Month: April 2022

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2 JUDASES TO CLOSE OUT ‘SUPERSTAR’

Here’s an update on the status of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” heading into its final weekend of performances. Just so you know, there will be two Judases!

There’s a logical Plan A, Plan B and Plan C  in place, which sounds like a win-win situation regarding the role of Judas Iscariot. To backtrack: Taj Gutierrez was ill last week and last Friday was his last performance, with show cancellations looming. But Miguel Cadoy III was tapped to substitute, and did so, at last Saturday night’s show as well as last Sunday’s matinee.

So for the finale, a three-pronged schedule exists:

Plan A: “It’s been confirmed that Miguel will go on Friday night and Saturday afternoon,” said musical conductor Roslyn Catracchia, whose idea it was to invite Cadoy to fill the unexpected vacancy.

Plan B: Gutierrez, who has recovered from his voice problems, will resume his performance Saturday night.

Plan C: Gutierrez is scheduled to close out the run at Sunday’s matinee, but if he’s unable to do it, Cadoy is on standby to take his curtain call, if necessary.

Taj Gutierrez: He’ll be back as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The emergency of unexpected illness has fueled cheers for Gutierrez and Cadoy alike. First, Gutierrez was not hospitalized, as earlier reported, but did get ER attention, and has had time to recover and save his voice, so to speak. “Right off the bat, I want to extend a giant thank you to Miguel for stepping in for me,” he said. “It takes an incredibly skilled performer to jump in head first the way he did. Thank you and BRAVO to you, sir,” Gutierrez said in an email to Cadoy.

Miguel Cadoy III

“Over the last few days, I’ve been showered with love and support from the cast, crew and creative team of JCS, and it has healed my voice and soul,” said Gutierrez. “The theater ‘ohana in Hawaii is such a powerful force, and I feel so lucky to be accepted and supported by it.”

Indeed, cast-wide prayers and get-well shout-outs have enabled him to speed up his wellness.

And audiences who experienced Cadoy in his pivotal decision to take on Judas with iPad in hand at the last moment, also have expressed  hoots and hurrahs for jumping in, so it seems prudent that he hangs around Sunday, even if his services are not needed, to share the final curtain call. …

Broadway grosses, week ending. April 17

The leaders of the pack are:  No.1, “The Music Man;” No. 2, “The Lion King;” and  No. 3, “Hamilton.”

The chart, in alphabetical order:

Show NameGrossGrossTotalAttn Capacity%Capacity
A STRANGE LOOP$202,402.502,7563,68874.73%
ALADDIN$1,737,855.4815,04915,54396.82%
AMERICAN BUFFALO$543,713.905,7336,00895.42%
BEETLEJUICE$1,457,718.0010,72911,21495.68%
BIRTHDAY CANDLES$302,958.005,1125,81687.90%
CHICAGO$829,219.428,0338,64092.97%
COME FROM AWAY$588,164.466,6878,36879.91%
COMPANY$691,727.846,3108,36875.41%
DEAR EVAN HANSEN$758,577.606,6627,87284.63%
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF$130,359.343,7716,18460.98%
FUNNY GIRL$1,415,085.509,7609,752100.08%
HADESTOWN$1,044,339.407,3047,34499.46%
HAMILTON$2,453,319.0010,63810,592100.43%
HANGMEN$209,195.103,3544,81269.70%
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD$1,964,665.0012,81812,97698.78%
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE$237,890.004,3025,09684.42%
MACBETH$1,170,012.576,2836,30699.64%
MJ THE MUSICAL$1,462,484.2010,84111,09697.70%
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL$1,468,216.8010,11910,40097.30%
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT$652,920.005,4748,33765.66%
MRS. DOUBTFIRE$528,807.005,8876,20494.89%
PLAZA SUITE$917,819.004,5094,87592.49%
POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE$152,727.003,4675,80459.73%
SIX$1,357,276.008,1568,24898.88%
TAKE ME OUT$397,313.354,2124,68090.00%
THE BOOK OF MORMON$1,134,628.708,3808,52898.26%
THE LION KING$2,560,960.0015,15215,26499.27%
THE LITTLE PRINCE$373,831.006,70411,85656.55%
THE MINUTES$304,074.004,5445,33685.16%
THE MUSIC MAN$3,328,253.0812,12612,20099.39%
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA$1,073,263.2010,00912,84077.95%
THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH$138,610.003,8428,46445.39%
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL$826,820.507,16411,82460.59%
WICKED$2,314,088.0015,94816,26398.06%

 And that’s Show Biz. …

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JACKIE: ‘WIND BENEATH MY WINGS’

John “Jackie” Gilbert Farias, husband of entertainer Karen Keawehawaii, died April 5 at Queen’s Medical Center. He was 75, born Oct. 31, 1946.

The couple met when he was a bartender at the Kahala Hilton, where she was singing with the Laughing Kahunas group.

“Jackie was always content to be in the shadows,” said Keawehawaii. “When we met, I was performing; when we married, he encouraged me to continue; he even managed my career.

“When our family grew, he stayed home with the babies as I went out to perform. He was the wind beneath my wings,” she said.

Jackie Farias

Farias had multiple health issues and was in and out of the hospital a few times, before his passing, said Keawehawaii.

As a steadfast supporter of her entertainment career, he often oversaw light and sound support as her gigs flourished in her heyday as a showroom lark.

Farias was a career bartender, spending much of his tenure at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, where he tended bar for 35 years, retiring in March 2009.

Over the decades, he also was known as the assembler of the Farias’ family’s Christmas inflatables in the front yard of their Wilhelmina Rise home. He erected then disassembled the decorations annually, appealing to drive-by holiday spectators.

Farias also was a stellar baker, preparing and baking holiday gift cakes for a long list of recipients.

Besides Keawehawaii, he  is survived by four daughters, Tracie K. (Keawe) Lopes, Stacie K. Farias, Winona K. Farias and Melody K. (Francis) Wheeler.

Mo‘opuna include Pi‘ikea Lopes, Ka‘onohi Lopes, Haweo Lopes, Acacia K. Wheeler, Kenshin John Wheeler and Henna K. Wheeler.

He was the youngest of several siblings, who preceded him in death.

A celebration of life will be held May 22 at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe, with visitation from 1 p.m. followed by services at 2:30 p.m. …

Come what May (Day)

Robert Cazimero

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, and May 1 will offer options this year.

Hawaiian Airlines is the title sponsor of this year’s Hawaiian celebration, at 7 p.m. May 1 at the Bishop Museum.

Keauhou and Robert Cazimero will headline this one, with Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei O Likolehua participating, along with Kainani Kahaunaele, Mamalei Kawaa and several hula halau.

Kahuli Leo L‘a, a non-profit led by Keauhou’s Zachary Lum, is assembling a number of halau performances of island mele, hula and mo‘olelo, “to advance our philosophy of ‘aina to our visitors,” he said. “We must not forget to maintain aloha ‘aina within our communities.”

Kalani Pe’a

Billy V will emcee …

Kalani Pe‘a, fresh from his recent Grammy victory, will headline a Lei Day concert at 2 p.m. May 1 at the Hawaii Theatre. His cast will include Ho‘okena, Keilana, Hoku Zuttermeister and Hula Halau O Kamuela. Mele Apana will host. ..

The beat goes on

Henry Kapono will perform at the 19th Annual Pure Aloha Festival and Concert, at 7:30 p.m. April 23 at Craig Ranch Regional Park, in North Las Vegas, Nev.

Closer to home, he stages another pair of Artist 2 Artist shows at Blue Note Hawaii, at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. The earlier announced gig with the Makaha Sons will be staged April 29 and another with Ledward Kaapana has been announced for May 22.

