kamehamehamlet - Tumblr blog

[kamehamehamlet]

This is tomorrow!!

At tech right now :D

(re)cover: the campaign

If you're wondering why the blog has been quiet these last few weeks it's because Shalee (director of KamehameHamlet) and I are ramping up for a remount of her show (re)cover: The Campaign. First performed in 2022 as for of the Right Here showcase, she is performing it along with two friends this Friday as part of a larger event which includes a panel discussion following the performance. For Twin Cities folks, this event is free and open to the public, click to learn more about the event including parking and venue information here. (re)cover: The Campaign Meadowbrook Guild Bounty Board Typically Meadowbrook is a safe and attractive community full of loving families and giggling children. But as of a week ago, a scourge, believed to be magical in nature, has suddenly appeared in our neighborhood. Passersby are reporting radiated debris covering blighted plant life and a revolting stench. Without witnesses or evidence of an inciting event, We cannot say how the scourge appeared in sleepy Meadowbrook. The Guild has researched recent and historical records of the area, but believe magic is affecting the community’s memory, as no one can place what was there before. We fear that the scourge will spread and could cause complete decimation. Seeking: Two seasoned surveyors with experience investigating unusual and necrotic events. Mission: Enter the scourge, identify the cause, and report expert recommendations to the guild for immediate action. ______________________________________________________________ (re)cover: The Campaign is a performative role-playing story. Created by Shalee Mae Cole Mauleón and determined by two improviser actors. On April 26th, Beckett Love and Bri Patnode and their characters take on this bounty.

Click here to watch the prologue / teaser from the 2022 run.

[kamehamehamlet]

Revival Project Update: The 2024 transformation! 👀👀

Thanks again to everyone who has shown support since we announced the project less than a month ago. I'm so excited to share more details about our goals for this year! I previously mentioned that I'm working to make the script available this year, what I didn't mention is that I'm revising the script, and you will be able to experience KamehameHamlet with a special staged reading of this transformed play with the original KHH cast and director on board!

The reading will be streamed online and recorded for later viewing, and following the reading we will make the revised and original scripts available.

There is one more very meaningful and super radical detail about the revised script that I'll include here when it is announced shortly.

Be sure you don't miss the details by signing up for email updates at KamehameHamlet.com and read on to learn more about the script and staged reading!

More about the script

Why are you rewriting the script?

I'll share another post this weekend breaking down the reasoning behind the rewrite. I'll link to that post here when it's up!

How will the scripts be published?

At the very least, both scripts will be available in digital form for anyone to read. However, I will also be looking into options for printing physical copies.

Will we be able to perform the script?

This is a goal of mine, so I'm looking into options that can support myself and Play-Dot while also making the play accessible to artists of all budgets.

Any way this new version will let me be pedantic to strangers online?

Yes! The original KamehameHamlet had the subtitle 'Good Night Saiyan Prince' the revised version uses the subtitle 'Waiting for Goku.'

More about the staged reading

What is a staged reading?

Staged readings can be pretty varied, but in general, it's a stripped-down production without costumes, lights, blocking, etc. Actors are familiar with the script and may have gone through some rehearsal, but aren't expected to memorize lines.

Why a staged reading and not a full production?

I answered this question yesterday which you can read here. In summary, a staged reading will be a much easier goal to accomplish with fewer risks involved.

What should we expect from a staged reading of KHH?

A lot of these details are still up in the air. Whether we gather the actors on zoom, or bring everyone together with a professional recording equipment, the goal is to make sure it's available for people to view online. To that end I'm looking into costs for a few different levels of quality, and following that we will look into options around funding.

I want the staged reading to be incredible, how can I support it?

Right now, the best way to support the KamehameHamlet Revival Project is to:

Sign-up for email updates: This tells me you are willing to navigate off of Tumblr by a few clicks, to support or view KHH content.

Follow this blog: This helps to make sure you don't miss updates!

Share our posts: Amokslime's original post is nearing 20,000 notes. First of all, that's insane! However, the majority of people who have seen that post still don't know we are working to bring KHH back. You can help spread the word by reblogging our updates and if you see a mutual sharing the OG post, consider reblogging with our announcement!

