It’s sort of been a Broadway musical explosion on local stages. A lot of fare, with flair.
An epidemic, in a good way.
And perhaps, the best is yet to come.
Broadway frenzy is everywhere. And growing. Song and dance casts are popular. So are familiar show titles from the past, revived for a new generation. Something new often generates big box office, too.
First off, that three-show “Broadway in Hawaii” season starts next Tuesday (April 22), with the Hawaii premiere of “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” playing for a week at the renovated Blaisdell Concert Hall. Following later: “Six the Musical,” a frisky, discofied parody of the six wives of King Henry VII, in a two-week residency beginning June 17, culminating in “Chicago,” the John Kander/Fred Ebb evergreen opening a week’s engagement beginning Dec. 2.
For many seasons, Diamond Head Theatre has flourished with Broadway musicals; “Grease” just wound up a run, with “Man of La Mancha” following May 22 and “The SpongeBob Musical” expected to have a huge underwater frenzy beginning July 18.
DHT’s earlier 2023-24 roster was chockfull of musicals: “Mamma Mia!,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Tootsie,” and “Frozen.”
DHT’s forthcoming 2025-26 season is anticipated to be one of the biggest slates yet, with “Come From Away” making its Hawaii premiere Sept. 12, to launch the parade of shows. Revivals of “West Side Story” starting March 20, 2026, and “Funny Girl” beginning May 22, 2026, will fill seats. And “Les Miserables,” 40 years old and still with an immense heartbeat (meaning a blockbuster pulse), caps the coming season’s agenda beginning July 31, 2026. Do you hear the people sing? You will! And with a new tech/set designer aboard, anticipation is higher than ever, for visual splendor along with stellar acting.
Manoa Valley Theatre just closed a held-over staging of “Parade,” and earlier mounted a splendid “Once on This Island.” “Side by Side by Sondheim” will conclude the season beginning July 17. And during its 2025-26 season, watch for two Broadway biggies, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” starting Nov. 13, and “Spring Awakening,” beginning March 19, 2026. It’s amazing how much MVT can pack in its little space!
The I’m a Bright Kid Foundation will follow up its stunning “Newsies” hit from last summer, with a revival of “Gypsy,” playing for three weekends Aug. 8 to 24 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community Theatre. Everything’s coming up roses for the organization, which continues to perpetuate and preserve the legacy of the late teacher-director, Ron Bright, remembered for his superb high school shows with student casts over the decades when he was primarily a high school director, and later a disguished force in community extravaganzas with adult performers.
Speaking of high school theatrics: The Broadway fever has spread to high school slates. Among them:
- The Kaimuki Performing Arts Company just staged “Beetlejuice.”
- Farrington High School scored points from kids with its “Moana 2.”
- Kamehameha thespians and Mililani High casts tackled “Hadestown.”
- Iolani said hello to “Hello Dolly!” at Hawaii Theatre.
HTY season celebrates communities
The Honolulu Theatre for Youth, now in its 71st year, still is perking and creating stories and plays that celebrate Hawaii’s many communities.
The season is themed “Stories From Hawaii and Beyond,” and explores tales from around the globe and even outer space. Four world premieres are among the offerings.
“An important part of growing up “local” is being surrounded by the beauty and complexity of the many cultures that make up our community here in Hawaii,” said Eric Johnson, HTY artistic director. “This in turn, ignites curiosity and aloha for people and places beyond our shores. This season celebrates stories from this pace and invites us to look beyond as far as our imaginations can take us, from outer space to the plains of Africa.”
The season at a glance:
- “Tales of the Sun and Moon,” is a world premiere by Reiko Ho and the HTY Ensemble, comprised of myths and legends from Hawaii and cultures around the world.
- “Line Circle Sphere,” by Danica Rosengren and HTY Ensemble, an interactive exploration of art in collaboration with Capitol Modern: The Hawaii State Art Museum.
- “Uncle’s (Mostly True) Stories of the Philippines,” by veteran company member Hermenigildo “Junior” Tesoro and the HTY Ensemble, a piece celebrating the history and peoples of the Philippines.
- “Annika’s Elephants,” by Annie Evans, helmed by Pam Arciero, ‘Sesame Street” veteran and native Hawaiian puppeteer, early 2026. The tale is about a young Kenyan girl who befriends a baby elephant and explores the current plight of Africa’s elephants.
- “Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar,” returns in February and March, paired with “Pa ka Makani.” The former is a story by Moses Goods in collaboration with the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings, and the latter,” by Lokomaika‘i Lipscomb, Hanalei Marques Marzan and Annie Cusick Wood.
- “The Tiny Tree,” by Annie Cusic Wood, plays in April. It is an interstellar adventure including songs, puppets and a multitude of characters.
- “HAPA: The Musical About Being Many Things,” by the HTY Ensemble and Moses Goods, will be staged April through May, as the season’s finale. Playdates of public performances have not been announced.
Information: www.htyweb.org.
And that’s Show Biz…
