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Excellent ho'okipa from the small community theater, quality productions, but the parking situation sucks.
Manoa Valley theatre is a cute hidden away venue. You will need to find street parking. The most convenient area to park is on Woodlawn Drive behind the nearby CVS. The theatre gets a 5 star because now seats are reserved. It is great to know where you are seated before arriving. There are clean, convenient restrooms for patrons. The ushers were courteous and helped us to our seats. Will be attending more performances whenever possible
Saw my first production at Mānoa Valley Theatre and was tremendously excited to have had such an amazing experience. I originally thought it was pretty bold to claim to say you're the "Off-Broadway" of Honolulu, but their claim was well substantiated. The theatre is cozy and intimate, offering you a chance to really connect with the community and get lost in a show together. Tremendous performances, wonderful direction, incredible crew members, and accommodating wait staff! My husband and I had a blast and look forward to the next show we catch at this truly New York worthy venue.
Lovely little theater that had surprisingly comfortable seats. Acoustics were great and there didn't appear to be a bad seat in the house. There's a small counter with snacks like chips and Manoa Chocolate - I saw a woman in front of me purchase a glass of wine so there's alcoholic options in addition to sodas. We parked at the Safeway shopping center and it was a short walk to the theater. Looking forward to seeing more performances here!
What a Great night with brings back a lot of the memories of local childhood days, using local humor and skits which would happen during growing up. The story of the different skits will bring enjoyment and laughter throughout the entire play it was well written and the cast and narrators converse with the audience and cast was unexpected. If you haven't seen Once Upon One Time it is a must to go see you will not be disappointed! Lots of parking at Kaimuki High School. Mask are required once you enter the auditorium and no eating.
First time watching a play at MVT and had an interesting experience. It's their first showing after reopening from COVID. Tickets were bought early and were selling fast. Ticket was $40 per person. Check in was quick with multiple workers assisting. The theater was almost full and pretty crowded. The theater was smaller than Diamond head theatre and seats were a bit less spacey. We were pretty much touching shoulders. Guess it wouldn't be a problem to me if it weren't COVID times. We watched the showing of The Joy Luck Club. Love the set up on stage. I was really interested since I read the book and watched the movie of it. The actors were all great. Had a 15 minute intermission for a 3 hour show. Bathrooms are available. Ample parking at the Manoa Marketplace which is a few minutes walk to the theatre.
A friend treated me to see Hot Club of Hulaville. I'd never seen this group live nor had I ever been to Manoa Valley Theatre. They had significantly limited the number of patrons and assigned seating to ensure that everyone was socially distanced; ushered in and masked throughout the event. Our seats were at the very top of the theatre but because the space is intimate, I liked sitting up there... the views were great! Hot Club of Hulaville was excellent ... they focused on Christmas music, jazzed up. The "star" for me was Kathryn Schulmeister on double bass; she made that instrument sing. Duane Padilla was excellent and even had a pedalboard (like a guitarist) and used a delay to great effect. All in all, I enjoyed the band and the venue. FYI, we parked in the Manoa Marketplace parking lot (and I'm really picky where I park); due to the pandemic, there was plenty of parking (and good spaces too).
First off, I love theater. When I lived in NYC, I made sure I went to a Broadway show once a month. Being a theater aficionado I wanted to take in all the arts and music. That said, Manoa Valley Theatre hosts some pretty good shows. The local productions showcase many local artists, singers, musicians and actors. They use this as a platform to hone and refine their talents. High schools, colleges and universities present these shows. The roles display the actors' range of talent, and vocal capacity. We saw shows such as "Rock of Ages", "Lysistrata Jones" and "Avenue Q". Originally, "Avenue Q" comes from New York City. What a surprised to see a show from my hometown! When we arrived at the theater we saw a beautiful cat. It looks like a stray. The local artisans support the theatre by donating items and services for the show. Being a local theater, the Manoa Valley Theatre relies on public support. The playbill lists the companies that donate annually. Come to one of the shows. You will not be disappointed.
