THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
AUGUST WILSON's Two Trains Running brings Hill District grit and seven guitars to Honolulu for a concentrated, music-forward staging. Book a performance between August 21 and September 6, 2026 for an evening that trades beaches for sharp dialogue and a city’s changing soul.
AUGUST WILSON's Two Trains Running brings Hill District grit and seven guitars to Honolulu for a concentrated, music-forward staging. Book a performance between August 21 and September 6, 2026 for an evening that trades beaches for sharp dialogue and a city’s changing soul.
Book with TAG - The Actors' Group
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Operated by TAG - The Actors' Group · Honolulu, Hawaii
On Oʻahu’s urban edge, in Honolulu, AUGUST WILSON's Two Trains Running lands as a sharp, soulful evening that contrasts island calm with the electric urgency of Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Presented August 21–September 6, 2026 and directed by Marc Cooper, this production folds conversation, music and memory into Memphis Lee’s coffee shop—a stage set dominated by seven guitars and the low hum of people making and remaking lives. The setting onstage is plain but muscular: a worn storefront, a chipped counter, a jukebox of old grief and stubborn humor. Key scene features include Memphis Lee’s coffee shop, the neighborhood storefronts threatened by gentrification, and offstage references to Aunt Ester, whose spiritual presence echoes throughout the play. The script, set at the end of the 1960s, foregrounds characters whose lines open into larger social struggles—numbers runners, ex-con sons, scarred waitresses, and a man with a steady, heartbreaking refrain. That combination of intimate interior and sweeping cultural freight gives the production a rare directness: you feel the city breathing in the actors’ pauses. What makes this staging worth a visitor’s calendar is the way it cross-pollinates place. You’re in Honolulu, but the piece pulls you into mid-century Pittsburgh through southern rhythms of speech, the tactile detail of daily work, and a score threaded through seven guitars. For travelers looking for an evening that deepens a vacation itinerary, the production offers a cultural counterpoint to beaches and hikes: urgent storytelling that asks who gets left behind when a neighborhood changes. Practical notes: performances run roughly 2.5 hours, check-show dates are August 21–September 6, 2026, and tickets are available through the booking link. The venue rewards early arrival—use the lobby to settle in, and listen for live music cues that often start before curtain. It’s a good fit for visitors who want a theater-first night: history-minded travelers, music lovers, and anyone curious about American urban stories told with humor and bite. As part of Honolulu’s arts circuit, this production also supports local actors and crew and brings a mainland narrative into island conversation. Whether you’re a repeat theatergoer or a traveler seeking a memorable evening, AUGUST WILSON's Two Trains Running in Honolulu promises a compact, sharply observed night that lingers long after the lights go down. Plan logistics around Honolulu's traffic and evening temperatures: allow extra time for Waikiki congestion and use TheBus or a rideshare to reach the theater; street parking can be limited near downtown. Seats may fill early on weekend nights—if you prefer quiet, choose midweek performances. If post-show conversation opportunities or local artist panels are listed on the schedule, they’re worth staying for; they often deepen the historical context and give insight into set and music choices. Bring cash for concessions.
easy.
2.5 hours.
Minimal physical exertion; be prepared for a short walk and possible stairs at older venues
The listed run is approximately 2.5 hours; check the specific performance listing for any intermissions.
Tickets are available through the provided booking/referral link; check show dates and seating options there.
Content deals with adult themes and character situations; review age recommendations from the box office and consider suitability for younger viewers.
Accessibility details were not provided in the listing—contact the venue or booking link for seating and mobility accommodations.
Most theaters prohibit flash and onstage photography; confirm house rules on the booking page to avoid disruption.
Public transit (TheBus) and rideshare are convenient; allow extra time for evening traffic and limited street parking.
Two Trains Running was written in 1990 and is part of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, dramatizing Black urban life and community shifts in mid-20th-century America.
Choose public transit or rideshare to reduce parking pressure and emissions; support local arts with ticket purchases to sustain Honolulu’s theater community.
TAG - The Actors' Group is a Honolulu-based professional theatre company presenting a diverse season of stage productions across Honolulu, Hawaii. The company programs musicals, contemporary plays, classic drama, and premieres that reflect strong storytelling and theatrical craft. TAG stages both new works and established titles, including world premieres and celebrated American plays. Productions in the current season range from original musicals to dramatic classics. Upcoming and recent offerings include the world premiere musical Higher! Higher! by Tom Cooper, a production of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, a staging of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, the holiday musical review It’s DeLightful, It’s DeLovely, It’s December featuring Shari Lynn with guest Mary Gutzinn, Matthew Singer’s theatrical mind-reading show The Subconscious Mind, the world premiere Fire Pit by Lee Cataluna directed by Betty Burdick, and a production of The Belle of Amherst about poet Emily Dickinson. TAG collaborates with playwrights, directors, and performers from the local and broader theatre community to mount productions that highlight acting, design, and storytelling. The company’s season includes special events and limited engagements, with some shows offering preshow experiences and limited-capacity performances. TAG presents work in third-person professional practice and provides audiences in Honolulu with opportunities to see premieres, revivals, musicals, and one-person shows from recognized writers and performers.
Book with TAG - The Actors' Group