Designed to replace an outdated facility, Seabury Hall’s ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center is located on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its barn-like structure echoes architectural elements seen throughout upcountry Maui. The open floor plan, large sliding doors and sensitive siting create a strong connection between interior and outdoor spaces.
Guests approach the theatre by way of a tree-lined pathway, which opens to outdoor courtyard. During productions, the courtyard serves as a back of the house area, giving guests a window into the inner workings of performances. A spacious outdoor courtyard between the theatre and dance rehearsal pavilion provides outdoor work space during the day and becomes an outdoor performance venue in the evening.
The 400-seat theatre uses an economical pre-engineered steel shed structure to offset the cost of state-of-the-art theatre technology systems, including a tensile wire grid above the house and stage. Portable platforms and retractable bleachers bring versatility, as the performance hall can be converted to proscenium, thrust, arena, or flat floor configurations. The combination of red seats, walls, and stairs and the charcoal-colored steel structure and fiberglass grating hint at the extinct Haleakala volcano nearby.
