Diamond Head Theatre

«A Christmas Story» provided the perfect showcase for Hawaii’s hotbed of young talent to shine. Watching this musical brought back distant memories of home phones with cords attached, kids Unilocaling «uncle,» and bullies physically present instead of lurking on social media.
I’m relieved that the responsibilities of the ideal mother have evolved since the 1940s, although the constant is a mother’s love. I fully identified with the lyrics of «Just Like That,» sung by the Mother (ageless Jennifer Cleve Sojot).
The Old Man (Matthew Pedersen) showed off his acting and light-​footed genius from his first show-​stopping number. I was also impressed with the energy emanating from Miss Shields (Susan Hawes).
The plot was seasonal and light. I was drawn in by the vivid storytelling by Dennis Proulx. (How wonderful to snag a role where you can actually read from your script!)
There were minor opening night kinks to work out. A couple notes were off-​key, however I didn’t need to strain to hear or decipher words both spoken and sung. The sheet from the upper bunk bed hid Randy’s face in the bedroom number.
Lastly, I was hoping for another reprise from that spunky German Shepherd!

Great performances but last time I was there for Shrek the Musical it was very hot inside the building which made it barely tolerarable.

Another outstanding performance at Diamond Head Theatre, watching «Sister Act.» Great costumes, dancing, singing and music. My favorite characters were Mother Superior and the old nun with the glasses. Mother Superior could SING! Another enjoyable show! Woo hoo!

Seeing Sister Act tonight.
Parking is plentiful, across the street at KCC. Snacks and refreshments are for sale and there’s an area of to the side outside the Theatre for those who got here early.
The Theatre is not very big, bit it seats a nice size crowd. Down front, stage right, is where the musicians are.
The ladies restroom is located to the right, inside the main entrance. Very clean and there are about 7 stalls.
It’s just about showtime.

Lucky me! I was invited to see Sister Act… OMG! What a blast!
We went to the Sunday matinée… it was sold out. Got there around 3:35PM for the 4PM show. Lots of parking at KCC… a short walk across the street. Dress comfortably as the theater is always a little warm.
Congratulations to DHT for another fabulous, entertaining production… I always get teary eyed at the end… thinking about how much work they put into rehearsing, learning the lines and dances… the sets are amazing and the costumes fabulous.
The tiny orchestra never disappoints with such a big sound!
Acting, singing, music, choreography, sets and costuming was all fabulous! Loved every minute of it…

We’ve been a season ticket holder in the past but the last few years we’ve elected to cherry pick what we really want to see which usually amounts to one or two shows per season. We’ve seen some really great DHT productions in the past such as Les Mis, Hairspray, The Wizard of Oz, We’re big show fans and will continue supporting local theater as it’s a wonderful way to expose children to the wonders of the stage. Great venue, lots of parking making access very convenient, and the box office has been accommodating when we’ve had to make changes.
The sets, costumes, and props are always great. The actors are usually amazing considering most of them have day jobs. We’ve come to recognize many of the actors in local theater and I have nothing but the highest respect for what they do.
I do wish DHT would offer more contemporary productions (meaning produced in the last 30 years) instead of so many of the classics. The older material sometimes is a little dated in both dialogue and humor. They sell out every performance regardless of production but the energy and buzz for the shows such as Shrek, Hairspray, Spamalot, Les Mis, etc are noticeably higher.
I understand that their formula works for them and I do appreciate the tremendously hard work that they go through to give us a chance to enjoy the theatre.

This theater knows how to put on some great shows! I have seen two productions here, «Shrek the Musical» and «42^nd Street.» Both shows completely blew me away! I have always carried this mentality that nothing in Hawaii could fill the void in my heart that is Broadway-​level entertainment, but DHT proved me wrong! The talent in 42^nd Street was AMAZING; plus, I didn’t even know that there were that many people who could tap dance on our island… not to mention they were all in sync! SIGN ME UP FOR TAP, MOM. The costumes were also very impressive. Shrek also had a very talented cast and the show was saturated with great jokes!
The way I view local theater has been forever changed! The fact that DHT is labeled as community theater shows just how much talent is in our community! (Granted they sometimes hire outside professional actors). The only improvement would be the venue itself as it is quite old, but you have to give the place some slack… they just celebrated their CENTENNIAL! Hopefully some renovations will take place in the near future, even if that’s not in the cards just yet, I still look forward to seeing more shows put on by DHT!

Since leaving NYC, I have missed the broadway scene…
Walking into DHT brings the feeling of being in a broadway theater slightly off the beaten path, with a strong sense of community as everyone is chatting/​saying hi to friends moments before they start to dim the lights.
My first experience here was an exciting escape back to quality musical theater to see 42^nd Street. Costumes, set, and visuals were great – and I was very impressed with the actors and their singing/​dancing abilities! I really hope to make it back for the next show!

Saw the show South Pacific last night, very worth the visit and see. Singing throughout the show is fantastic. Acting and staging is very well done. I see a lot of shows at Diamond Head and this one is not to be missed. Show is put together well and very entertaining. Job well done!

