June 2015 Volume 100 • Issue 4 Inside This Issue A Lasting Partnership 1 Executive Director’s Message 2 In the Spotlight 3 Our Theatre, 1990 - 2015 4 DHT’s 100th Anniversary Gala 7 Take a Bow, John Rampage! 8 Coming Soon A Lasting July 17 - August 9, 2015 Partnership Photography by Brad Goda Diamond Head Theatre Salutes For example, many of DHT’s early shows were very similar to Nellie Forbush’s pro- Hawaii’s Troops Throughout the Years duction of The Thanksgiving Follies, which t’s the early 1940s. War is raging—and is performed outdoors for the sailors with September 25 - October 11, 2015 Iin the world of Rodgers and Hammer- volunteer actors and a low-budget set. stein, Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and Ma- But DHT’s military family members rine Lieutenant Joseph Cable are struggling aren’t just happy theatregoers; they’re with issues of race and creed on a remote happy performers as well. We’re proud to island in the South Pacific. Meanwhile, in showcase many of the Armed Forces’ finest the real-world Pacific, Pearl Harbor has talent in our shows, and are just as pleased just been bombed. This spurs the members that they find Diamond Head Theatre a of Diamond Head Theatre (then known as loving and nurturing second home. At the Honolulu Community Theatre) to under- theatre, they can find support and share December 4 - 20, 2015 take a new mission: entertaining Hawaii’s their experiences as they continue to serve military personnel. their country. South Pacific is no exception, Ever since then, Diamond Head Theatre with one-fourth of the cast bringing their has nurtured a rich, flourishing relationship backgrounds with the Army, Navy and with Hawaii’s armed forces that continues Coast Guard to the show. into our 100th anniversary season with our Cody Garner, who played Lt. Cable in recent production of South Pacific. the show, is actually a real lieutenant in the For Tickets Interestingly, in some ways South Pacific U.S. Navy. When asked how his experience Call 808.733.0274 or visit mirrors Diamond Head Theatre’s history. www.diamondheadtheatre.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 singling out our dedication to the arts. It was also clear Aloha from DHT’s that musicals reigned supreme (although everyone loved Mockingbird!). Executive Director Another loud-and-clear message was the wish for DHT to improve its facilities and amenities—especially with iamond Head Th eatre recently more bathroom stalls. We did recently add two stalls, but Demailed a questionnaire survey we’ll see if we can implement additional solutions prior to to subscribers. We wanted to get a the completion of our new theatre. Other repeated wish- better idea of things such as who this list items included more handicapped seating, more consis- loyal-subscriber audience actually is, tent air conditioning and improved seat conditions. whom they’re attending the theatre It’s clear that you want a new and improved DHT. with and, most importantly, how they We’re listening! In the meantime, here are a few responses feel about DHT. We were thrilled to from us: receive 605 responses and nearly 400 comments to the survey. Your feed- • Th e theatre is warmer in the second act because the back told us a lot. doors have been open during intermission. We’ll try One thing we learned was that our to get you back in faster! And we’ll keep an eye on the core DHT subscriber audience is well represented by baby thermostat. boomers (ages 56-70), at 48%. We also discovered that the • Th e seats and the angle will be rectifi ed (I promise) in over-70 crowd is strongly represented at 31%. Th at’s con- the new facility. In the interim, we will be re-cushion- sistent with what the arts-marketing gurus tell us—that ing some of the more seriously worn seat bottoms. our 70-plus seniors are an untapped resource. • Folks love our headphone sets (which assist in hear- Generation Xers are also represented at a very decent ing), but some don’t seem to know we have them. 19%. Obviously many busy families stretched thin with Drop by the Box Offi ce on show night and try them activities are not yet able to commit to a season, but hope- out! fully they attend on a show-by-show basis. It seems we • Some subscribers want classic musicals and some 2 don’t have subscribers (or at least any who responded) in want newer shows. We work hard to accommodate the ages 20-25 segment. Th at model works okay for us, as both every season, mixing the fresh-from-Broadway young, social adults are much more likely to pop in to a with well-known faves. Next season, for