Meantime, his star-studded summer “Home in the Islands” postponed concert has been rescheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. June 18 at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, and the early announced roster of island participants will also include Kimie Miner, Ana Vee, Tavana, Kala ‘e Parish, and Rredbeatt. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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MIGUEL STEPS IN AS JUDAS AT DHT

Since local theater almost never have understudies for key roles in a musical, what do you do if a cast member becomes ill and cannot make the weekend shows?

Miquel Cadoy III, a popular and versatile island actor who also is a Farrington High School educator who directs a student musically annual, helped save the day when Taj Gutierrez, cast as Judas Iscariot in Diamond Head Theatre, became ill and nonetheless completed last Friday night’s performance.

By Saturday morn, however, Gutierrez realized he couldn’t make that day’s matinee and evening shows plus the Easter Sunday matinee, and had to be hospitalized. Director-choreographer John Rampage was informed about the medical crisis, and figured that cancellation of the weekend’s three shows was imminent, relaying that consideration to musical director Roslyn Catracchia.

Miguel Cadoy III

“We gotta cancel,” Rampage told Catracchia but she had other ideas.

Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters, but Mig Cadoy, Roz suggested.

“Yes, I did go on this past weekend as Judas! Crazy!,” said Cadoy, the centrifugal force in saving the day.

“They didn’t have an understudy from the cast, so Roslyn called me at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, to see if I could come in, learn the show and go on that evening,” said Cadoy.

He had a sketchy rehearsal to acclimate himself to the tunes and work on modified blocking, from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, to be primed for the 7:30 p.m. curtain on Saturday, a role of show he’s never done. He also had to be fitted for costumes.

“I used an iPad during the show, with the music lead sheet. Mr. John explained to the audience of the situation and they were very forgiving with me having the tablet in hand. I was supposed to WATCH the show that evening,” Cadoy said with awe.

Roslyn Catracchia


“It was a tall task; he had to feel the story and its emotions,” said Catracchia, who  witnessed the moments of show where Cadoy sings “Jesus Christ Superstar” and a  shortened version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” She said there were tears in his eyes.

Cadoy’s Judas preparation and performance had conflicted with his Easter Sunday preaching role at his church, but he managed to find a replacement, too.

“Thankfully, the cast was very supportive and helped me through the entire process,” he said.

It wasn’t the first time Cadoy has subbed for a fellow actor; he once had to sub for Cliffton Hall , who lost his voice, in a production of “Les Miserables;” but this was an off-stage incidence, requiring vocal work only.

It also wasn’t the first time for Catracchia, who had been part of a cast-member issue in a “JC Superstar” production, with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra; a substitute actor performed with a script in hand (pre iPad era) with her late mom, Beebe Freitas, as musical director.

With two performances under his belt, Cadoy remains on standby in case Gutierrez does not recover from his voice issues, for the final three shows this weekend at DHT.

Miguel Cadoy III, left, with “Superstar” co-stars Aleks Pevec and Bailey Barnes, ‘neath DHT marquee.

Cadoy is happy to respond to the emergency summons. “I couldn’t say no to Roslyn,” he confessed. “Plus I really wanted to audition for the show, but I wanted to finish my final research paper for my master’s (degree). Funny thing is, I turned in my final paper on Thursday, and then this coincidently happened! So thankfully I was able to do the show.”

The canceled Saturday performance has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. this Friday (April 22) with concluding performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 23) and 4 p.m. Sunday (April 24).

Truly, Cadoy is to be commended for taking on this emergency call to fill in for a fellow actor in a time of need. For a musical with Biblical implications, with complications happening on an Easter weekend, one can’t help but wonder. The “He Is Risen” comment perfectly suits what transpired over the weekend, when Cadoy rose to the occasion in a the-show-must-go-on unplanned moment. …

And that’s Show Biz. ….

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‘EVERYTHING‘ CONSIDERED, IT ROARS

Nothing is simple or sane, and nowhere does it say it has to be.

