F.H. Kekoa

The Windy City has swept onto Oʻahu in a whirl of sequins, feathers, and enough razzle dazzle to power Honolulu City Lights!

What did our critic think of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Mānoa Valley Theatre?

I attended the opening weekend of the world premier of Higher! Higher!, a new musical written by a brand-new arrival to the theatre scene, Nobel-nominated academic luminary and ethics expert Professor Tom Cooper.

Closing out Diamond Head Theatre’s 2024-2025 season, The SpongeBob Musical builds on the momentum of a season of impressive productions like Master Class and Man of La Mancha to a fin-tastic finale filled with knockout production value, notable performances, and nautical nonsense (naturally).

It is beautifully poetic that this show, based on the true stories of the 7,000 people from all over the world who were grounded in the small Newfoundland town of Gander on September 11, 2001, should have its community theatre debut in Wailuku, Maui, a stone’s throw from Lahaina. What could be more apt than a show about a community of (Canadian) islanders coming together to care for people in need being performed by, well, a group of (Hawaiian) islanders who came together to care for people in need?

Whether you’re a diehard Sondheim superfan or brand-new to the Sondheim universe, as the opening number itself states, there is certainly “something for everyone” at Side by Side by Sondheim.

This is a show that needs to be seen to be believed—which you’ll have to do pretty quickly, as the only shows left are Wednesday-Sunday of this week, closing on July 20.

The islands are putting up some exciting and innovative theatre this summer, and we wanted to highlight three of the shows we're most looking forward to. You won't want to miss these picks!

The 78th Tony awards aired on Sunday night, June 9th, and it was a particularly historic night for Hawai’i nei. Though our islands have had their share of representation at theatre’s biggest night in the past—from Honolulu-born Bette Midler’s wins in 1974 and 2017 to Kaimuki grad Ruthie Ann Miles’ win in 2015—no previous Tony night has had quite the concentration of celebrities, shout-outs, and wins as last night’s ceremony.

Now, when Bryce Chaddick brings Man of La Mancha to Diamond Head Theatre in 2025, it is in the midst of an alarming rise of fascism and authoritarianism both at home and abroad, and the threat that artists and dreaming impossible dreams poses to those power structures is constantly in the headlines.

Don't miss these great theatre offerings this summer!

A perfect night out for AANHPI Month, now extended through June 8. Kim's Convenience is a particularly good choice of show to offer during AANHPI Month,

The curtain rises on Tina Turner (Jayna Elise) in her iconic red leather minidress and lioness mane about to ascend a set of stairs to a stadium of eager fans. She panics, steps back down the stairs, sits cross-legged on the floor, and begins chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, a Buddhist chant invoking inner strength and transformation of suffering.

“Bring tissues,” said absolutely everyone when I told them I was seeing Parade at Mānoa Valley Theatre. I waved off their warnings, as I was already familiar with the show, as well as the true story of the contentious 1913 trial of Leo Frank on which the show is based. My hubris, however, was no match for this stunningly beautiful production, but my watery eyes were not the result of the tragedy of the protagonists, nor of the cruelty and bigotry at the forefront of the story.

E ola ka lāhui!

What did our critic think of GREASE at Diamond Head Theatre? Leave 2025 behind, put your gladrags on, and lace up your saddle shoes, because Grease has arrived at Diamond Head Theatre, and tonight everybody's gonna party like it’s 1959!

RENT is as relevant as ever, and UHM did it justice.

Explore Hawai'i's vibrant theatre scene with upcoming shows like 'Escape to Margaritaville' on Hawai'i Island, 'Aloha Kaua' in Maui, and 'Grease' on O'ahu, running through May 2025. Discover show dates, venues, and captivating stories in this spring preview.

A bright new addition has set up “shop” at Kumu Kahua: The Improv Superette, the newest improv group on O’ahu, featuring a large cast of talented Poly improvisers playing classic improv games, served with two scoops of local flavor.