[kamehamehamlet]

(re)cover: the campaign

If you're wondering why the blog has been quiet these last few weeks it's because Shalee (director of KamehameHamlet) and I are ramping up for a remount of her show (re)cover: The Campaign. First performed in 2022 as for of the Right Here showcase, she is performing it along with two friends this Friday as part of a larger event which includes a panel discussion following the performance. For Twin Cities folks, this event is free and open to the public, click to learn more about the event including parking and venue information here. (re)cover: The Campaign Meadowbrook Guild Bounty Board Typically Meadowbrook is a safe and attractive community full of loving families and giggling children. But as of a week ago, a scourge, believed to be magical in nature, has suddenly appeared in our neighborhood. Passersby are reporting radiated debris covering blighted plant life and a revolting stench. Without witnesses or evidence of an inciting event, We cannot say how the scourge appeared in sleepy Meadowbrook. The Guild has researched recent and historical records of the area, but believe magic is affecting the community’s memory, as no one can place what was there before. We fear that the scourge will spread and could cause complete decimation. Seeking: Two seasoned surveyors with experience investigating unusual and necrotic events. Mission: Enter the scourge, identify the cause, and report expert recommendations to the guild for immediate action. ______________________________________________________________ (re)cover: The Campaign is a performative role-playing story. Created by Shalee Mae Cole Mauleón and determined by two improviser actors. On April 26th, Beckett Love and Bri Patnode and their characters take on this bounty.

Click here to watch the prologue / teaser from the 2022 run.

[kamehamehamlet]

Still so excited about this!! Ahhh! Thanks again K!

Also, K just started a new art account you should follow here: @slimemanagement !

Hey! It's me! I'm beyond excited to finally be able to show you my cover art for the @kamehamehamlet script.

Thank you so much, Daniel, for commissioning me to draw two of my favorite characters of all time, during my favorite arc of the series. And a massive thank you to whichever tumblr user/s reached out to ask him about it. Now I'll get to experience a play I never thought I'd get to see again. Seeing it all those years ago really did pull me out of the most difficult art slump of my life. Seeing the actors have so much fun, while being so emotionally sensitive, made me remember why I fell in love with making art in the first place. So I'm really looking forward to reading the script and seeing the staged reading! I hope we can all enjoy it together.

Here's the latest informational post about the script. Please take a look, and please reblog to make everybody look at my drawings of vegeta to make sure all the folks who are lamenting that they missed it get their chance.

[kamehamehamlet]

This was the secret radical detail I teased above! I'm so so so happy K was game to create the cover for our new addition of KHH and I love this art so much! Please reblog to make everybody look at K's drawings of vegeta to make sure all the folks who are lamenting that they missed it get their chance.

Revival Project Update: The 2024 transformation! 👀👀

Thanks again to everyone who has shown support since we announced the project less than a month ago. I'm so excited to share more details about our goals for this year! I previously mentioned that I'm working to make the script available this year, what I didn't mention is that I'm revising the script, and you will be able to experience KamehameHamlet with a special staged reading of this transformed play with the original KHH cast and director on board!

The reading will be streamed online and recorded for later viewing, and following the reading we will make the revised and original scripts available.

There is one more very meaningful and super radical detail about the revised script that I'll include here when it is announced shortly.

Be sure you don't miss the details by signing up for email updates at KamehameHamlet.com and read on to learn more about the script and staged reading!

More about the script

Why are you rewriting the script?

I'll share another post this weekend breaking down the reasoning behind the rewrite. I'll link to that post here when it's up!

How will the scripts be published?

At the very least, both scripts will be available in digital form for anyone to read. However, I will also be looking into options for printing physical copies.

Will we be able to perform the script?

This is a goal of mine, so I'm looking into options that can support myself and Play-Dot while also making the play accessible to artists of all budgets.

Any way this new version will let me be pedantic to strangers online?