A great community theatre with a stunning line up of shows. Formerly called the Honolulu Community Theatre, it’s been around for a long time. It always draws a crowd and often tickets sell out early for shows. A definite jewel in Kaimuki’s cap.

There are a few places to go on Oahu for theater experiences, but if you are looking for community theater performing a variety of genres, then Diamond Head Theatre is the place to go.
NOTE: Though it is community theater, they usually will pay for a professional actor or two to come and play at least one of the lead roles.
The Good:
— Wide variety of shows so there will always be something to interest everyone.
— Mary Poppins was a great production. We went to see it because a friend was in it. If you have never seen the stage version, it is great, though different from the well-​known movie.
— White Christmas: excellent! The person playing Phil Davis was a teenager, and really, he did a pretty good job.
— Seating is not very plentiful, but enough for the size of the venue. It also allows you to be closer to the stage that you might be at a larger venue and not have to pay so much.
— The live orchestra is great. The director is also a keyboard player, sax player, alto flute, flute, etc. Many of them play multiple instruments, but the music is great.
The Not So Good:
— Some might thing the venue a little shabby. Well let’s face it. Community theater. Lower budget. They have to spend the money elsewhere to present a show with affordable prices.
— Community theater, so the acting quality reflects that. This does not have to be a bad thing. Just realize these are mostly not big-​time professionals. Let it go and enjoy the show.
Bottom Line: I will go back here for another show. It makes a great date-​night with your spouse. Parking is right across the street. Just realize what quality you can expect, then forget about that and enjoy the show! (And the nearby South Shore grill offers a great little meal before or after your show!)

Do we have a Broadway here in HI? NO. No we don’t.
No, you won’t see Sutton Foster making a cameo or anything– but will you see and hear some great music/​acting/​singing? Yes.
Here is where amateurs shine though.
I saw official productions of Donny Osmand in Joseph and Lea Michele in Les Mis. Real voices that amplified carried straight to your hearts.
But here were also children’s choirs cast in each that held special places and special tones that can’t be replicated easily.
Where do you get children’s voices– well??? you need places for them to practice and see real life productions so that they can take music and productions seriously. Diamond Head is one of those few places in HI for real practice in real life.
Some of the productions are small– and well– it is HI and not huge music budgets to have Bono do the music for you on a Marvel character that just never opens– so it has to be reasonable and sell most of the tickets here in the small venue.
I remember a Cat in the Hat like production– well done. It is fun and great too for keiki.
I remember too, the whole cast was having a party at Ryans– they all had on their make-​up from the full dress but not in costume. They had so much comrade and fun with each other that night.
The place is not used all the time– and they still have to pay the electric bills– so in the lower parts there is dance/​exerciser programs that go on every now and then weekly. Also– a church uses the space when they are able to– sometimes they hold a music venue there too. They had the Reggae band Christafari I think as the last music group doing a Christmas show here at the church part.
So convenient next to KCC. Parking is really easy as if there is overflow– easy to park at KCC where it is free.
HI needs places like this for amateurs to enjoy theater and production so that they do become better. And the rest of us can ohh and ahh at our relatives and friends at how well they are doing in a short amount of time.

Saw «White Christas» yesterday afternoon. Great timing as it makes a dinner after show so time coordinated
Show done well. Good casting, energetic performances, good props and setting. Orchestra really talented. Ambience great. People dressed up, guys in shorts and slippers. Only in Hawaii, and nobody seemed to mind. Volunteer staff friendly and efficient.
Over the years it has been a consistent pleasure to go to our Diamond Head Theater.

Attended the Ilima Awards at DHT, their annual fundraiser. Fabulous and delicious tapa sized food from over 20 of the top restaurant in Hawaii. Wagu beef, tiramisu, duck, lobster, beef and fish prepared in so many different ways were just the start of a long list. Plan to go next year! !

Finally got to check out the theater for the first time, saw Elf, the musical on a preview night before the regular shows. The theater has a big parking lot in the back, which you will be able to find a parking stall if you get there a little earlier than when your event or show starts. You can also park across the street at KCC if needed.
The theater itself is a good space, the seating area is very close to the front entrance and is not laid out too steeply (Paliku Theater is pretty steep!). The seats are comfortable and I barely had to fidget around during the show, whose Acts were about 50 mins long. Although people were seated right in front of me I could see the stage and actors quite clearly, I probably bobbed my head less than a handful of times to see the extreme left or right of the stage (I am a rather petite person). Lighting and sound speakers were adequate, I was quite pleased.
They were also giving out free snack/​dinner boxes for FREE during intermission. The contents: a turkey wrap, cut carrots, small bag of chips, a cookie and a med-​sized bottled water. Not sure if the theater does this normally or if the meals were donated by Boys & Girls Club (saw a sign, i should’ve asked!), but it was such a nice surprise to get free food, I enjoyed the wrap a lot even if it wasnt gourmet :)
I hope to come to this theater again, I enjoy live shows and appreciate the effort and hard work that goes into any production.

