The Hopeful Traveler: Return to 'Sunset Boulevard' at Diamond Head Theatre

Monday, October 10, 2011

Return to 'Sunset Boulevard' at Diamond Head Theatre

The 'Sunset Boulevard' marquee at Diamond Head Theatre.
(photo: TheHopefulTraveler)

Yesterday I attended a second performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard' (click HERE to read my review) at Diamond Head Theatre. I've been attending performances at the venue since 1991 when I first saw another Lloyd Webber musical: 'Evita' which cemented that I would be a season ticket holder. Attending 'Sunset' again I was amazed at this polished production by DHT.

Including 'Sunset' and 'Evita', DHT has presented five Lloyd Webber musicals. The others are:

Jesus Christ Superstar (1993 & 2004)

Song & Dance (1994)

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1996)

Although I would attend each show twice being a fan of the composer there is one production that I've attended three times at DHT. It's a guilty pleasure of mine and one of my favorites ever since seeing the original production on Broadway in 2006. That was the musical adaptation of the film 'The Wedding Singer'. Though DHT's 2009 production was very limited in its budget for the production design compared to other shows, the musical was well cast winning five Po'okela Awards (four of which was for acting). The Po'okela Awards is presented by the Hawaii Theatre Council for achievement in local theatre.

DHT bills itself as Broadway of the Pacific and is located along the slopes of famous Diamond Head crater. Because of its location in Honolulu, Hawaii and therefore distant from major cities on the U.S. mainland, it has been able to snag rights to some productions before other community theaters. The theatre currently presents a six-show season consisting of five musicals and one play of both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. The 2011-2012 season continues with Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Cinderella,' 'The Butler Did It,' 'Titanic,' 'Xanadu' and 'Singin' in the Rain.' Click HERE to view the DHT season archives for a list of past productions.

Performances run for three weekends (though extensions are rare) with performances Thu-Sat 8pm; Sat 3pm and Sun 4pm. The second Sunday performance usually is an interpreted and described performance for the deaf community and includes a talk back post show discussion with the creative team and actors.

Though the name Diamond Head Theatre was adopted in 1990, the theatre has a history beginning in 1915 when it was called The Footlights. This makes DHT the third oldest continuously operating community theatre in the United States. From 1934 to 1990 the group was called Honolulu Community Theatre.

Visit diamondheadtheatre.com or call 808-733-0274 for more info. The theatre is located at 520 Makapuu Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii.