Sujana Laurendeau will make a limited-time special guest appearance in ‘Ulalena as lead vocalist through June 14.

LAHAINA – ‘Ulalena at Maui Theatre last week announced the addition of a powerhouse couple to the show’s team. Sbastien and Sujana Laurendeau have established themselves in the entertainment industry working on multiple Cirque du Soleil shows, including the acclaimed “O,” where they first met.

Sujana will make a limited-time special guest appearance in ‘Ulalena as lead vocalist through June 14, before she returns to performing in “O.” Sbastien will stay on board permanently as the music director.

“We are thrilled to have such talented artists join our ‘ohana and look forward to the experience, professionalism, talent and passion that they’ll bring to our show. We highly encourage everyone to come see the show, even for a second or third time, to see Sujana perform before she returns to Las Vegas,” said Maui Theatre General Manager Dennis Preussler.

“Of all the wonderful productions I’ve been a part of, ‘Ulalena is truly special in that each cast member holds the story so close to their heart and instinctively adopts a responsibility to share it. You can feel the genuine love that everyone has for the story and the culture of Hawaii. I am so happy to be back, even if just for this short while,” said Sujana, who was raised in a bi-cultural home of Indian and modern traditions and can relate to the importance of cultural traditions in Hawaii.

Sbastien was born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada. He started his music career at the age of nine with the guitar and soon moved on to percussions, saxophone and other instruments. Since then, his talents have evolved with the industry, and he has mastered new musical technologies and trends.

He has worked as a musical director, producer, composer and performer for renowned projects such as hit Las Vegas Cirque shows like “O,” “Zumanity” and “Michael Jackson’s Immortal World Tour,” Sesame Street, and Warner Music Canada.

Sujana, who performed with ‘Ulalena for a short time in previous years but left the show for Broadway, was born in New Jersey and raised in California. Her professional achievements include playing the witch in Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” performing with three Cirque shows and in the Broadway national tour of “Bombay Dreams.”

‘Ulalena, a Hawaiian theatrical production, has shared the rich cultural history of Maui and its people for almost 14 years. The show’s authentic depiction of the islands’ history is combined with emotive music and dance, dazzling acrobatics and state-of-the-art light, sound and stage equipment.

For more information on ‘Ulalena, call 856-7900 or visit www.mauitheatre.com.