R. Kevin is the co-founder of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and the 2017 recipient of the HSTC Pierre Bowman award “outstanding contribution to Hawai‘i theatre.” He holds an MFA in Theatre (Directing) from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and has won multiple HSTC Awards for Excellence in Directing.
Among the plays R. Kevin has directed since 1989 are Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Comedy of Errors (twice), Hamlet (twice), Henry IV Part 1, All’s Well That End’s Well, The Winter’s Tale, Much Ado About Nothing, Pericles, The Tempest, Troilus and Cressida, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, She Stoops to Conquer, King Lear, and As You Like It (his lucky 13th production for HSF).
Reyn Afaga recently made his community theatre directorial debut with the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, leading 2024’s season with Cymbeline. Previously, Reyn has produced several vaudeville benefit shows for Leeward Community College’s theatre program.
Reyn has trained as an actor and director under Betty Burdick, Sami Akuna, and the late Dr. Paul Cravath. Recently, Reyn has completed a comprehensive directing course led by Harry Wong III, sponsored by Kumu Kahua Theatre. Reyn was also raised by a wild pack of drag queens (under the command of Cocoa Chandelier), where he learned dance, drag, costuming, makeup, and hair.
Desiree serves as the Secretary of the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival’s Board of Directors and provides administrative support with the Volunteer Committee.
She was born and raised in Ewa Beach and has worked in the nonprofit community for nine years. After receiving a BA in Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i —West Oahu, she served as a Quality Coordinator in HMSA’s Complex Case Management Program.
Desiree has developed a strong sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector after she supported community health facilities during the COVID19 pandemic by ensuring patients receive medically necessary quality care that followed national standards and regulations.
Al Reyes can be found working backstage at the Hawaii Theatre Center by day. At night, they can be found working backstage at various other theaters on island. In the rare moments Al escapes the clutches of theatre, they can be found with their partner Alex.
Selected credits: Lifespan of a Fact (MVT) Stage Manager/ Assistant Director, Rotterdam (TAG) Stage Manager, The Play That Goes Wrong (MVT) Jill/Deck crew, You're NOT Sick (Corpus Productions) Stage Manager, Both Your Houses (HSF) Vee/Stage Manager, Leviathan (Leviathan Dance) Stage Manager.