Hawaii Children’s Theatre announces summer lineup for Kauai youth actors

Hawaii Children’s Theatre is again using summer theater as a training ground, with its six-week Summer Stars program built around hands-on work in acting, singing, dancing and technical theatre. This year’s lineup centers on local performers ages 8 to 15 and culminates in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center on July 17-19.

The program is designed as more than a single show. HCT says Summer Stars is its flagship summer offering and pairs children with alumni artists and emerging theatre professionals, giving young performers a chance to learn from people who have already moved through the island’s arts pipeline. The theatre also says scholarships and work-study opportunities are available, an important detail for families trying to cover the cost of summer enrichment while keeping kids close to home.

HCT says the program gives students practical experience in the full production process, including acting, singing, dancing and technical theatre. That mix matters on Kauai, where arts programs often double as supervised summer spaces and where families in Līhue, Puhi and surrounding towns look for activities that are creative, local and structured.

The performances will run July 17-19, with shows at 7 p.m. on July 17 and 18 and at 3 p.m. on July 19. HCT says the showcase is meant to highlight its youngest performers and the next generation of local theater talent.

The company’s reach extends well beyond one cast. HCT says more than 10,000 people experience its performances each year, and the organization said in 2025 that it had year-round programming for kids. That continuity has deep roots: a 2016 report noted three summer programs, including Keiki at Play for children ages 5 to 7, and Kauai Community Players says Kauai Kids at Play later became Hawaii Children’s Theatre. On an island where arts groups rely on repeat participation, volunteer labor and family support, the summer lineup keeps one of Kauai’s clearest youth pipelines moving.