Wow! Another incredible evening. It was a full house. Tonight an off-Broadway musical comedy. It's ,"The Pageant". It was a female contest where six contestants were competing for the Miss Glamouresse title played by an all male cast. There were 5 judges who were randomly chosen. At the end, they revealed the winner by adding up the score cards with highest amount of points. The seating arrangements for the audience was a little different from other plays I've been too. The stage extended out into a T shape towards the crowd as a runway for the contestants. I got to say each and every contestant did a good job. At first, I thought an all male cast? Is it going to funny? Did I come to the right play? Omg!.....It was extremely hilarious. Very entertaining and cramp cheek laughing till the end. Each character had their own personality which kept the show at a suspense. The host himself kept everyone on there toes and made the audience feel like they were part of the show. Everyone had a good part and did a terrific job. I don't want to give away to much of the play but the entire show was played out with only one background scene with the curtains opening and closing making it seem like it was changing scenes. MVT also did a good job planning the event making the play run flawless. During intermission, they had refreshments and snacks that were available for a little charge. Overall, it was a very entertaining evening. You could see that there was a lot of dedicated work involved. Hats off to all those who worked hard and made this play a success.
What a performance... Thank you to Terry K for taking me on this journey to something that I've never tried personally is to see a play and Manoa Valley Theatre offers us some amazing performances that I've been lucky to see a play though it's never been at Manoa Valley venue itself and what a difference it is. The vibe here is full of energy as many start arriving and you need to check in and verify your seating which the staff does and also informed us that the air conditioning wasn't fully operational and provided us with a bottle water is a nice gesture though was slightly warm the cool Manoa air kept us decently cool. As we get to chill prior by getting a drink and/or snack is nice and there are great options available including some alcohol. Kim's Convenience is the play and from what we were told is once a series on Netflix which I don't have but I like that I have no idea as I can enjoy the play just as they visualize which was great and fun since it was a comedy, if anything the seating leaves no room for anyone to pass in front of you so I had leave the row and wait in the aisle for others to take their seat but in all comfortable and easy to view the play without being blocked from the previous row. Bravo to this creative and wonderful evening with a great friend as doing something unique like this was so much fun and a memorable experience. Thank you! read more
The Princess and the Iso Pea was very good. Cast was fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of sound, light effects and friendliness of the ushers. Snacks were available for purchase both before the show and during intermission. Cash and card accepted. Parking is available on the street and at Manoa Market place. Manoa Market place was suggested in an email I received from the theater confirming my tickets. Everything was well organized. Warnings: The theater has seen better days and is very dusty. It's an allergy nightmare and if you have a dust allergy request seating away from the walls. Seating is old and uncomfortable. Be prepared if you have back issues, it's an older theater. There is only one women's restroom with 4 stalls. My entire intermission was spent in the line. read more
10 months ago
3 months ago
Manoa Valley theatre is a cute hidden away venue. You will need to find street parking. The most convenient area to park is on Woodlawn Drive behind the nearby CVS. The theatre gets a 5 star because now seats are reserved. It is great to know where you are seated before arriving. There are clean, convenient restrooms for patrons. The ushers were courteous and helped us to our seats. Will be attending more performances whenever possible read more
9 months ago
Saw my first production at Mānoa Valley Theatre and was tremendously excited to have had such an amazing experience. I originally thought it was pretty bold to claim to say you're the "Off-Broadway" of Honolulu, but their claim was well substantiated. The theatre is cozy and intimate, offering you a chance to really connect with the community and get lost in a show together. Tremendous performances, wonderful direction, incredible crew members, and accommodating wait staff! My husband and I had a blast and look forward to the next show we catch at this truly New York worthy venue. read more
2 years ago
Lovely little theater that had surprisingly comfortable seats. Acoustics were great and there didn't appear to be a bad seat in the house. There's a small counter with snacks like chips and Manoa Chocolate - I saw a woman in front of me purchase a glass of wine so there's alcoholic options in addition to sodas. We parked at the Safeway shopping center and it was a short walk to the theater. Looking forward to seeing more performances here! read more
What a Great night with brings back a lot of the memories of local childhood days, using local humor and skits which would happen during growing up. The story of the different skits will bring enjoyment and laughter throughout the entire play it was well written and the cast and narrators converse with the audience and cast was unexpected. If you haven't seen Once Upon One Time it is a must to go see you will not be disappointed! Lots of parking at Kaimuki High School. Mask are required once you enter the auditorium and no eating. read more
