Opened in 1915 Diamond Head Theatre stands as Hawaii’s oldest performing arts center. Locally it’s affectionately called the Broadway of the Pacific. This cultural institution sits gracefully on the slopes of Diamond Head in Honolulu.
The Diamond Head Theatre story began with a group named The Footlights. On April 28 1915 Will Lewers Mrs. Walter F. Dillingham Helen Alexander Margaret Center and Gerrit Wilder appeared in The Amazons by Pinero. Their performance graced the Honolulu Opera House. Today the main Post Office stands on Merchant Street where that opera house once thrived. From those theatre lovers grew the third-oldest continuously running theatre in the United States.
In 1934 The Footlights reorganized. They embraced a new identity: Honolulu Community Theatre. Their mission was clear community service through theatre. They sought to involve the people of Hawaii. This included audience members stage crew and performers.
During World War II Honolulu Community Theatre productions entertained troops. They put on over 300 performances throughout the Pacific. This tradition continued with the Pacific tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ during the 1990 season. In 1952 Honolulu Community Theatre found a home. It took up residence in the Fort Ruger Theatre. This was the Army Post’s movie house back then. The structure underwent major renovations. It became a modern venue for stage productions. Scene and costume shops were added. Lighting and sound systems were installed. The theatre gained handicapped-accessible restrooms a lobby and expanded office space. Spotlights sound and lighting boards completed the upgrade.
In 1990 Honolulu Community Theatre adopted its current name: Diamond Head Theatre. Each season Diamond Head Theatre presents six mainstage productions. Five of these are major musicals. They offer theatre workshops to train Hawaii residents in theatrical arts. Acting voice and dance classes are available for children teens and adults throughout the year. Diamond Head Theatre’s Shooting Stars a youth performing arts troupe provides exposure and training to area youth.
Diamond Head Theatre has a rich history of memorable performances. In 1975 for a production of The Music Man the Honolulu Community Theatre used a real horse. It was meant to pull a Wells Fargo wagon onto the stage. One night the horse escaped. It missed its cue leaving child actors to haul the wagon. The horse was later found eating roses in Queen Kapiolani Garden. It was three-quarters of a mile away.
Bette Midler the famous actress once graced the Diamond Head Theatre stage. She appeared in two Honolulu Community Theatre productions in the 1960s. While a student at UH she was cast in Show Boat and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
For over 30 years Diamond Head Theatre was an itinerant organization. It performed in over 25 different locations. These included McKinley High School’s auditorium Central Union Church and Waikiki hotels. In 1952 the theatre found a permanent home at Ruger Theater. In 2007 the board found that the facility hindered the organization’s growth. Building a new theatre would be more financially viable than modernizing the existing structure.
Diamond Head Theatre continues to illuminate Honolulu with its performances. It honors its history while embracing the future. The Diamond Head Theatre remains a beacon of culture and community.