MEET THE COMPANY
MEET THE COMPANY
CAST
Alex Bishop (he/him): "Alex" is becoming a regular in the O'ahu theatre scene. Most recently he appeared as Tony in MVT's Dial M for Murder. Other credits include MVT's Parade (Judge Roan), Tootsie and My Fair Lady at DHT, As You Like It and Measure for Measure in the Hawai'i Shakespeare Festival. You may have previously seen Alex wear high heels in the shadow-cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show at MVT. His first show on the island was MVT's The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville), also directed by Miles Phillips, and it is a delight to be working together again! "Having first worn a dress on stage in a high school variety show in 2001, I hope that every weird kid learns to proudly let their freak flag fly!!"
Don Farmer (he/him): "Don" is elated to be part of Hawaii’s debut of When Pigs Fly’s talented cast and crew. During Honolulu Pride month (and throughout the last 3 years), Don’s body serves as the host for drag artist @MissTaraWay, often bringing fresh, dynamic energy to shows, story-times, and stages across O‘ahu. To all the queens and kings out there – “stay booked and blessed.” He has performed with Hawaii Ballet Theatre (HBT) for the last 8 seasons – seen in The Princess Bride, Sleeping Beauty, Scheherazade, Pan, and will be seen (again) in this November’s Nutcracker as Grandpa and Mother Ginger. At Manoa Valley Theatre (MVT), Don has performed in Theatre Peace (with Grammy Award winning musician Benny Reitveld), The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Avenue Q. His Diamond Head Theatre (DHT) credits include Waitress, Murder on the Orient Express, Promises, Promises, Sister Act, and Shrek: The Musical (plus many more behind the scenes). His professional theatre credits include Waikiki's Rock'n Reception, Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding, Pageant, Scarlet Pimpernel, The Slipper & The Rose, Footloose, Annie – to name a few. Also a wannabe crooner, Don sings weekly with Unity Church of Hawaii's vocal ensemble – Zamar. His “When Pigs Fly” moment was when he became the first certified male Jazzercise© instructor in Utah – yep, legwarmers and all! “To my incredible husband – Kalani, “Lava waves infinity!”
Natalie Leek (she/her): "Nat" is ecstatic to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community as part of Hawai‘i Artspace’s production of When Pigs Fly. Her acting credits include Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! (Sunrise Players, Colorado Springs, Colorado), Harry in Company (Cambridge Festival Players, Cambridge, England), and various roles in musical revues and “miscast”-style productions with performing arts groups in the United States and England. She would like to thank Hawai‘i Artspace for the opportunity to represent the transgender community in this production. After 12 years of active-duty Navy service, Natalie is currently being separated under the ban on transgender military service and is especially proud to perform in a show that celebrates queer joy, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically.
Connor McClellan (he/him): "Connor" is making his "return debut" to musical theater with Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly after a 13 year hiatus. His previous appearances include The Wiz, Singin' in the Rain, and The Jungle Book. His journey back into the spotlight was born from a deep love of song and dance, and overcoming a personal vendetta against attention. Stage frightened and smitten, Connor is grateful to share this full circle moment with the newest cast and crew of When Pigs Fly!
TBD (he/him): "Howard" auditions in progress.
Creative Team
Miles Phillips (he/him): Director & Choreographer is a multiple award-winning actor, director, and vocalist, with numerous New York and regional roles, film & television appearances, an acclaimed solo album, and over two dozen original & studio cast recordings to his credit.
Miles received his graduate training with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and his Master of Fine Arts degree from the National Theatre Conservatory.
He views serving as Artistic Director for Hawaii ArtSpace as a continuation of the late Bree Kaleʻa Peters’ mission to bring passion projects to life for Hawaii’s theatre artists. Previously, he's served as Artistic Director for Musical Theatre Renegades in Chicago and The Hot Spot Theatre Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was lauded for his work as author and director in his marriage of classical theatre and musical theatre in the hit NY revue of Shakespeare in song Words Words Words & Music. He’s delighted to revisit Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly after seeing it countless times during its original long run in New York. And collaborating with the original playwright and lyricist, Mark Waldrop, on ways to make this production timely and unique to Hawaii has been a source of joy!
Hawaii audiences may know Miles for his work as director of productions like 1776 at Paliku Theatre, Shear Madness, Desperate Measures, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Manoa Valley Theatre, An Iliad, Laughing Wild, and A Steady Rain at KOA Theatre, Zarah! and Pride Stories for PlayBuilders PlayFest, or his acclaimed guest artist performances for Diamond Head Theatre as Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol or Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
He’s been honored with the Drama-Logue and Joseph Jefferson awards for his work as an actor, 4 MAC Awards and 2 New York Nightlife Awards for his nightclub acts, Best Director award from PlayBuilders PlayFest, and 4 Po‘okela Awards from the Hawaii State Theatre Council for his work as actor and director. For more, please visit MilesPhillips.com.