First time watching a play at MVT and had an interesting experience. It's their first showing after reopening from COVID. Tickets were bought early and were selling fast. Ticket was $40 per person. Check in was quick with multiple workers assisting. The theater was almost full and pretty crowded. The theater was smaller than Diamond head theatre and seats were a bit less spacey. We were pretty much touching shoulders. Guess it wouldn't be a problem to me if it weren't COVID times. We watched the showing of The Joy Luck Club. Love the set up on stage. I was really interested since I read the book and watched the movie of it. The actors were all great. Had a 15 minute intermission for a 3 hour show. Bathrooms are available. Ample parking at the Manoa Marketplace which is a few minutes walk to the theatre. read more
A friend treated me to see Hot Club of Hulaville. I'd never seen this group live nor had I ever been to Manoa Valley Theatre. They had significantly limited the number of patrons and assigned seating to ensure that everyone was socially distanced; ushered in and masked throughout the event. Our seats were at the very top of the theatre but because the space is intimate, I liked sitting up there... the views were great! Hot Club of Hulaville was excellent ... they focused on Christmas music, jazzed up. The "star" for me was Kathryn Schulmeister on double bass; she made that instrument sing. Duane Padilla was excellent and even had a pedalboard (like a guitarist) and used a delay to great effect. All in all, I enjoyed the band and the venue. FYI, we parked in the Manoa Marketplace parking lot (and I'm really picky where I park); due to the pandemic, there was plenty of parking (and good spaces too). read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
First off, I love theater. When I lived in NYC, I made sure I went to a Broadway show once a month. Being a theater aficionado I wanted to take in all the arts and music. That said, Manoa Valley Theatre hosts some pretty good shows. The local productions showcase many local artists, singers, musicians and actors. They use this as a platform to hone and refine their talents. High schools, colleges and universities present these shows. The roles display the actors' range of talent, and vocal capacity. We saw shows such as "Rock of Ages", "Lysistrata Jones" and "Avenue Q". Originally, "Avenue Q" comes from New York City. What a surprised to see a show from my hometown! When we arrived at the theater we saw a beautiful cat. It looks like a stray. The local artisans support the theatre by donating items and services for the show. Being a local theater, the Manoa Valley Theatre relies on public support. The playbill lists the companies that donate annually. Come to one of the shows. You will not be disappointed. read more
Wow! Another incredible evening. It was a full house. Tonight an off-Broadway musical comedy. It's ,"The Pageant". It was a female contest where six contestants were competing for the Miss Glamouresse title played by an all male cast. There were 5 judges who were randomly chosen. At the end, they revealed the winner by adding up the score cards with highest amount of points. The seating arrangements for the audience was a little different from other plays I've been too. The stage extended out into a T shape towards the crowd as a runway for the contestants. I got to say each and every contestant did a good job. At first, I thought an all male cast? Is it going to funny? Did I come to the right play? Omg!.....It was extremely hilarious. Very entertaining and cramp cheek laughing till the end. Each character had their own personality which kept the show at a suspense. The host himself kept everyone on there toes and made the audience feel like they were part of the show. Everyone had a good part and did a terrific job. I don't want to give away to much of the play but the entire show was played out with only one background scene with the curtains opening and closing making it seem like it was changing scenes. MVT also did a good job planning the event making the play run flawless. During intermission, they had refreshments and snacks that were available for a little charge. Overall, it was a very entertaining evening. You could see that there was a lot of dedicated work involved. Hats off to all those who worked hard and made this play a success. read more
We had a great night attending "Pageant" Parked and walked over to the theatre. It was a cool and breezy evening. The stage theme was designed as a beauty pageant. 6 all-male contestants dressed as women, played hilarious roles! The male emcee was also very charismatic and jolly. His outfits were shiny with sequence which matched his personality. It was filled with music and comedy. Costumes were also colorful and bright. Lots of local humor mixed in with worldly flare. Judges were randomly chosen from the crowd which made the show interactive and fun! You never know who will win! A must-see for yourself! Mahalo Yelp & MVT! read more
2 years ago
I have been enjoying productions at Manoa Valley Theatre for a few years now. First as a volunteer and now as guest. Have been privileged to see really good productions from "It Had To Be You" to "Rent" with a handful of others inbetween. And tonite thoroughly enjoyed this season's rendition of "The Full Monty"; dare I say the most entertaining show to be seen yet at this charming valley theatre! The original show debuted in San Diego, played on Broadway 770 times, received multiple nominations including one for the Tony Award, and even played in London winning award for best musical. All the actors were on point tonite, the music was great, sound system good, the theatre even had a delightful pregame wine and snacks service which totally set the mood for the evening. We arrived a bit early so we parked next door at the Manoa Marketplace and grabbed dinner there before the show. Otherwise there is street parking to be found in the neighborhood. I have to agree with Amara when she wrote in her review...I would also love to live in Manoa and have season passes to this intimate theatre with no bad seats. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this show (or the other great sounding ones lined up for this season). "The Full Monty" playing until September 24, 2017 at MVT ! read more
