Punahou Academy students performed “Oz” at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival, guided by Punahou Theatre Director Melinda Moore.
This past summer, 16 Academy theatre students (grades 10 – 12) experienced the trip of a lifetime, traveling to London and Edinburgh to perform in the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival through the American High School Theatre Festival. Guided by Theatre Director Melinda Moore, Academy Theatre Faculty member Michael Ng, and Costume Designer Anna Foster, the group represented Punahou on an international stage while immersing themselves in one of the most vibrant cultural gatherings in the world.
The journey began with three weeks of preparation on campus, where students rehearsed their summer production of “Oz”. Once abroad, the cast quickly discovered how transformative theatre can be in a city that reinvents itself every August as a global mecca for the performing arts. With more than 3,000 shows staged daily, students encountered performances that spanned genres – from theatre and dance to circus, clown, improv, and solo acts.
The highlight came when Punahou students themselves took the stage, performing “Oz” as part of the largest theatre festival in the world. “Our students had no idea theatre like this existed,” Moore reflected. “It was life-changing to see them discover what performance can be and to share their own work on this stage.”
Beyond the festival, the group also enjoyed special moments. In London, Punahou Trustee Debbie Berger ’82 and her husband Bill Reeves hosted a meal for the students. In Scotland, they explored storied landmarks such as Stirling and Edinburgh Castles and attended the breathtaking Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
For Punahou’s young performers, the trip was more than an adventure – it was an unforgettable reminder of the power of theatre to inspire and transform.