About
Musical Theatre Experience is a summer program where students act, sing, and dance. The program includes Musical Theatre Experience I, which runs as a half-day program, and Musical Theatre Experience II, which runs as a full-day intensive session.
• Ages: 7–16 years old
• Schedule: Musical Theatre Experience I is a seven-week, half-day summer program from June 8 to July 31, with a morning session for ages 7 to 11 from 8:00 am to noon and an afternoon session for ages 12 to 16 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm; Musical Theatre Experience II is a one-week intensive from August 3 to August 7, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Price: MTE AM for ages 7 to 11: $1,695; MTE PM for ages 12 to 16: $1,495; MTE II: $495
Musical Theatre Experience I does not require previous acting, singing, or dance experience. Musical Theatre Experience II is an all-day intensive for students who would like to gain further knowledge of musical theatre and refine their talents and requires previous performance experience. The program includes student performances held on stage at Diamond Head Theatre. Summer theatre camp sessions feature guest artists, and productions involve students working together in musical theatre. Scholarships for those with financial need are available for the summer theatre camp on Oahu. Student Directors (interns) serve as assistants and helpers to the Musical Theatre Experience instructors, and this position is unpaid, with availability required Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm for the entirety of the summer camp.
The leadership team includes Program Director Samuel Tafolo, Acting Director David Sheftell, and Musical Director Phillip Foster. Program Director Samuel Tafolo is a performer, designer, director, and choreographer who has done costuming, hair and makeup, choreography, directing, and production managing for various productions in theater, film, and dance over the past 14 years at KHSPAC/Kaimuki High School, Washington Middle School, EPOCH, St. Andrew’s Priory, St. Francis, Hawaii Pacific University, University of Hawaii at Manoa ACM, and TAG. Acting Director David Sheftell teaches theatre to students of all ages in the Co-Curricular Program at Punahou School and has a career in film, television, voice-over, and video games with credits including Family Guy, American Dad!, The Cleveland Show, Willy’s Wonderland, Stephen King’s Bag of Bones, and the Amazon Prime film 7000 Miles. Musical Director Phillip Foster is a performer, musician, and educator in Honolulu with a B.A. in Music from UH Manoa, where he studied voice, and a C.A. in Acting from HCPA at WCC, and he has worked as a music, choir, band, and drama teacher at Saint Ann School (2016–2020), Holy Family Catholic Academy (2021–2025), and now teaches music at Maryknoll’s elementary school.
Diamond Head Theatre traces its origins to The Footlights, formed on April 28, 1915, later reorganized as Honolulu Community Theatre in 1934, and it established its permanent home at Ruger Theatre in 1952, with a newly constructed theatre opening in 2023. Diamond Head Theatre is an independent nonprofit community theatre that involves Hawaii’s people as audience members, stage crew, and performers, serves as a community center and gathering place, and offers scholarships for those with financial need to participate in its summer theatre camp on Oahu. Diamond Head Theatre holds the distinction of serving as the nation’s third oldest continually operating community theatre. Its mission states that Diamond Head Theatre is the Broadway of the Pacific, produces Hawaii’s live community theatre entertainment, and advances theatre arts through education. The program shares the quote, “Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” by Brené Brown.
Last updated July 6, 2026.
• Ages: 7–16 years old
• Schedule: Musical Theatre Experience I is a seven-week, half-day summer program from June 8 to July 31, with a morning session for ages 7 to 11 from 8:00 am to noon and an afternoon session for ages 12 to 16 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm; Musical Theatre Experience II is a one-week intensive from August 3 to August 7, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Price: MTE AM for ages 7 to 11: $1,695; MTE PM for ages 12 to 16: $1,495; MTE II: $495
Musical Theatre Experience I does not require previous acting, singing, or dance experience. Musical Theatre Experience II is an all-day intensive for students who would like to gain further knowledge of musical theatre and refine their talents and requires previous performance experience. The program includes student performances held on stage at Diamond Head Theatre. Summer theatre camp sessions feature guest artists, and productions involve students working together in musical theatre. Scholarships for those with financial need are available for the summer theatre camp on Oahu. Student Directors (interns) serve as assistants and helpers to the Musical Theatre Experience instructors, and this position is unpaid, with availability required Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm for the entirety of the summer camp.
The leadership team includes Program Director Samuel Tafolo, Acting Director David Sheftell, and Musical Director Phillip Foster. Program Director Samuel Tafolo is a performer, designer, director, and choreographer who has done costuming, hair and makeup, choreography, directing, and production managing for various productions in theater, film, and dance over the past 14 years at KHSPAC/Kaimuki High School, Washington Middle School, EPOCH, St. Andrew’s Priory, St. Francis, Hawaii Pacific University, University of Hawaii at Manoa ACM, and TAG. Acting Director David Sheftell teaches theatre to students of all ages in the Co-Curricular Program at Punahou School and has a career in film, television, voice-over, and video games with credits including Family Guy, American Dad!, The Cleveland Show, Willy’s Wonderland, Stephen King’s Bag of Bones, and the Amazon Prime film 7000 Miles. Musical Director Phillip Foster is a performer, musician, and educator in Honolulu with a B.A. in Music from UH Manoa, where he studied voice, and a C.A. in Acting from HCPA at WCC, and he has worked as a music, choir, band, and drama teacher at Saint Ann School (2016–2020), Holy Family Catholic Academy (2021–2025), and now teaches music at Maryknoll’s elementary school.
Diamond Head Theatre traces its origins to The Footlights, formed on April 28, 1915, later reorganized as Honolulu Community Theatre in 1934, and it established its permanent home at Ruger Theatre in 1952, with a newly constructed theatre opening in 2023. Diamond Head Theatre is an independent nonprofit community theatre that involves Hawaii’s people as audience members, stage crew, and performers, serves as a community center and gathering place, and offers scholarships for those with financial need to participate in its summer theatre camp on Oahu. Diamond Head Theatre holds the distinction of serving as the nation’s third oldest continually operating community theatre. Its mission states that Diamond Head Theatre is the Broadway of the Pacific, produces Hawaii’s live community theatre entertainment, and advances theatre arts through education. The program shares the quote, “Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” by Brené Brown.
Last updated July 6, 2026.
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