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The Dorothy J. Esser Theatre Foundation was established as a non-profit charitable entity,
incorporated in the State of Hawaii in June 1990, to provide financial support and administrative efficiency
to the community theatres of Hawaii.
Community theatre is a major form of social and cultural activity on Oahu. There are approximately two dozen
organizations and over a thousand active participants who generate from 60 to 100 theatrical entertainment productions
each year. From one-man dramatic presentations, such as Clarence Darrow, to 1000-participant events, such as
the Army Entertainment annual 4th of July concert, pageant and fireworks show. From a old classics, such as
Trial By Jury to up-to-the-minute new classics such as Titanic, these thousand plus volunteers contribute
to the creative spirit of Hawaii. These individuals participate as amateurs in the true Latin sense of the word: one
who does it for love of the activity.
The continuing condition of all volunteer activities, problems of fiscal stability and fund raising pose
ongoing hurdles to overcome before the creative goals can be attained. It is the mission of the Dorothy J.
Esser Theatre Foundation to provide centralized fund raising and the economic advantage of centralized
volume purchasing to enable the performing arts community to get on with its real function; to entertain,
educate and uplift.
The Foundation's goal is to encourage and support the Army Community Theatre.
Dorothy J. Esser was an operetta star, a classical vocalist, an actress and general manager of a
theatrical supply and stage lighting firm in Hawaii. Born in Kentucky and raised in Arizona, she came to
Hawaii as a military wife in 1965 and subsequently founded Windward Theatre Guild with her husband and
the Essers started a precursor to Army Community Theatre.
As an actress and singer, she performed with the Boston Symphony and sang at Central Union Church, including
a ten-year stint as Amahl's mother in the annual Christmas classic.
Active in community theatre, she was the recipient of three Po'okela awards (for West Side Waltz, and
On Golden Pond), receiving her first in the year of the Award's inception, and
receiving the third one posthumously in June 1990 for Road to Mecca. Notwithstanding her career in the performing side
of the theatre, she believed in meeting one's obligations 'in time on time.' 'Theatre is something to
be celebrated,' she said, 'but don't go over budget in your quest for theatrical magic.' She died on May
16, 1990.
Her deep interest in community theatre and her concern for sound financial management are the
motivating forces behind the Dorothy J. Esser Foundation. It has been established in her memory.
Army Community Theatre represents a major segment of the community theatre
network in Hawaii. ACT provides entertainment for over 100,000 citizens of Hawaii and visitors from
other states and lands every year with its various programs.
These programs are designed to integrate the military and civilian aspects of the population by bringing them
together in the creative spirit of the performing arts. Sadly, this activity, valuable as it is, has been one of the
earliest victims of budget cuts. But because of the excellence of both the program and its
impact on the community at large, the Board of Directors of the Foundation believe that its continuation is a
priority activity.
In 1970, the State of Hawaii authorized and endorsed the formation of the Hawaii State Theatre
Council. The purpose of the Council is to provide a body of opinion and advice concerning matters theatrical
for consultation with the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and to work cooperatively with artists and
organizations for the optimum development of theatre arts in Hawaii.
In 1983, Vanita Rae Smith founded the Po`okela Awards and the Council established them as an annual award.
The Award is non-competitive
and designed to celebrate excellence in theatre and to call the public's attention to the fact that there is a
theatre community in Hawaii that is worthy of public recognition and support. The Award recipients are
selected by an independent panel of judges, not a voting competition by their peers or the public. Recipients
are chosen for excellence of performance and presentations are made at an annual banquet.
Jayme B. Shirrell, President, is an active participant in the activities supported by the
Foundation. She has performed in four productions of the Readers Theatre, has served as stage manager for
seven 4th of July Spectaculars, and has worked with both the All-Army Battle of the Bands and the All-Army Soldier Show
twice. She is a graduate of Kailua High School, and received her BA in sociology from the University of Hawaii.
She is an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity.
Vanita Rae Smith, Vice President for Army Community Theatre activities. Ms. Smith has been the director of
Army Community Theatre. Ms. Smith, a civilian employee of the Army for approximately 33 years, establishing
and directing entertainment and theatre programs on behalf of Army from Fort Knox to Oahu.
Jill Esser Frierson, Secretary-Treasurer, is Director of the Senate Minority Research, Hawaii State Senate, and
is the owner of Talk Story, Unlimited, a research firm specializing in political research. A resident of Hawaii,
she is a former actress, drama teacher and the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
to develop theatre curriculum for Hawaii public schools, grades K-12.
Larry K. Myers, Attorney-at-Law, is the Foundation counsel. Mr. Myers is an attorney in general practice in
Honolulu.
Army Community Theatre represents a major segment of the community theatre
network in Hawaii. ACT provides entertainment for over 100,000 citizens of Hawaii and visitors from
other states and lands every year with its various programs.
These programs are designed to integrate the military and civilian aspects of the population by bringing them
together in the creative spirit of the performing arts. Sadly, this activity, valuable as it is, has been one of the
earliest victims of budget cuts. But because of the excellence of both the program and its
impact on the community at large, the Board of Directors of the Foundation believe that its continuation is a
priority activity.
