Maui OnStage faces lights out as ʻĪao Theater roof repaired
Trending
With Maui County budgeting approximately $3.8 million to restore the roof of the historic ʻĪao Theater, Maui's oldest stage is facing an extended curtain call. The theater is expected to go dark for several months in 2027 as major construction gets underway.
"The county is going to repair the roof of the almost 100-year-old building," said Kristi Scott of Maui OnStage. "In order to do that, we'll have to shut down. We don't have a date, but we were told it would be within 2027. It's a little hard to program not knowing what's going on."
The "Raise the Roof! A Sneak Peek Fundraiser" is set for Sept. 26 at Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery, helping Maui OnStage continue bringing live theater to the community.
"We're having to come up with alternate venues," said Scott. "It will be a loss of revenue for us because of rentals. We're good up through the end of this year, so we're just trying to plan for the future and do our best."
The benefit at the Ocean Vodka Organic Farm will include heavy pupus, craft cocktails, live entertainment and an auction.
"Our theme is 'Raise the Roof,' so you can dress in construction wear or festive aloha," Scott said. Dress suggestions include resort casual with creative construction-themed attire, such as blueprints and boat shoes, safety goggles and sundresses and high-visibility aloha wear. A door prize will be presented to the most creative look of the night.
"It's a beautiful space with a gorgeous view, and we'll have a few activities for the beginning," said Scott. "It's sort of a sneak peek, which was very popular that Maui OnStage did many years ago, pre-COVID. So we're slowly bringing that back."
Attendees will be invited to guess what kind of productions the company will offer in the future. "There will be clues in the setting, in the decorations, in the costumes, and there will also be some red herrings with the costumes that people are wearing," said Scott. "So the audiences can guess what they think the show is going to be, what the season will be, and the person who is closest gets a chance to win season tickets for next year."
Short performances will include "a couple of songs and maybe a dance and some humor here and there, but also some asks in between," she explained. "We want people to have fun and feel good and give us money."
Maui OnStage shows planned for the rest of 2026 include "ʻAinakea" by Maui playwright James Nevius, opening on Oct. 2, followed by "Witch Perfect," a live singing, comedy parody based on the cult-classic Disney film "Hocus Pocus," with Emmy-winning stars from RuPaul's Drag Race on Oct 23. On Oct. 24, Tony Award-winner Lauren Patten will star in a Broadway on Maui show, joined by some of Maui's finest singers.
The "Raise the Roof! A Sneak Peek Fundraiser" will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26. Tickets are $225 at mauionstage.com.