From the get-go in 1980, when Dwight Martin became producing director of Manoa Valley Theatre, it was clear that he’d pledged his allegiance to the theater. After a 38-year tenure, he’s retiring on July 31 and his exit comes amid MVT’s activity-filled ongoing 50th-anniversary season.
Martin has done the math and will have served dutifully and proudly for 14,149 days.
He turned 66 on April 7, the closing day of “Allegiance” at Hawaii Theatre, so he delayed his birthday celebration for a week.
Not surprisingly, Martin is most proud of the staging of George Takei’s emotion- charged musical. “After nearly two years of prep, (I) am beyond thrilled with the amazing presentation that our whole team put together,” said Martin.
In the annals of “Allegiance,” MVT’s production was serial No. 5, including the brief Broadway run. “The stakes were high artistically and financially; to our good fortune, we exceeded our goals in both areas,” he said, without divulging attendance or gross figures.
When Martin moved into his leadership role, MVT — called the Hawaii Performing Arts Company in the 1970s — “was maturing, institutionalizing and reaching out deeper into its community,” he recalled. “There was a lot of funkiness held over … including the dilapidating 50-year-old wooden building that it occupied, but the feeling that the theater was about to spring forward was palpable. Our growth through the whole ’80s was at light speed, including the construction of a new, larger facility (without a leaky roof). There have been bumps, financial and artistic, but we’ve always been a can-do organization.”
Describing his job
As a producing director, Martin said his job combines the roles of executive and artistic director: “Plan the annual season, manage its business, fulfilled through the efforts of an amazing staff, board and rich cadre of theatrical talents on both sides of the lights.”
He’s discovered that the organization is organic and evolving, not static. “Just about the time you think you’ve got something figured out ‘forever,’ you realize that forever is actually measured in minutes and months, not years and decades.”
As one of the largest producing companies in Hawaii, Martin says MVT “has a responsibility to be a leader, and as such, must continue to serve its community with the inclusion of new and provocative plays in the blend with familiar favorites, and to serve the theatrical community with opportunities for both evolving and returning talent. Our founders wanted to create opportunities and to present different plays from what was then typically available. As we’ve evolved, our programming and our production methodologies have continued to blend nicely with those of our fellow Hawaii theaters. Each local theater has its unique personality and vision and that is how it should be.”
Grave matters
MVT’s location in the midst of a graveyard begs the question: Have there been ghosts and apparitions? “There have been no paranormal activities reported, at least not in recent decades,” said Martin. “We’ve always benefited from a very positive energy from our beautiful surroundings. I believe we are in respectful harmony with all of our garden’s occupants … (they) look out for us.”
Relationships matter, Martin said. “Make your own with the organization, and then with the theatrical and general community on the organization’s behalf. What I like so much about theater is that it is so people-oriented. It takes a team of personalities and talents to pull off theatrical arts; no one person is responsible for it all. Our product is what we create together; woo the best, treat them well, and then produce some amazing art.”
Jeff Portnoy, MVT board president, said Martin has left the company in great shape. “Dwight has been the foundation of one of Hawaii’s most treasured artistic organization for almost four decades.”
Acting vs. managing
Loyal to the core, Martin the actor has been on the MVT stage eight times. He considers Martin Dysart in “Equus” (2016) as his No. 1 role. “I’ve never worked so hard on, or taken so much pride in, fulfillment of a role. Acting is hard work; managing a theater is insane work,” he said. “Both have made me smile from ear to ear.”
His post-retirement plans are fluid, but he’s gifting himself with a three-week motorcycle road trip through the Alps in late August, with a Polish best buddy from high school. “I just plan to chill out for a while and see what life has to offer outside of my work corner in the theater office.”
He has no plans to leave the islands and after retirement, considers himself “a free agent, so look out, other theaters.” …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