Yes! The original KamehameHamlet had the subtitle 'Good Night Saiyan Prince' the revised version uses the subtitle 'Waiting for Goku.'

More about the staged reading

What is a staged reading?

Staged readings can be pretty varied, but in general, it's a stripped-down production without costumes, lights, blocking, etc. Actors are familiar with the script and may have gone through some rehearsal, but aren't expected to memorize lines.

Why a staged reading and not a full production?

I answered this question yesterday which you can read here. In summary, a staged reading will be a much easier goal to accomplish with fewer risks involved.

What should we expect from a staged reading of KHH?

A lot of these details are still up in the air. Whether we gather the actors on zoom, or bring everyone together with a professional recording equipment, the goal is to make sure it's available for people to view online. To that end I'm looking into costs for a few different levels of quality, and following that we will look into options around funding.

I want the staged reading to be incredible, how can I support it?

Right now, the best way to support the KamehameHamlet Revival Project is to:

Sign-up for email updates: This tells me you are willing to navigate off of Tumblr by a few clicks, to support or view KHH content.

Follow this blog: This helps to make sure you don't miss updates!

Share our posts: Amokslime's original post is nearing 20,000 notes. First of all, that's insane! However, the majority of people who have seen that post still don't know we are working to bring KHH back. You can help spread the word by reblogging our updates and if you see a mutual sharing the OG post, consider reblogging with our announcement!

[kamehamehamlet]

At the risk of sounding Insane, will the unedited/original version of the script also be available, so we can see how the show has changed over the years?

You don't sound insane! Or we're both about to... Another dream of mine would be to release a fancy annotated version of KHH like all those Shakespeare editions I love and would either include the original in its entirety or highlight what the changes are etc. Since that's less likely the original script will be made available as well, likely in a digital form. I'm still working away on my post about the direction of the revision which will explain more!

[kamehamehamlet]

Revival Project Update: The 2024 transformation! 👀👀

Thanks again to everyone who has shown support since we announced the project less than a month ago. I'm so excited to share more details about our goals for this year! I previously mentioned that I'm working to make the script available this year, what I didn't mention is that I'm revising the script, and you will be able to experience KamehameHamlet with a special staged reading of this transformed play with the original KHH cast and director on board!

The reading will be streamed online and recorded for later viewing, and following the reading we will make the revised and original scripts available.

There is one more very meaningful and super radical detail you can see here!

Be sure you don't miss the details by signing up for email updates at KamehameHamlet.com and read on to learn more about the script and staged reading!

More about the script

Why are you rewriting the script?

I'll share another post this weekend breaking down the reasoning behind the rewrite. I'll link to that post here when it's up!

How will the scripts be published?

At the very least, both scripts will be available in digital form for anyone to read. However, I will also be looking into options for printing physical copies.

Will we be able to perform the script?

This is a goal of mine, so I'm looking into options that can support myself and Play-Dot while also making the play accessible to artists of all budgets.

Any way this new version will let me be pedantic to strangers online?

Yes! The original KamehameHamlet had the subtitle 'Good Night Saiyan Prince' the revised version uses the subtitle 'Waiting for Goku.'

More about the staged reading

What is a staged reading?

Staged readings can be pretty varied, but in general, it's a stripped-down production without costumes, lights, blocking, etc. Actors are familiar with the script and may have gone through some rehearsal, but aren't expected to memorize lines.

Why a staged reading and not a full production?

I answered this question yesterday which you can read here. In summary, a staged reading will be a much easier goal to accomplish with fewer risks involved.

What should we expect from a staged reading of KHH?

A lot of these details are still up in the air. Whether we gather the actors on zoom, or bring everyone together with a professional recording equipment, the goal is to make sure it's available for people to view online. To that end I'm looking into costs for a few different levels of quality, and following that we will look into options around funding.

I want the staged reading to be incredible, how can I support it?

Right now, the best way to support the KamehameHamlet Revival Project is to:

Sign-up for email updates: This tells me you are willing to navigate off of Tumblr by a few clicks, to support or view KHH content.

Follow this blog: This helps to make sure you don't miss updates!