Manoa Valley Theatre is an outstanding local community theater nestled in the heart of Manoa Valley right next to the shopping center. They don't have a parking lot but there's ample street parking. I saw the Rock of Ages and it was a fantastic performance. They even had Bartles and Jaymes Wine Coolers served during the performance for authenticity. Outside, at the canteen, there were snacks available and even red, white and sparkling wines and high-end chocolate. The only drawback to this theater is that it is first come first served seating. I like to have good seats so actually I lined up well over it an hour before the performance but had great seats. Even season ticket holders do not get reserved seating but at least they get in first. Strongly recommended and definitely worth checking out! read more
4 years ago
It is small theater so that we can watch the plays with relaxing. There is a bar so that we can get drinks and food and watch plays while drinking. read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
in the VALLEY. I had the opportunity to be in the audience on opening night of the recent production of "Rock of Ages". I'd never been to Manoa Valley Theatre before, and so I was thankful for the invitation. PARKING: Interestingly enough, the acquaintance I was with told me parking is at the nearby Manoa Marketplace. We parked in the area near Safeway. My first impression walking thru the entrance to the grounds, is that the building looks like a really big house or school. There weren't many sitting areas for patrons that are waiting for the doors to open, but there were tables and chairs set up near the snack bar. If someone asked me to describe MVT with one word, that word would be "cozy". Its not as large as Diamond Head Theatre, but can pack in a significant amount of people within its seats. Unlike DHT, the musicians were set up towards the rear of the stage; not sure if this setup was specifically for ROA (as this was my 1st visit), or if this is the standard arrangement for productions at MVT. The seats are arranged in a stadium-style, with two walkways leading down to the front of the stage. The theatre is cozy enough, where there doesn't seem like there's a bad seat in the house. We were lucky enough to secure seats in the rear so we had a terrific view of the production, as a walkway above the musicians' area was also utilized. Lastly, it was fun treat to see many people dressed up in 80's rocker fashion, as the music in Rock of Ages is a true homage to the 80's rock and alternative genre. Many in the audience were quite excited that night, and their lively enthusiasm was evident throughout the evening. Fun, fun indeed for all. BOTTOM LINE: The show goes on at this cozy community theatre in Manoa Valley. Rock on! read more
3 years ago
MVT NAILS it again! Avenue Q is AMAZING! If you have a chance, come see it! But let me start at the beginning... Manoa Valley Theatre has been a staple for theatre lovers for a while now. In fact, this is marks their 50th year! Woohooo! For a little theatre (150 seats), they are big on talent, pizzazz, and pleasing the audience. I'm not kidding. As you wait for the show to starts or even after, take a look and see how the staff and volunteers take their job seriously in making sure that the show goes smoothly and the audience is happy. Notice the sets, the costumes, the service from the ticket booth to back of the house. The people here truly love what they do & it shows. I had previously been here once to see Fun Home. That production and cast was stellar! (Special shout out to Nick Amador who I promise you will win a Tony or an Oscar someday.) This time, it was to watch Avenue Q! The show is hilarious, ridiculous, raunchy. The added fact of puppets just makes it GOLD! Aside from the play, the theatre is well kept and clean. The chairs are comfortable and drinks from the concession stand are allowed inside. Upcoming plays include Tony 'n Tina's Wedding and Rocky Horror Show. More info on ticket sales and becoming a season ticket holder is on their website. So, if you're looking for a great evening out and want something more than a movie, come support a local theatre. You may just get hooked! read more
7 years ago
Came here for a play with my wife and it was pretty good! It's a small theatre that seats about 50 to 70 people and I feel like it's one of the last standing theatres out here in Hawaii, so this place is pretty special! The location is kept clean and we'll managed, the only weird thing about this place is that there's a small little cemetary on its front lawn. Ha! For those that have never gone to a theatre showing before and are on the fence about it, I would definitely give it a try! read more