So Jin Kimura (she/her): Musical Director is an accomplished musical director and keyboardist who has been behind Hawaii’s musical theater scene for over two decades. She holds advanced degrees in piano performance and piano pedagogy from the University of Oregon, the University of Hawaiʻi, and Boston University.
She has been seen on stage as musical director for Paliku Theatre (1776) and New Hope (Into the Woods). So Jin is also a staple rehearsal and performance pianist for the I’m A Bright Kid Foundation, where her recent credits include Gypsy, Newsies, An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein Classics, The Children of Eden, and The King and I. Her extensive theatrical resume spans hundreds of performances across the island's theater companies, including Paliku Theater (Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Once on this Island, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Hairspray), Diamond Head Theatre (Into the Woods, Altar Boyz, Flower Drum Song, Piney Needlesmith and the Road Less Traveled), New Hope (Children of Eden, A Christmas Carol, Moses: The Prince of Egypt, Willy Wonka, The Wiz, Les Misérables), Cottage Grove Theater, OR (1940ʻs Radio Hour), Castle Performing Arts Center (Footloose, Cabaret), Army Community Theater (Finianʻs Rainbow, Ahmahl and the Night Visitors, Godspell, Cox & Box/Trial by Jury, Camelot, Guys and Dolls, Kismet) and St. Louis Performing Arts Center (Beauty and the Beast, Rent, Footloose).
Highly regarded for her collaborative work, she has accompanied Broadway composer Andrew Lippa and serves as an official audition pianist for Disney Cruise Lines and other major cruise lines and casting companies. Her skills have also made her the go-to choice for Broadway auditions in Honolulu—including The Book of Mormon.
When not in the orchestra pit, she is a music faculty member at Windward Community College and a full-time percussionist with the Royal Hawaiian Band.
James Corry (he/him): Costume & Set Designer has an extensive background in theatre. His MFA in theatre design was achieved on a full scholarship and graduate assistant program at NYU. He earned membership in the United Scenic Artists union upon graduating, working on and off Broadway in NYC and on feature films and documentaries.
James was the assistant costume designer for A Matter of Gravitystarring Katherine Hepburn and Christopher Reeve. James was also the assistant costume designer for Over Here which starred Patty and Maxene Andrews, Treat Williams, Ann Reinking, and John Travolta. James worked with Ann Roth on the Twentieth Century Fox production of Independence, a film directed by John Huston and starring Eli Wallach, Pat Hingle, Anne Jackson, and narrated by EG Marshall.
Locally he became known for creating the costumes for nine shows and the sets for three at Manoa Valley Theatre. He was awarded three Po'okela awards from The Hawaii State Theatre Council for work on The Legend of Georgia McBride and Lisa Matsumoto's Happily Eva Afta. Additionally, James designed and made the looks for the 2019 Queen of Queens winner of the BOA Arts Ball. 2019 also had James designing the period costumes and the set for A Timeless Princess. His costumes are being featured in an exciting new production of A Timeless Princess, opening October 16th at the Royal Hawaiian Theater in Waikiki.
Jared Paakula (he/him): Associate Choreographer has been dancing for over 20 years and choreographing for over 10 years. Jared has performed for venues and companies such as Universal Studios Japan, Legends in Concert Waikiki, Rockahula, Aulani, A Disney Resort, MVT, DHT, Paliku, ACT, LCC, 'Ohi'a Productions, HBT, 24VII Danceforce and for numerous drag pageants. With his musical theatre, dance, and gymnastics background, Jared brings a fun flair to each production. Past choreography credits include: MVT: Shrek the Musical, DHT: Spongebob the Musical (Associate Choreographer), Shooting Stars performances, Kamehameha Schools: Frozen, The Lion King, In the Heights, Mean Girls, Kapolei High School: The Addams Family, Emma JV, PACK: Aladdin Jr., Dare to Dream, and many Rainbow Gymnastics Academy floor routines. “Mahalo nui Miles and this amazing team. I’m honored to be a part of this production.”
Mia Yoshimoto (she/her): Hair & Makeup Designer is a dual-licensed Cosmetologist and Instructor from Kapolei with over a decade of experience in theatrical hair and makeup. A Honolulu Community College Cosmetology graduate, her work has been featured across many stages, including productions for Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, I’m A Bright Kid Foundation, and Broadway in Hawaiʻi. Mia splits her time between Executive Assisting at Hawaiʻi Public Radio and Clinic Instructing at her alma mater, HCC. Mia sends heartfelt thanks to her spouse, Dr. Jon, her cats, and friends for their support, and is honored to collaborate on this iconic production. Mia would not be here without the help of her amazing team; she thanks every person that helped to lead us here.