Share our posts: Amokslime's original post is nearing 20,000 notes. First of all, that's insane! However, the majority of people who have seen that post still don't know we are working to bring KHH back. You can help spread the word by reblogging our updates and if you see a mutual sharing the OG post, consider reblogging with our announcement!

[kamehamehamlet]

Hello!

I saw this show back at Fringe and it haunts me to this day.

I cried over a show where everybody was wearing wheelies. Amazing.

If you wanted to do a revival (I want you to do a revival) would you consider doing at at a show at a local geek convention, like CONvergance? I think it would go over really well there, and I would love to see it again.

Hi @leebrontide! I'm grateful/sorry KamehameHamlet has been haunting you for nearly a decade. But genuinely, thank you. I shared your review/reblog with the director, Shalee, and it meant a lot. I have a bit more to say about that, but I'll save it for the very end because it has mild thematic spoilers and well, this blog only exists because most people haven't seen KamehameHamlet... yet. As for your question, I've been planning to share my thoughts about a full production revival at some point, so I hope you don't mind me diving in.

To respond to your question about a proper revival:

In the grand scheme of possibilities, I haven't written off a revival production. However, we would want to make sure it is accessible via recording, and if we're putting recorded staged theatre into the world, we want to make sure the recording is professionally captured and edited. I haven't done the research, but my gut estimate is that it would be a pretty penny. Additionally, a goal across the revival project is to make sure we are ethically supporting any artists involved. Put together, this means a revival production would require significant funding on top of other logistical elements. This isn't to say it isn't a goal, but I don't see it as something we would be able to achieve this year. that said I believe one of the magic things about theatre is the nature of works to be produced by different people who each bring their own passion and points of view. This is why I'm exploring options for making the script available for others to put on their own productions. I've had at least one person reach out about possibly submitting KHH to a Shakespeare festival, and I read a handful of reblog tags where folks mentioned wanting to perform it at the schools, etc. and that really excites me. It would be my dream to see this performed across the world so everyone would have a chance to support live and local theatre. Some runs will be great, some will be bad, and some will haunt you for a decade, but that's theatre! To bring this back to the topic of a revival, I'm working on a post to share tomorrow. But I'll tease it here. While a full production isn't likely anytime soon, we are working on a staged reading with the original cast and director for this year. This will be available to watch online! Finally, (or well, finally before we talk mild spoilers) since you brought up Convergence I'm really really curious if you learned about our play because of the flyers we put up at Convergence the week or so before our show. We made a handful of different flyer designs, printed maybe 100 copies and plastered the double tree. I'll share the others in an upcoming archival post but here's my favorite!

Mild thematic spoilers for KHH below!

^Lee's reblog/review for context!

Once again, thank you for the kind words and I really want to shout out Shalee here. Her direction excavated the themes of pretend/play violence that I'm really glad resonated so well with you. And speaking with her, I know it's inspired by playing DBZ with her friends outside as a kid. While this POV might not always be present in my dream of endless productions, I'm certain if she gets a chance to direct it again, it will be at the heart of that production. And if we get a chance, we'll be sure to save you a seat.

[kamehamehamlet]

Later this week I'll be sharing a post about my intentions behind rewriting the script, until then enjoy one of many Shakespeare references in the VIZ translation!

[kamehamehamlet]

KamehameHamlet Archives: Freeza's Tail

Vegeta (and his helmet) have gotten a lot of love, but I wanted to highlight my other favorite piece of costuming: Freeza's tail! Read on to see it in action, and how it was made!

Made of a super long industrial pool noodle (with some theatre magic modifications), this costume piece/prop whipped around stage behind Cayla with a twisted fluidity that tied together Freeza's look. I mean just look at how it hooks around the rock then lashes out when Cayla turns sharply.

Let's take a look at how it was made!

The original idea for the tail was based on those wooden snake toys and I cut up a pool noodle as a protoype and sent the following video to our costume designer/magician Sarah Simon.

