The 4 Best Live Theaters Around the Maui Area

Live theater brings communities together in a way few art forms can. On Maui, locals have long supported productions ranging from intimate plays to full-scale musicals, and the island’s theaters often double as community hubs for classes, concerts and cultural events. In the Best of Maui readers’ choice contest, residents recognized the stages that continue to offer performance, creativity and shared experience.

ProArts presents a year-round slate of plays, concerts, comedies and musicals, along with a full youth-theater program that includes classes and performance opportunities. Its intimate Kihei theater creates a close connection between performers and audiences, and its schedule features both local talent and touring artists. The organization also provides workshops that help students build acting skills and confidence, reinforcing its place as a community-centered performing-arts space.

ʻĪao Theater is a historic venue in Wailuku that hosts productions ranging from dramas and comedies to musicals and concerts. It is operated by Maui OnStage and serves as a cultural landmark with roots that go back nearly a century. The theater’s website highlights its restoration and ongoing preservation efforts, which allow audiences to experience shows in a setting that blends vintage architecture with active community use. Its programming supports both emerging performers and established artists.

Maui OnStage produces shows at the ʻĪao Theater and offers acting classes, youth programs and volunteer opportunities. The organization presents a mix of contemporary productions and classic titles, and it maintains a consistent presence in Maui’s performing-arts scene through community outreach and educational offerings. Its work often includes youth-focused initiatives that help introduce students to the fundamentals of theater production and performance.

Migrations: Maui Ocean Center blends live performance with marine education through a program that incorporates storytelling, movement and interpretation centered on ocean life. The experience focuses on connections between culture and the natural world, using performance as a way to deepen understanding of Hawaii’s marine environment. It offers families and visitors an opportunity to learn through an artistic lens while exploring the themes of connection and stewardship.

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