example, show versus subscribe. Hopefully we’ll get them hooked as we’ll feature Th e M o u s e t apr and Camelot, then Sister they get older … Act and Mamma Mia. In the longevity category, two groups of subscribers vied • We received a request for a parental rating code— for the prize. Twenty-nine percent have been subscribers interesting idea. We may try it, but we recognize for two to four years. Th at points to a new infl ux of people sensibilities are diff erent. who see the value in a subscription series, which is great • Th e dates for shows are chosen to accommodate the news. Our long-timers also played a role, with 28% being timing of things such as the building of sets, costumes subscribers for 10 years or more. that must be sewn, and casts that must be auditioned We also got an idea as to whom subscribers come to the and rehearsed. And, as much as we would like to, we theatre with: 50% with a partner or spouse, and 27% with usually cannot avoid the Super Bowl, the Punahou friends. We were also pleased to see that 6% bring their Carnival or Easter Sunday! children. One of my favorite theatre-attending families • Finally, regarding the comments for healthier or bet- includes a husband, wife and two sets of married children. ter snacks. We tried! No one purchased the high-end Now that’s a true “DHT-subscriber family”! chocolates, fruit or granola bars, but instead wanted Th e results regarding show times were interesting, too. their M&Ms back. A 7:30 p.m. curtain on weeknights was preferred by 72% of those who responded. While we can’t implement this for We are so grateful to all of you who took the time to the 2015-2016 season, the results do call for an exploration participate. Your responses provided tons of good ideas to of a time change. make your experience at DHT even better. Mahalo, and And fi nally, the comments. Happily, the overwhelming see you at the theatre! message was that subscribers love our theatre. Comment after comment complimented the wonderful shows, the volunteers and the staff . Many commended our commit- ment to artistry, praising the professional productions and In the Spotlight Denis K. Isono Board Member On the Board Less than six months, but we’ve been subscribers for almost 15 years Meet Members of Our Board Occupation Executive Vice Diamond Head Th eatre is honored to have 45 President and CFO, community leaders and theatre buff s serving Central Pacifi c Bank on our Board of Directors. We would like to First Job introduce you to some of our newer board Auto parts delivery person members and thank the entire board for their Favorite Travel Destination enthusiastic support. San Francisco Favorite DHT Moment Sitting in the audience for A Chorus Line Nigel Pentland Board Member On the Board Just over a year Occupation 3 Investor/Retired Elisia Flores Investment Banker Board Member First Job On the Board Investment Manager Since November in London 2014 Last Book Read Occupation Th e Strange Last Voyage of Donald Vice President Crowhurst by Nicholas Tomalin and and CFO, L&L Ron Hall Hawaiian Barbecue Favorite Travel Destination First Job I have too many: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Cashier at the Kahala L&L Northern Ireland, Italy. Last Book Read Favorite DHT Moment Th e Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Show Boat—it was a huge and moving Favorite Travel Destination production of a very powerful show. As simple as it sounds, I love spending time in Los Angeles. Favorite DHT Moment Th e 100th Anniversary Gala! Encore! is published by Diamond Head Th eatre, 520 Makapuu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816. Our Mission Statement Phone (808)733-0277 Writers Mary Calantoc, Deena Dray, Established in 1915, Diamond Head Th eatre is Facsimile (808)735-1250 Kathryn Mariko Lee the Broadway of the Pacifi c, producing the best live B o x O ffi c e (808)733-0274 Editor Stacy Pope community theatre entertainment and advancing www.diamondheadtheatre.com Graphic Designer Bernie Kim the theatre arts through education in Hawaii. Coordinator Mary Calantoc Many beloved aspects of our theatre that may seem to have been in Diamond Head Th eatre place “forever” at DHT were in fact launched in the last 25 years. Our summer Musical Th eatre Experience Celebrates 100 Years (MTE), for example, which to this day Presenting a Medley of Hit Moments from 1990 - 2015 is one of our most popular programs, was founded in 1994. In its fi rst year, MTE was taught by J. Tom Kidd and ver the last year, we’ve featured theatre’s new name, Diamond Head Rebecca Mae Silvey.