Sarah took my less-than-half-baked idea and crafted the final form of the tail. She shaved down a large white pool noodle to a taper, and instead of cutting all the way through, she used precise slices at varying angles which allowed specific bends exactly where we wanted them. The diagram below explains it better.

So why put all of this effort into this piece:

1. It's cool. Duh.

2. We needed to be able to pull off this moment.

Thanks for reading! Oh and if you are thinking the following...

Wait a minute... you told us there wasn't a recording. So, what's this then?

The footage in the gifs comes from a short recording during tech sent to our fight choreographer to show how the choreo looked in the theatre. I'm combing through old videos of that time to find pieces worth sharing with you. Follow this blog to see these snippets or follow the links below to learn more!

More KamehameHamlet:

KamehameHamlet.com

Announcement Video

Announcement Post

Previous Archive Post

[kamehamehamlet]

This afternoon Shalee and I attended a performance of Bill Irwin's "On Beckett" a 90-minute... Show? Lecture?... about the relationship the actor has with Beckett's work.

It was equal parts informative and brilliant, and will help guide and inspire elements of the rewrite.

Separately this week I read all of Dragon Ball (my first read through) and have moved into DBZ and am already nearing the Vegeta and Freeza fight!

It's been an emotional week revisiting Akira Toriyama's work in the wake of his passing. It still feels very unreal. He truly was a master of his craft and gone too soon. On Wednesday we'll get a new chapter of Dragon Ball Super, and I wonder how many more were penned before his passing, what last pieces he can share with us.

The Dragon Ball franchise has always had a complicated relationship with endings and now we enter a new era waiting for an ending that will likely never arrive.

~~~

I plan to return to some regular posts this week, eager to continue this work, and humbled to do so in the shadow of these creative giants.

[kamehamehamlet]

This morning, I scrolled and scrolled Tumblr in bed, reading lovely dedications and seeing so much art, both of Toriyama's and that of fans. Then, I bottled up my emotions and went to work. I had planned on continuing to write a post this weekend about my goals in revisiting and rewriting Kamehamehamlet. In many ways the fact that Toriyama was alive, that he was still actively charting the paths of Vegeta and Freeza changed the nature of a piece that was in conversation with ideas of legacy, authorship, and the ideas of canon.

Immediately, my relationship and perspective on this project has changed. And even if I could collect my thoughts and write that post, it hardly feels appropriate. Instead, this evening, I uncorked those emotions and decided to spend time with my grief and write about one of my first memories of Dragon Ball, from before I would have even considered myself a fan. To the many fans of Akira Toriyama, take care this weekend.

Binders

In elementary school there was a group of boys who sat near the back of the bus who would pass around pages of dragon ball z fanart collected in three ring binders

they'd spend weekends at the library scouting fan sites on dial up connections loading new pictures of their favorite heroes printing their favorites for ten cents a page or twenty-five if they wanted color

when they saw the news today did they save a photo of Toriyama to a folder on their phone before texting their friends "check out this legend"

[kamehamehamlet]

[kamehamehamlet]

Absolutely gutted.

Rest in Peace, king

[kamehamehamlet]

KamehameHamlet Archives: Postcards

Thank you...

to everyone who signed up, reblogged*, and followed yesterday! It means so much to see your support for the Kamehamehamlet Revival Project. If you haven't yet, you can watch the announcement video here and read the Q&A here. *A special shout out to the individual who commented #new tumblr hype thing that will probably fail to launch just dropped , and proceeded to follow anyway. I get it. We all want something to believe in. Thanks for choosing us. Just to set some expectations, the goal is to share one larger post each month focused on the process, development, or context around the Revival Project. Additionally, I'll share something archival from the 2015 production weekly. If you just want to know when we have big news, sign-up at kamehamehamlet.com.

Also, our AMA is open so don't hesitate to ask us questions along the way!

This month's larger post will be about my approach to rewriting the script for distribution. Keep an eye out for it! But first, as a thank you, I want to share promotional art that was never used during the initial run and likely only seen by 2-3 people.

A big part of MN Fringe promotion are the postcards advertising your shows. These are dropped off on the tables of various venues, posted onto corkboards around the city, and handed out to friends and family, who will kindly smile as they recycle them. For the initial KHH postcard, I remade the MN Fringe logo in the style of the 2000s US Shonen Jump logo. Only then did I quickly learn what brand guidelines are whoops.

The above image shows the original design next to a SJ cover. The second image is of the final design of the postcard which beyond the obvious MN Fringe title change has as few smaller tweaks!

[kamehamehamlet]

Wishes can come true. But we need your energy. Visit Kamehamehamlet.com to show your support and sign up for announcements. Read this post to learn more about the show and our plans. Thank you for waiting just a little bit longer.

Sometimes the smallest thing can rewrite the trajectory of your life. For example: the reason I could only think about Dragon Ball Z for five years of my mortal life is I attended a local theater one-act play based on Waiting for Godot where Vegeta and Frieza were fighting on namek and waiting for Goku. It was so good it rewrote my brain chemistry permanently

[kamehamehamlet]

The Tumblr reblog sensation is returning. But like the Sayians or Shakespeare’s folios, it has the potential to develop in many forms.

Visit kamehamehamlet.com to be notified when we have more details.

Follow this blog for a peak behind the curtain.

And read on to learn more about the show, how we got here, and where we’re going.

Thank you for waiting just a little bit longer.

Revival Project Q&A

Who are you?

Hi! I’m Daniel Cole Mauleón (@writepictures), the writer of Kamehamehamlet. In 2015 I co-founded the theatre company Play-Dot Productions with KHH’s director Shalee Mae Cole Mauleón.

What is Kamehamehamlet?

Kamehamehamlet: Good Night Saiyan Prince, was an hour-long one act play, performed during the 2015 Minnesota Fringe Festival. It’s a staged retelling of Vegeta and Freeza’s battle on the planet Namek. Marketed as a Dragon Ball Z and Hamlet mash-up, the parody quickly shuffled off its weighted gi, revealing it was actually a Waiting for Godot spoof. After five performances, Vegeta hung up his helmet of spiky hair. Seven years later, K (@amokslime) wrote this incredibly gracious post on Tumblr, which inspired two people to reach out to me via Reddit to ask if I had a script or a recording of the performance.

I want to pause the semi-marketing voice and say a heartfelt thanks to K. Kamehamehamlet was brought to life by an incredible team of artists during a summer I’ll never forget. We got laughs at jokes, gasps at fight choreography, and we broke even on the budget (a Fringe miracle TBH). K’s post gave me the chance to revisit that show through someone else’s eyes. The mix of pride and humility it stirs up is truly indescribable.

If there is art which has changed you, and especially if the artist is still alive I encourage you to non-intrusively share that with the artist.

Is there a copy of the script?

Yes, I’ll speak more about that at below.

Is there a recording of the performance?

There was, but I genuinely lost the files. And that’s for the best, honestly. It was a last-second attempt, filmed from two cheap cameras (with different qualities and resolutions!), both at bad angles and with truly awful audio. Trust me. It’s better this way.

That said, I do have other archival footage from rehearsal's, tech, etc. that I look forward to sharing for those curious.

What’s next?

This is the question I’ve been asking myself over the past year and the reason it took so long to post anything. Especially since one thing I want to do differently this time is make sure that any artists involved are meaningfully compensated for their time and skill. However, I can’t plan without a better estimate of what kind of support we would have, and I didn’t want to share our intentions without concrete details.

Right now, the best way you can support this project is by signing up for the announcement on kamehamehamlet.com.

The second best thing you can do is to share with others about this project, if I’ve learned anything reading through the comments on K’s post, it is that there’s a much bigger audience for KHH than I could have ever imagined, and you likely know at least one more person who would be interested.

And while I don’t want to promise anything I can’t deliver on, I will share that I’m planning on making the script available this year and I’ll be writing a separate post about that in near future.

If you’ve read this far thank you so much.

Photography by Ann B. Erickson. Vegeta is played by McKenzie Shappell. Freeza is played by Cayla Marie Wolpers. Costumes by Sarah Noel Simon.