Diamond Head Theatre

Honolulu, HI

As the United States’ 3rd oldest continuously running community theatre, Hawai’i’s “Broadway of the Pacific” holds a rich legacy of creating a sense of belonging for artists and audiences that has shaped its cultural significance and its path into the future. The strength, vision, and collaborative nature of the Diamond Head Theatre community shines in the story of how their new facilities came into existence.

Schuler Shook was hired as the Theatre Consultant for the project in 2011. Working in close partnership with the Diamond Head Theatre board, we helped shape and bring their vision for the new facility to life. Our role involved developing the spatial program, providing guidance in the selection of the architectural team. Studio RED Architects was brought on to collaborate as the project’s architect.

Schuler Shook worked to design a theatre that balanced the desire for a fly tower with the district’s requirement for minimal building height. We achieved this by lowering the theatre into the hillside and using a catwalk system, reducing the tower’s height and cost. This modern fly loft and catwalk system replaced the old ladder method, making lighting and scenery work safer for community artists, whom we trained in its use.

The scene shop was moved to the new building at a higher grade, eliminating heavy lifting and preserving ocean views, creating a truly unique workspace. The 500-seat auditorium maintains the intimacy of the old theatre while offering improved sightlines, legroom, and amenities, including expanded restrooms and a built-in bar. Despite construction delays due to COVID-19, the theatre successfully opened in January 2023.