So “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a stew of incredibility and imagination, perhaps everything and anything you might not expect in a film.

It’s maniacal, but magical; it’s whimsical, yet wonderful; it’s delightful yet disastrous;  and it seemingly doesn’t end, so it offers twin endings. Like, “The End” twice.

Basically, it’s an original oddity, starring an agile and admirable Michelle Yeoh, as an operator of a laundromat who doesn’t quite know how to pay her bills so has ills with the IRS. She is the essence of a wreck-a-holic on steroids, in a grand way.

As directed by a pair of Daniels, who like to be known as the Daniels (last names, Kwan and Sheinert), this is an action film disguised as a comedy yet plays like a superheroine adventure complete with matters of the universe. It’s like a video game run amok, a family sit-com with kicks and kinks leading to a cosmic explosion of emotions and antics, a vision or version of apocalyptic end-of-the-world with more domestic ripples anchored to getting along with grandpa and a gay daughter, etc.

Whew!

Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan

It’s a longish journey (running time, 2:20, but seems endlessly longer) that dodges the finish line with extended gags, which results in lags, and it certainly is overwhelming and overpowering in the constant conflicts of relationships between leading and secondary characters.

Yeoh is remarkably athletic in stamina as Evelyn Wang, who ditched the family while she was young, who now owns a laundromat with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan, the once-young lad in “Indiana Jones and the  Temple of Doom,” now converted into a modern-day comedic Jackie Chan), who unite with patriarch Gong Gong  (James Hong), the aging but able great-grandfather of the Chinese elderly dude), to celebrate Chinese New Year. But life is complex; the washing machines are below the parental residence, Waymond is seeking a divorce from Evelyn, who has to face the music and madness of an IRS audit; the couple’s daughter (Stephanie Hsu), has admitted she’s gay and brings home “good friend” partner Becky (Tallie Medel) for the family shebang.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Evelyn’s nemesis here includes Deirdre (Jamie Lee Curtis), the irrepressible IRS investigator who threatens the demise of the laundromat unless its owner can settle its questionable tax debt. Curtis is recognizable in face, but is padded with body prosthetics, and turns in a wacky, wicked performance as an IRS-er you don’t want to mess with.

The themes of filial love and respect, parental patience, spousal connections, and a heavy dose of metaverse threats and invasions where nothing is as it seems, everything and everywhere is blended into a toxic brew as if thrown into a food processor. Time is bent, twisted, flashing backward and forward, blurring reality.

And there are some icky, sticky, even sickly mess of elements, like a discomforting anal moment with a trophy substituting for a sexual device. And silly, recurring instances of googly eyes; you know, the kind of stick-on fake eyes.

On the other side of the spectrum, there are frequent unexpected sci-fi gems: hotdogs posing as fingers, toes playing the piano, for starters.

Because of its original, fresh storytelling, unfolded in bursts of clever visual and aural trickery, the Daniels have created a logical Gen Z product with word-of-mouth assist in making this a buzzed-about hit.

However, “Everything” is not for everyone, since mostly everything is unconventional and stuff keeps popping up everywhere without expectation. But you will be awed and astonished at everything you understand and even astonished by everything you didn’t quite get.

However, everything considered, you’ll have a roar of a great time.

And that’s Show Biz…

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ANALYZING THE BROADWAY SERIES

Planning on attending the four-show series of Broadway in Hawaii musicals, starting next Tuesday (April 19)?

I’ve heard a wave of eagerness from many who have signed up for all four shows, now through next year. A few are baffled at ticket prices

So, let’s discuss the situation.

A four-show season for us in Hawaii is new, so perhaps that’s where the wariness factor enters. Local theaters like Diamond Head Theatre and Manoa Valley Theatre commonly boast six-show seasons, and that’s the norm for touring shows on the Mainland.