In 1970, the State of Hawaii authorized and endorsed the formation of the Hawaii State Theatre
Council. The purpose of the Council is to provide a body of opinion and advice concerning matters theatrical
for consultation with the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and to work cooperatively with artists and
organizations for the optimum development of theatre arts in Hawaii.
In 1983, Vanita Rae Smith founded the Po`okela Awards and the Council established them as an annual award.
The Award is non-competitive
and designed to celebrate excellence in theatre and to call the public's attention to the fact that there is a
theatre community in Hawaii that is worthy of public recognition and support. The Award recipients are
selected by an independent panel of judges, not a voting competition by their peers or the public. Recipients
are chosen for excellence of performance and presentations are made at an annual banquet.
Jayme B. Shirrell, President, is an active participant in the activities supported by the
Foundation. She has performed in four productions of the Readers Theatre, has served as stage manager for
seven 4th of July Spectaculars, and has worked with both the All-Army Battle of the Bands and the All-Army Soldier Show
twice. She is a graduate of Kailua High School, and received her BA in sociology from the University of Hawaii.
She is an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity.
Vanita Rae Smith, Vice President for Army Community Theatre activities. Ms. Smith has been the director of
Army Community Theatre. Ms. Smith, a civilian employee of the Army for approximately 33 years, establishing
and directing entertainment and theatre programs on behalf of Army from Fort Knox to Oahu.
Jill Esser Frierson, Secretary-Treasurer, is Director of the Senate Minority Research, Hawaii State Senate, and
is the owner of Talk Story, Unlimited, a research firm specializing in political research. A resident of Hawaii,
she is a former actress, drama teacher and the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
to develop theatre curriculum for Hawaii public schools, grades K-12.
Larry K. Myers, Attorney-at-Law, is the Foundation counsel. Mr. Myers is an attorney in general practice in
Honolulu.
In 1970, the State of Hawaii authorized and endorsed the formation of the Hawaii State Theatre
Council. The purpose of the Council is to provide a body of opinion and advice concerning matters theatrical
for consultation with the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; and to work cooperatively with artists and
organizations for the optimum development of theatre arts in Hawaii.
In 1983, Vanita Rae Smith founded the Po`okela Awards and the Council established them as an annual award.
The Award is non-competitive
and designed to celebrate excellence in theatre and to call the public's attention to the fact that there is a
theatre community in Hawaii that is worthy of public recognition and support. The Award recipients are
selected by an independent panel of judges, not a voting competition by their peers or the public. Recipients
are chosen for excellence of performance and presentations are made at an annual banquet.
Jayme B. Shirrell, President, is an active participant in the activities supported by the
Foundation. She has performed in four productions of the Readers Theatre, has served as stage manager for
seven 4th of July Spectaculars, and has worked with both the All-Army Battle of the Bands and the All-Army Soldier Show
twice. She is a graduate of Kailua High School, and received her BA in sociology from the University of Hawaii.
She is an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity.
Vanita Rae Smith, Vice President for Army Community Theatre activities. Ms. Smith has been the director of
Army Community Theatre. Ms. Smith, a civilian employee of the Army for approximately 33 years, establishing
and directing entertainment and theatre programs on behalf of Army from Fort Knox to Oahu.
Jill Esser Frierson, Secretary-Treasurer, is Director of the Senate Minority Research, Hawaii State Senate, and
is the owner of Talk Story, Unlimited, a research firm specializing in political research. A resident of Hawaii,
she is a former actress, drama teacher and the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
to develop theatre curriculum for Hawaii public schools, grades K-12.
Larry K. Myers, Attorney-at-Law, is the Foundation counsel. Mr. Myers is an attorney in general practice in
Honolulu.
In 1983, Vanita Rae Smith founded the Po`okela Awards and the Council established them as an annual award.
The Award is non-competitive
and designed to celebrate excellence in theatre and to call the public's attention to the fact that there is a
theatre community in Hawaii that is worthy of public recognition and support. The Award recipients are
selected by an independent panel of judges, not a voting competition by their peers or the public. Recipients
are chosen for excellence of performance and presentations are made at an annual banquet.
Jayme B. Shirrell, President, is an active participant in the activities supported by the
Foundation. She has performed in four productions of the Readers Theatre, has served as stage manager for
seven 4th of July Spectaculars, and has worked with both the All-Army Battle of the Bands and the All-Army Soldier Show
twice. She is a graduate of Kailua High School, and received her BA in sociology from the University of Hawaii.
She is an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity.
Vanita Rae Smith, Vice President for Army Community Theatre activities. Ms. Smith has been the director of
Army Community Theatre. Ms. Smith, a civilian employee of the Army for approximately 33 years, establishing
and directing entertainment and theatre programs on behalf of Army from Fort Knox to Oahu.
Jill Esser Frierson, Secretary-Treasurer, is Director of the Senate Minority Research, Hawaii State Senate, and
is the owner of Talk Story, Unlimited, a research firm specializing in political research. A resident of Hawaii,
she is a former actress, drama teacher and the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
to develop theatre curriculum for Hawaii public schools, grades K-12.
Larry K. Myers, Attorney-at-Law, is the Foundation counsel. Mr. Myers is an attorney in general practice in
Honolulu.