First of all, this was my very first Yelp Elite event and was pleased to attend. Since high school I've always enjoyed being involved in drama class, going on roadshows at Leeward Community College and so I have grown to love and appreciate the performance arts of musicals and dance. Manoa Valley Theatre is a community theater and is located close to the Manoa Marketplace Shopping Center. It is surrounded by neighborhood and street parking which may be hard to find. We drove around looking for parking, and needless to say failed to get a spot. I simply read the reviews on Yelp to help find a solution. Surely found that MVT has an agreement with the shopping center to allow folks to park there. Great and it's only a walk away! Check in at the box office was easy with our names already on the list to pick up our tickets. Cool to have been greeted by the yelp ambassador who gave us some Yelp souvenirs. Went to see "The Legend of Georgia McBride" Great Cast of actors and awesome story line of a young Elvis impersonator who makes it big as a drag Queen. Enjoyed the show, full of comedy and great story plot. FYI, using phones or cameras are not allowed during performances, so I could not get to take any live vids or photos for this event. It's okay, just happy to attend. The theater is actually a small theater, I'd probably say about 100 seating, exits on top and bottom. Seating is actually first come first serve, but there's a good view all around no matter where you sit. Stage and lighting is okay, nice community theater. They also sell food and beverage items to enjoy before the show. So if you like arts and culture in your life, take your friends and family and go check out the Manoa Valley Theatre Performing Arts. Lots of talent and shows throughout the year. We are definitely coming back! read more
4 years ago
Oh brother. Don't leave after the first act. Read your program. Lol First timer here just left because the lights was turned on abruptly and everyone was getting up as if they were leaving. Noone said anything like intermission and I know we weren't the only ones who left. My hands was full so I didn't have a chance to read my program til the next day thinking to myself ...that could not have been the end. It was so abrupt. Having said that, We still really enjoyed ourselves. I would totally recommend The Full Monty. Hopefully I can go again to watch the ending. Lol We received free wine served by young shirtless waiters. Cookies and chocolates as refreshments. Parked at safeway which was just a driveway down. Just a couple minutes walk. I was a little leary about the cemetery in the front but it wasn't scary at all. It was a very peaceful setting. If you are wondering what to wear. Let me just tell you that I was wondering the same thing. It's not a very fancy place, it kinda reminds me of a school building. Drinks are reasonable price which lead me to dress more comfortable but definitely at least a decent blouse. There are some people wearing casual clothes but most of the people around you will be older and the men are wearing collared shirts but no need for fancy attire. The Full Monty was such a cute show. We were cracking up laughing the whole time. read more
I've driven by Manoa Valley Theatre oodles of times, but my first time attending a show there was last night's production of "The Addams Family" (snap snap). My first impression was that the location was so appropriately located behind the family cemetery grounds, in particular for the Addams Family show! How fun! (I later heard an employee telling someone else that it's a family cemetery and that the family members frequently come to care for the grounds--that's such a nice thing to hear!) I had no idea what to expect when I entered the theatre -- to my pleasant surprise, it was very small and intimate. Patrons were all very friendly, and much to my surprise, there were small tables scattered around the room to hold drinks and snacks that are sold at the snack bar. There are even servers to come around and take your orders and they will bring the food to you! I love fake orange cheese sauce nachos, so I simply could not resist, and it was good! But I'm not here to yelp about the food.... The show was great!! I've been to other small theater productions before, whether at the high school level, or other small community theaters on the Mainland. The set and actors were right up there with the best of them. I'm not sure if it was the artistic license or the script, but there were many giggle worthy scenes. Without spoiling it, let's just say I had a bunch of laughs of disbelief when amazing and unexpected notes came out of the mouths of one or another actor. If you have a chance, go see "The Addams Family". I hear it was extended--and with good reason! read more
MVT's production of Peter and the Starcatcher was, in a single word, AWESOME! All the actors were outstanding in each of their roles and as a company. They worked well with eachother and unlike other performances I've attended, everything was done "in plain sight". No backstage/hidden movements, from the doorways and stairways , and flapping bird, to Peter floating on the chest in the middle of the ocean and the crocodile. (sorry all, I cannot tell you how they did it, but just use your imagination!) I give the Starcatcher Company two very very very very enthusiastic thumbs up for a performance that made me wish it wasn't the last, as I would definitely go back to see it again, and even a third time. My nephew saw it twice and he said it was even better the second time. MVT, I look forward to attending many more performances you'll offer. To the cast of Peter and the Starcatcher: Keep up the good work, and I hope to see you again in the future! You all are just fantastic and are not headed for greatness, as you are already there! read more
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More info about Manoa Valley Theatre
2833 E Manoa Rd
Honolulu, HI 96822
Manoa
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(808) 988-6131
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http://www.manoavalleytheatre.com/
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We are visiting next month. Where to park? Is there a disabled person drop off area?
Manoa Valley Theatre patrons ARE allowed to park at the Manoa Shopping Center. The theatre has an agreement with the property owners. Please park there and walk over, it's very close. The theatre also encourages you to shop at the center and enjoy…
Review Highlights - Manoa Valley Theatre
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15 years ago
11 years ago
