Children's Theatre Programs
The Hawaii Theatre Center Enriching, Educating, and Engaging Our Keiki through the Arts educational programming is an annual series of affordably priced, live theatre productions for audiences of all ages: from the very young to the young at heart. Since 2007, the Hawaii Theatre Center educational programming has welcomed over 100,000 attendees access to the arts, especially drama and dance. This annual series of the Summer Intensive Theatre Camp, Theatre for Young Audiences Series and the annual Punchbowl Music Festival help to reach more than 12,500 Pre-K to 12th Grade school children and their families each year.
Hawaii Theatre Center’s arts education program can open the door to many of those who are often excluded from the benefits of arts participation. This is accomplished by greatly reducing cost barriers, making high-quality, arts opportunities more accessible to schools, and reaching out to underserved populations.
The Summer Intensive Theatre Camp is an annual 8-week Theatre Camp in June & July which hosts 50 students between the ages of 5 to 18 who are immersed in a rich theatrical experience each week. The camp is facilitated under the direction of the Pacific Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA). Students will participate in courses, workshops while learning the basics of performing on stage, vocal creations, public speaking, and choreography.
The Theatre for Young Audiences is a series of productions with tickets that are offered at a reduced cost that make them accessible to all children and their families who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend such productions. Productions include a fall musical, PBS Kids Mr. Steve , Hawaii Opera Theatre Opera Express, spring musica, and a Shakespeare performance.
The Annual Punchbowl Music Festival is a two-day festival established in 2002 to showcase approximately 200 young musicians from the band programs of three (3) nearby Title I Public Schools: Central Middle School, Kawananakoa and Stevenson Middle School. The annual festival has been at no charge to the schools or attendees, giving an opportunity for these young musicians from underserved communities the opportunity to perform in an acoustically excellent venue for their peers, teachers and families.
Summer 2025—Hawaii Theatre Center Enriching, Educating, and Engaging Our Keiki through the Arts
MR. BRIGHT’S SCHOOL OF STORIES & FINDING NEMO JR.
PAPA Hawaii returns to this historic stage to present two amazing shows in our Exclusive Double Feature! Two exciting shows for the price of one.
Mr. Bright has stories. A lot of stories. Then he realized that stories can be a really great way to learn. So he started his own school. A School of Stories.
Mr. Bright’s School of Stories is a one-man show (created and performed by the talented Timothy Bright) for the young and the young at heart that educates and entertains through songs and storytelling, and all he wants is to shed some light in the dark for everyone to come and see. Welcome, one and all, to his school…
But wait, there’s more!
PAPA Hawai’i is proud to present FINDING NEMO JR. as its 25th Musical Production onstage at Hawaii Theatre. Since 2015, PAPA has partnered with the HTC Education Program to offer year-round quality arts education and programming for Hawai’i’s community. Fifty PAPA kiddos will bring the BIG, BLUE WORLD to you this summer for an immersive underwater experience the entire ‘ohana will love!
*All productions and dates are subject to change with notice*
School matinee performances are priced at $5 per ticket with teacher receiving a free ticket for every 20 students they bring. Public performance tickets are also affordably priced, starting at $10 for adults and $5 for students.
