UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-MANOA Alvin Chan and Lei Sadakari star in the UH Earle Ernst Lab Theatre's production of "Philemon," opening Wednesday.

Isle theaters offer
something for
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HTY marks 50 years with
local-flavor plays by
Lee Cataluna

It's celebration time as Honolulu Theatre for Youth invites families to celebrate 50 years of quality children's theater entertainment, while grand ol' Diamond Head Theatre gets ready to open its 90th year of bringing spectacular musicals and merriment to Hawaii audiences.

Also, in Today The season: What to see and when to see it Auditions: Take your place on stage (you know you want to) Special events: Tributes, special peformances and more "My Way": Manoa Valley Theatre pays tribute to Frank Sinatra

HTY continues to present shows by local playwrights, including "The Konatown Musicians" and "Musubi Man," both by Lee Cataluna; the perennial local-style holiday hit "Christmas Talk Story"; and a double bill featuring Bryan Wake's "Eddie Would Go," about lost surfer Eddie Aikau, and "Queen of Makaha," about beloved wahine surfer Rell Sunn, in a joint presentation with Kumu Kahua.

Cataluna also shows up in one of Kumu Kahua's plays about "life in these islands." "Half Dozen Long Stem" captures the humor that can be found in a flower and lei shop.

The theater group opens its season Thursday with a look at three plays of the 1930s, '40s and '60s that examine Hawaii's political and cultural legacy.

Meanwhile, DHT continues its blockbuster reputation, introducing six award-winning shows, including "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," which is still running on Broadway; Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," in revival in London's West End; "Seussical"; and the play "Twentieth Century," also in revival on Broadway.

But Kaimuki isn't the only place for music. Over at Manoa Valley Theatre, a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra, "My Way," will feature more than 50 of his best-loved tunes, followed by "Cabaret" later in the season.

MVT will show its comedic side with "Red Herring," "Over the Tavern" and "Comic Potential," and take a dramatic turn with "The Graduate."

In addition to bringing "Miss Saigon" to stage next February, Army Community Theatre will bring back some beloved audience favorites such as "West Side Story," beginning Sept. 9, and "The King and I."

In the drama department, the Actors Group brings back "A Raisin in the Sun," which recently ended a record-breaking Broadway run with Sean Combs.

And, when opera season opens next spring, prepare for a dizzying round of romantic intrigue, eternal hope, dark emotion, sacrificial love and longing for redemption as Hawaii Opera Theatre offers a season of "passion, purity and power" via Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah" and Puccini's "Turandot."