We’ve never had such an agenda;  four could eventually become six, but there’s a lot to do to get to that level. One underlying factor might be the facility; our Blasidell Concert Hall is the go-to space for visiting shows; it’s showing its age and some day will require renovation crews to amp up the facility, so construction would halt bookings.

And no other facility in the state – the Hawaii Theatre in Chinatown and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Wailuku are too small or perhaps lack backstage and fly space to accommodate sets and backdrops. The new DHT facility is strictly for community theater and will have updated technology and space when it opens next fall, but will have the same seating capacity like now, still too small for traveling shows. And no one would book a theatrical production at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, an outdoor facility.

If you’re undecided about the ensuing Broadway attractions at Blaisdell, perhaps some  background data might be helpful.

 Ticket costs here are on par with other markets. Those online handling fee are rampant for any kind of e-ticketing, so it’s part of the norm, if you purchase New York Broadway tickets or any mainland musical or sporting event. (Note: A special $30 ticket, for balcony seating at the Tuesday April 1 opening night show, has just been announced. To order, see the bottom of this column).

Season purchases offer some discount vs. individual shows, and generally speaking, subscribers have options to exchange tickets if conflicts occur.

Key considerations:

  • This is the first time ever, that a multi-show-season with legit touring Broadway shows, is happening. We’ve had isolated productions, or a mere two, staged months apart.
  • Three of the productions are Hawaii premieres: “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” playing April 19-24 2022;  “Jersey Boys,” running Sept. 13-25 2022; “Hamilton,”getting in its shot for three weeks, Dec. 7, 2022 through Jan. 29, 2023; and “Cats,” launching June 13-18, 2023.
  • In Mainland communities boasting six-show templates for years, Hawaii needs to catch up; our four shows are a good starting point for season-buyers. The issue is clear: Honolulans need to show commitment for the package of four, and then build on the six as a goal. Producers will deliver only if you do your part.

  • More thoughts on the show appeal, if you’re only selecting one or two titles:  The No. 1 show is “Hamilton,” even if you’re seen that splendid Disney+ theatrical gem on TV. Even if Lin Manuel Miranda has exited the cast; this is his legacy to the stage; a hip-hop/rap musical based on the Founding Fathers of this country. Your second choice logically would be either “Beautiful” or “Jersey Boys,” though you might have seen the latter but not the former. Both bio musicals – one on the life and ascent of Carole King, the other the triumphs and tragedies rarely known about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The soundtrack of your lives will resonate with the chartbusting tunes by King and her collaborators and the street smart charms of Valli and his harmonic partners.
  • “Cats” is the obvious filler in the package; if you loved it, see it again. If your kids have not seen it, introduce and educate them to his curiosity, an Andrew Lloyd Webber creation based on a poem, where population are cats, not people.
  • Some advice: order tickets from an authorized source; Broadway in Hawaii utilizes Ticketmaster as its official site, or purchases can be made at the Blaisdell Center box office. Prices depend on date, seat site; the website can provide the range and seating chart.  My season tickets, ordered earlier, have been mailed to me by choice; however, “Hamilton” tickets will be sent approximately 60 days prior to your scheduled performance date. Avoid third party ticketers, who sell tickets with inflated prices; some sits may be fraudulent.

Tickets: online at https://www.broadwayinhawaii.com/bih/seasontickets.html or phone (808) 776-7469. …

$30 special deal

Bruce Granath, Salt Lake City-based executive of Magic Space Entertainment (which is Hawaii’s link to the Broadway series), says that a very special $30 ticket (plus fees) will be available for balcony seating only for the opening night (Tuesday April 19) show. The intent is to get a full house for the launch.

Here’s how to score these seats:

Visit this link: :  https://www.ticketmaster.com/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-touring/event/0A005C53C9F51A0F?refArtist=K8vZ917KhfV

Click on ”Unlock,” then enter the promo code FRIENDS. This should get you to the $30 one-night-deal.

It’s OK to share with friends and family, says Granath…

And that’s Show Biz. …