Diamond Head Theatre facts for kids
The Diamond Head Theatre is a famous place in the United States where people perform plays and musicals. It's often called the Broadway of the Pacific because it's a big deal for theatre in the Pacific. This theatre is located on the slopes of Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii. It first opened in 1915, making it Hawaii's oldest performing arts center.
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History of the Theatre
How it Started
The theatre's story began on April 28, 1915. A new group of theatre lovers called The Footlights was formed. They put on their first play, The Amazons, at the Honolulu Opera House. This was the start of a long history. The theatre grew to become one of the oldest continuously running theatres in the entire United States.
New Names and Growth
In 1934, The Footlights group changed its name to Honolulu Community Theatre. Their main goal, which they still follow today, was to serve the community through theatre. This meant involving people from Hawaii as audience members, stage crew, and performers.
During World War II, the Honolulu Community Theatre helped entertain thousands of soldiers. They put on over 300 shows across the Pacific. This tradition of entertaining troops continued later with other tours.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1952, the Honolulu Community Theatre found a new home. They moved into the Fort Ruger Theatre, which used to be an Army movie house. They made many improvements to this building. They added places to build sets and costumes. New lighting and sound systems were installed. They also added a lobby for visitors and more office space. These changes made it a modern place for stage productions.
Diamond Head Theatre Today
In 1990, the Honolulu Community Theatre changed its name one last time to Diamond Head Theatre. Each year, the theatre puts on six main stage shows. Most of these are big musicals.
They also offer theatre workshops for people in Hawaii. These classes teach acting, singing, and dancing to children, teens, and adults. The Diamond Head Theatre also has a special youth group called the Shooting Stars. This group helps young people get experience and training in performing arts.
