Newly renovated Leeward Theatre shines

The renovated Leeward Theatre

Elisa Olson, Leeward Theatre manager

Betty Hill, Leeward CC student

Mokihana Garcia, Leeward CC student

Lalea Nilsen, Leeward CC student

Leeward Theatre renovation

New seats got installed during the renovation.

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/2Tv

WHAT: After being closed for more than five years because of renovations and the  COVID-19 pandemic, the curtain has risen once again on the newly renovated Leeward Theatre—the only major arts presenter and arts education center in the Leeward and Central Oʻahu communities.

WHEN:  Leeward Community College kicked off the 2022–23 season with The Liliʻu Project’s Makalapua in September and a full slate of performances has booked the state-of-the-art facility through the end of the season (see schedule below).

WHO: Students, faculty and staff utilize the facility for plays, concerts and recitals. Community groups, schools and local companies also rent the facilities for private or public performances, seminars or workshops. 

The Leeward Theatre schedule for 2022–23 includes:

Hawaiʻi Ballet Theatre - Nutcracker (Nov 25–27, 2022)

UH Mānoa Bands (Dec 4, 2022)

Hawaiʻi Symphony (December 13, 2022)

Pas De Deux Hawaii (December 9–10, 2022)

Hawaiʻi Symphony (February TBD, 2022)

X1 Entertainment – Piper Rockelle—Social media influencer (Feb 19, 2023)

Starpower Talent Competition (March 4–5, 2023)

Treasure Box - Goldmine Dance Comp (March 24, 2023)

UH Outreach College- Atamira Dance Company (April 14–15, 2023)

EnerGy National Dance Competition (April 22–23, 2023)

UH Mānoa Bands (April 30, 2023)

ʻIolani Schools (May 6, 2023)

Ballet Hawaii (May 12–14, 2023)

Island Pacific Academy (May 27, 2023)

Spotlight Dance Cup (June 2–3, 2023)

Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy (June 9–10, 2023)

Pas De Deux Hawaii (June 16–18, 2023)

Waipahu Community School for Adults (June 24, 2023)

OTHER FACTS:

• Leeward Theatre was closed for renovations from May 2016 until January 2019.
• The renovations cost $11.9 million and included upgrades for access, replacing the theater seats and modernizing the stage and lighting.
• With the reopening of the theater in early 2019, the goal was to build the facility back into a hub of arts and culture for the Leeward campus and Central Oʻahu communities. However, in 2020, COVID-19 closed all UH campuses to the public, effectively halting all future artistic and community building planning until the theater had an event in April 2022.

VIDEO:

BROLL:

:00-:57 Shots of renovated Leeward Theatre

:57- 1:10 Shot of Leeward Theatre Manager Elisa Olson showing some of the renovations

1:11- 1:38 Shots of Makalapua dress rehearsal

1:39- 2:13 Stills of renovation work 2016-2019

SOUND:

Elisa Olson, Leeward Theatre manager (:12)

“Looking at this space—I’ve been all over the country. I’ve been in 49 of the 50 United States in theaters because I toured for five years—this is an incredible theater space.”

Betty Hill, Leeward CC student (:11)

“I think it’s gorgeous. It’s my first experience in a theatre ever. It’s never been available to me before so I love it.”

Mokihana Garcia, Leeward CC student (:25)

“Me coming from where I’m at, we never really talked about performing or singing or acting as a lifelong kind of career aspirations. But to finally be at LCC, just the college in general, where you get to make your own choices, it’s different and it’s a lot more eye opening.” 

Lalea Nilsen, Leeward CC student (:11)

“Come and support us performing here. Support live arts because it’s a lot for everyone. It’s enjoyable for both the performers and the audience.”