Hawaii Theater Reviews

Review: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at Mānoa Valley Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — November 27, 2024

Gods and mortals, stories and songs, sea and sand--all make a splash at Mānoa Valley Theatre!

Review: LOVEY LEE at Kumu Kahua Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — September 6, 2024

Moses Goods’ “superhero origin story” Lovey Lee finally comes back home to Kumu Kahua Theatre four years after its digital premier over Zoom in 2020.

Review: DISNEY'S FROZEN, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL at Diamond Head Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — August 14, 2024

Diamond Head Theatre casts an icy spell over the heat of Hawaii’s kauwela with its 2023-2024 season closer of Disney’s Frozen, a “monster” of a show and a tremendous get for the Hawai’i theatre scene.

Review: CYMBELINE at The ARTS At Mark's Garage

by F.H. Kekoa — July 15, 2024

This show is doing the most! The first of three offerings for the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival runs now through July 22.

Review: TOOTSIE at Diamond Head Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — July 2, 2024

What did our critic think of TOOTSIE at Diamond Head Theatre?

Review: KĀMAU TRILOGY at Kumu Kahua Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — June 21, 2024

KĀMAU, KĀMAU A'E, and UA PAU run Thurs-Sat, with the full trilogy on Sunday, through June 30 at Kumu Kahua Theatre.

Review: DEATH OF A SALESMAN at Manoa Valley Theatre

by F.H. Kekoa — June 4, 2024

A powerhouse performance by Dwight T Martin leads a talented cast of Arthur Miller's masterpiece of American theatre.

BWW Review: FOREVER PLAID at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — June 12, 2021

It feels like it was just last week that I was at Diamond Head Theatre (DHT), experiencing the joyous all-female cast of Shout! and now, I got to experience more joy from DHT, except through an all-male cast in its energetic production of Forever Plaid.

BWW Review: 'SHOUT!' at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — March 31, 2021

Many of us, including myself, have missed the theatre, the place where audiences are imbued with a jubilant escape, which unfortunately hasn't been able to happen for the past year, as the island of Oahu reaches its one-year mark of having officially being put on lockdown due to the Coronavirus.

BWW Review: SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at Paliku Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — November 30, 2019

Upon waiting to greet Vanessa Manuel-Mazzullo, one of the cast members of Palikū Theatre's Songs for a New World, the first remark out of my mouth was, 'Everyone should see this show'.

BWW Review: THE ILLUSIONISTS at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall

by Cheyne Nomura — October 27, 2019

Coming all the way from the 'Great White Way' to the island of Oahu is the remarkable, magical spectacle The Illusionists Live From Broadway.

BWW Review: KINKY BOOTS at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — September 30, 2019

'Our world needs more love.

BWW Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall

by Cheyne Nomura — August 11, 2019

BWW Review: MATILDA THE MUSICAL at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — July 15, 2019

Rounding out Diamond Head Theatre's 104th season is the always anticipated, larger scale summer production, and this year, is it Matilda, based on the Roald Dahl's beloved children's story.

BWW Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN! at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — March 26, 2019

A 'musical': this canonical term within the world of theatre sets the foundation for-yes, a musical-Something Rotten! Extremely meta-theatrical, self-aware, and imbued with satire, Diamond Head Theatre's (DHT) latest production of the Broadway hit finds itself galvanizing its audience with uproariou

BWW Review: CHICAGO at the Dr. Richard T. Mamiya Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — March 5, 2019

Jazzing up central Oahu at the Dr.

BWW Review: NOISES OFF at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — January 29, 2019

BWW Review: THE NUTCRACKER at Ballet Hawaii

by Cheyne Nomura — December 18, 2018

As it's been practically an annual tradition of mine over the last some six years, I always look forward to Ballet Hawaii's presentation of The Nutcracker, for it truly doesn't feel like Christmas without this heartwarming experience.

BWW Review: HOLIDAY INN at Diamond Head Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — December 11, 2018

Every season, Diamond Head Theatre (DHT)---known as the 'Broadway of the Pacific'---mounts a Christmas-themed production to bring holiday cheer to the patrons of its theatre-going community.

BWW Review: MARY POPPINS JR. at Mamiya Theatre

by Cheyne Nomura — November 6, 2018

Although there's been a lack of tradewinds on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii, a perfect amount of winds---from the east, maybe?---has brought the arrival of Mary Poppins Jr.

BWW Review: THE WOLVES at Kailua Onstage Arts

by Cheyne Nomura — September 12, 2018

A new community theatre gracing the east side of Oahu, Kailua Onstage Arts makes its debut with The Wolves, a 2017 Pulitzer finalist for Drama.

BWW Review: NEWSIES at Diamond Head Theatre Carries the Banner

by Cheyne Nomura — August 15, 2018

Every now and then, a show comes along which displays the mass talent of the community's younger generation.

BWW Review: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT at Diamond Head Theatre

by Ashley Timm — March 27, 2018

A hilarious screwball comedy, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, is an homage to a host of Jazz Age musicals, which were filled with songs, dances, and outlandish gags---in this musical, it's all set to the superb score ('S'Wonderful', 'Fascinating Rhythm', 'But Not for Me') of George and Ira Gershwin!

BWW Review: FIGHTS & DELIGHTS at Kennedy Theatre

by Ashley Timm — February 18, 2018

Showcasing the vibrancy of traditional Chinese theatre, these contrasting plays celebrate the chou - or comic - character, an irrepressible force of comedy who continually reveals the laughter in life.

BWW Review: CALENDAR GIRLS at Diamond Head Theatre

by Ashley Timm — January 28, 2018

Based on a true story, Calendar Girls (also a 2003 hit movie) accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do.