vocal training, and Mrs. Amparo for all the support in his attempt to hold a wide range of characters in his career.
Matthew Pedersen (Kimo K.)
Matthew Pederson brings a wealth of experience from the stage and screen to his performance in A Timeless Princess. Stage credits include Nice Work, All Shook Up, A Christmas Story, Chess, Damn Yankees, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. His Broadway credits include Miss Saigon and A Chorus Line. He has worked extensively in Regional and Dinner Theatre, in national and local commercials, in television shows including Fantasy Island, LOST and Hawaii Five-0 and film roles in Moonglow, Paradise Broken and The Haumana. He has been a featured guest with the Honolulu Symphony and appeared on the symphonic recording of Miss Saigon.
Jade Stice (Queen Lili'uokalani)
Jade Stice recently appeared as Camilla in the Leeward Production of In the Heights and as Glinda in The Wiz at Paliku Theatre. As a young adult, Ms. Stice was cast in the Original Broadway Company of Miss Saigon. She has also graced the stage as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center. After spending fifteen years in New York City and touring extensively throughout the US, Canada and Asia, she returned to her island home to raise her family. Ms. Stice is a proud founding member of the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation. This organization seeks to carry on the legacy of Ronald E. Bright and his work with youth, theater and education. This summer, in addition to appearing in A Timeless Princess, Jade will be directing the children’s summer program for IABK and is also slated to direct Songs for a New World for the organization in the fall. Jade is a mother to three children; Jet (11), Georgia (8) and Tiger (4).
Cathy Foy (Olivia)
Cathy Foy, veteran entertainer from Hawaii, has decades of performing credits on stage, in nightclubs and also in New York, having performed in the second national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, in the Bloody Mary role. Foy originated the role of Chah Li in the off-Broadway Song of Singapore in New York and over the past two decades, Foy has built her up her credits on the community theater stage, playing a variety of roles with range including Mazeppa in Gypsy, Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, and Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She performed in the Hawaii Opera Theatre production of the Mikado in the role of Pitti-Sing and in the first regional production of Terrance McNally 's Broadway Play It's Only A Play as Virginia Noyles at the Hawaiii Theatre. Foy has been a guest performer Honolulu Symphony, the Hawaii Pops Orchestra and a guest Performer at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra. Her film and television credits include LOST, Hawaii Five-0, Battleship and One Kine Day. She has most recently been seen in the new version of Magnum PI on CBS and will appear in the perennial favorite 2019 Gridiron Show.
Emily Hoadley (Anuhea)
Emily Hoadley is a recent graduate from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, focus on acting. A Timeless Princess will be her first on stage role since graduating. Recently, Hoadley was in a performance of Almost, Maine, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. She was also a part of a screen cast for The Rocky Horror Picture Show for four years in Las Vegas, showcasing her knack for improvisation and love of whimsical musicals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and going to the beach on O’ahu’s fabled North Shore, where she was born, raised, and where she also currently resides. Hoadley is very excited at the opportunity to perform an original musical revolving around Hawaiian stories and culture as it reflects her heritage, and looks forward to sharing it with the world.
Lelea'e "Buffy" Wong (Momilani)
Lelea'e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong hails from Kaimuki, O’ahu, and is a multiple HSTC Po’okela Awards recipient. She was recently seen in the Watcher of Waipuna at Kumu Kahua Theatre and portrayed Queen Lili'uokalani in Mai Poina: The Overthrow. Her previous credits include: Wild Birds, iHula, Not One Batu (KKT), Happily Eva Afta, Lysistrata Jones, RENT (MVT), Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Once on this Island (PKT), Kinolau, Ku A Mo’o (HTY). When she isn't on stage, Buffy is a proud hui member and model for Manaola Hawai'i, a popular culture-conscious clothing line that perpetuates Hawaiian culture and values through fashion and design.