Diamond Head Theatre is that neighborhood stage that has become a dominant force for performing arts because of the wide variety of high-​quality shows that they produce which keep us coming back for more. They’ve kept their product simple: produce great shows.
The theater itself is rather small. What does this mean for you? There probably isn’t a bad seat in the house. Seriously, you could be in the back row and it isn’t that bad, unless you have a 6ft guy sitting in front of you, but that is another story. The only downside is that it can get really hot. Remember, its a «community theater» so it doesn’t have air conditioning and the matinée’s can be a little warm. Bring a paper fan, it could be your lifesaver.
It tends to produce a lot of broadway type shows such as Xanadu, Legally Blonde, and much more. It definitely signs up great actors that fir their roles well. Needless to say, the productions they put on are quite good especially for the price.
Parking is pretty easy with spots open across the street at Kapiolani Community College (KCC). That doesn’t mean you can wait till the last second though, still plan to arrive a bit early so you can be assured your spot!

Saturday afternoon was my second time seeing a show at Diamond Head Theater and I am as impressed as the first time at the quality of the production that this theater puts on. A few months ago my friend and I were able to see Legally Blonde, and this weekend my husband and I saw Cabaret, and the cast of both shows were phenomenal and the orchestras for both productions were also amazing. The orchestras for Cabaret also were in costume which made the show even more enjoyable.
I have been lucky both times and although I’ve sat to the right of the stage I have been able to see from where I’m sitting and I am still wondering if there is a «bad» seat in the theater.
Diamond Head Theater has a great variety of shows for the rest of the year and I do look forward to trying to see a few other shows before the season ends.
The staff at the theater is very helpful in helping you find your seat, etc. and the box office staff is also very nice.
There is a large, ample parking lot right across the street which makes getting there a breeze.

Last night was my second time coming here to watch a play. The first time was to see «Funny Girl» last September and yesterday was «Legally Blonde».
Prior to coming here I would pass this theatre pretty much every day on my way home from hiking Diamond Head. I would see what’s playing on the marquee but didn’t make the effort to come see the play until I was invited by friends who had an extra ticket. Fortunately I had no plans that evening so I tagged along only to enjoy myself.
This theatre is on the cozy side with maximum seating capacity of 473 people. To the right there is the orchestra of about a dozen peeps. Before the curtain goes down and during intermission, they have an outdoor concession stand selling wine, soft drinks and snacks.
In my opinion, it is important to support the theatre and local talent. So much effort and resources are put in for the production and on both occasions I enjoyed myself very much.
The new season starts Sept 2013 with «Cabaret». Season tickets are now available at a great rate ranging from $ 66 to $ 228 for the year (6 shows). Last night they mentioned that for new memberships you can submit the name of a current season ticket holder and the winner of that drawing is a Las Vegas tour package for 2 people! Last year there were only 50 people in the drawing so the odds were not bad at all.
Parking is a plus when coming to see a play. They do have a dedicated lot next to the theatre but you can also park at KCC, which is just right across the street. With discounted prices and FREE parking, it’s very tempting to get yourself season tickets.
Overall, I have had 2 great shows here and looking forward to the 2013 — 2014 season.

Great community theatre, more spacious than Manoa Valley Theatre, and features the best quality productions in Hawaii. We prepaid for tickets to see «Funny Girl», which is currently being featured September 21 through October 7, 2012. This is the show that launched the career of Barbra Streisand, featuring Isabelle Decauwert as Fanny Brice.
The Theatre is small, and hosts a great sound system, so I wouldn’t opt for the premium seats, unlike the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, which is much larger. The building is fairly old, but in great condition. Perhaps, the only downside to this Theatre is the restrooms, which is extremely small: two side by side, wall type urinals, and one bathroom stall. There is always a long line for both the men and women’s restrooms, during intermission.

Just got home from watching Rodger & Hammerstein’s «Cinderella» at DHT. My son begged to stay home but as I had laid down $ 32 for his seat, I wasn’t about to let one go to waste. Oh and I admit that my dream is that he’ll one day sing and dance because I’m a little sick like that. After telling him that Santa would be extremely disappointed by his bad attitude he gave into my threats, errrr negotiating tactics, and joined the family for the musical.
Our seats were just five rows away from the stage and I was in heaven as my children smiled and laughed their way through each act. I warned my daughter during intermission that the story of Cinderella is simply an «interpretation» of love and that this story will most likely put unrealistic expectations upon her future relationships. She’s only five so she didn’t really understand what I was telling her. But one day I’ll remind her of our conversation. We were all enthralled as the clock struck twelve and Cinderella ran off with only a single slipper. I asked my children what was to become of Cinderella?! Well I’m happy to report that our mentally abused shut in got her man and got married at the end. I am embarrassed to admit that I cried when the prince put the slipper on Cinderella’s foot. See how psychologically scarring this storyline is!!!
DHT is not a fancy, big budget experience, but truly a community effort. It’s inspiring to see local people of all ages sharing their love of song and dance and I know my family really enjoyed the production. I think going to the theater will be our holiday tradition from now on and I can’t wait to see my children perform onstage at DHT one day soon!
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #112/​365 (The Glass Slipper)