Welcome to the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center

Information about our upcoming season and any special events will be sent through our email blasts. There will no longer be physical brochures. To sign up for our email blasts please email us at artsctr@hawaii.edu.

The UH Hilo Performing Arts Center is easily noticed with its distinctive roof patina The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Performing Arts Center is the major performing arts educational and cultural center on the Big Island, serving as a joint special use facility for the University and Big Island Communities. The Performing Arts Center is primarily an instructional facility providing for the regular educational functions of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, whose purpose is to offer significant educational and diverse cultural opportunities -- where dialogue, the exchange of cultural and artistic ideas and co-curricular activities are encouraged.

The Performing Arts Center produces, presents and/or co-sponsors an extensive and culturally diverse year-round Season of local, regional, national, and international performing arts events performed by some of the world's greatest artists. The quality of events presented in the 600-seat Theatre is equal to any offered by major mainland universities. A typical year includes over 150 performances of dance, drama, music, mime, children's shows, lectures and special events.

The UH Hilo Performing Arts Center in cooperation with the UH Hilo Performing Arts Department also produces two to six plays, concerts, musicals and dance performances each season. Interested faculty, staff, students and community members are encouraged to participate in the activities of the Performing Arts Center.

Upcoming Events

  • Be More Chill

    Friday, April 21st @ 7:30 pmSaturday, April 22nd @ 7:30 pmSunday, April 23rd @ 2:00 pmThursday, April 27th @ 7:30 pmFriday, April 28th @ 7:30 pmSaturday, April 29th @ 7:30 pm

    Location: Performing Arts Center.


    **Be More Chill**
    Music and Lyrics by Joe Iconis
    Book by Joe Track
    Based on the Novel by Ned Vizzini

    Be More Chill, presented by the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center and Hilo Community Players, is directed by Dr. Rachel Klein, musical & vocal direction by Rachel Edwards and choreography by Nadia Schlosser.

    Nominated for a Tony award for Best Original Score in 2019, Be More Chill has “easily relatable characters, clever twists and ebullient songs…from beginning to end” (NJ Arts) that captures and “perfectly balances the tragedy and hilarity of high school” (Tri City News).

    Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager. That is, until he finds out about "The Squip," a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most: a date with Christine, an invite to the raddest party of the year and a chance to survive life in his suburban New Jersey high school. But is being the most popular guy in school worth the risk?

    Be More Chill opened on Broadway in 2019.