Samuel Tafolo (Keanu)
Samuel Tafolo is a young performer and designer. He was last seen as "Pharus Young" in Choir Boy at TAG and designed the Hair/Makeup for Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center’s Hairspray. Samuel has costumed for KHSPAC, EPOCH, St. Andrews Priory, and St. Francis, as well as doing Hair/Makeup design. Tafolo also actively performs with his dance groups HIFORCE and SW!TCH, while choreographing and training Kaimuki’s dance groups, Explicity and Xcentric, and Washington’s Explicit. Aside from performing arts and dance, he works as a Paraprofessional for Special Educations children and an A+ leader for the YMCA. Follow him on IG: @samtafolo
Howard Bishop (Alistair Davenport)
Howard Bishop is a familiar face to local audiences, having appeared most recently in Magnum PI and Hawaii Five O, and has the good fortune of working with this amazingly talented and highly creative ohana. A special “Mahalo” to Michael Ng and Denny Miyasato for this incredible opportunity to be a part of A Timeless Princess.
Howard has appeared in many musical productions locally, including It Shoulda Been You, Hairspray, The Full Monty, Titanic, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He has also received Po’okela Awards for his performances in Forbidden Broadway, Into the Woods and Chicago.
Along with numerous voiceover spots for client’s like McDonald’s, Blood Bank of Hawaii, and Blockbuster, Howard has appeared on camera for clients such as Hawaiian Electric, Bank of Hawaii, McDonalds, and Homeworld. His National television commercial credits include 7 Up, Campbell’s Soup and Tesoro. Howard’s film credits include Go For Broke, Under The Blood Red Sun, Parts of the Same Circle, The Killing of John Lennon and You May Not Kiss the Bride.
Howard would like to credit his wife Roberta for being the one that has given him the faith, time, and freedom to pursue the creative outlets he has enjoyed over the years. In his spare time he loves to play golf, acoustic guitar, and chase his grandkids!
Antonio Anagaran (Louis L'Argent)
Born in Guam, raised in Hawaii, multi-ethnic performer Antonio Anagaran traversed the globe and continental US working with actors as a performance maker, director, teacher, and of course as an actor (his first love). Amidst his creative work, Antonio received his BA from Cornell University and MFA from Walt Disney founded California Institute of the Arts. Film and television credits include Godzilla, Hawaii Five-O, and Off the Map. Antonio performed under acclaimed director and theater pioneer Richard Foreman in What to Wear, a world premier opera at The Walt Disney Concert Hall. Recent Hawaii theatrical productions include Honolulu Theater for Youth’s The Tiny Tree, Ku A Mo`o, and Apollo to the Moon. Theater Found’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Hawaii Shakespeare Festival’s Hedda Gabbler.
Antonio co-found The Yes Tiger Collective, a Los Angeles based contemporary dance theater company. He presented his ensemble generated work at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006 and 2013, the Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and the Los Angeles Exchange [LAX] Festival.
Antonio enjoys surfing, mountains, cooking and sharing a meal. Most of all he enjoys time with his wife. Antonio helps lead Bluewater Mission a creative, faith community in Palama.
Ryan Dressel (Richard Carlton/Alex)
Ryan Dressel (Carlton) is ecstatic to join the incredible cast and crew of A Timeless Princess. He is currently active duty Navy and is happily stationed in beautiful Oahu. Previous acting credits includes “Nigel Bottom” in Something Rotten, ensemble in Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and Nice Work If You Can Get It at DHT as well as “Bobby” in Coronado at the University of Toledo. Enjoy the show and thank you for your support!
Jorin Young (Understudy Princess Ka'iulani/Ensemble)
Jorin Young (Understudy Princess Ka’iulani/Ensemble) is currently getting her Bachelors in Theatre at UHM. She has done a number of mainstage shows at UHM including The Spitfire Grill as Percy Talbott, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat as Kitten 1, and most recently seen in A Midsummer Night’s Bollywood Dream as a Fairy. Jorin is also a DHT Shooting Star alumni and has done a number of shows at DHT including Nice Work If You Can Get It as ensemble, 42nd Street Shooting Stars version as Anytime Annie, and more. She is excited to work amongst her KHSPAC friends as she has also done a variety of shows there including Once on This Island as Ti Moune, Cinderella as Fairy Godmother, Rocky Horror Picture Show as Columbia and more. She is blessed to be a part of this production with such an amazing and talented cast. Mahalo Michael, Denny, my family, and ke akua for this opportunity!