Jesse Shiroma, accordionist for Streetlight Cadence, is on leave from the group for academic reasons.
Shiroma is focusing on a master’s degree, so his latest status is that of a student at the University of Hawaii. Which means no more regular SLC gigs for a while.
“I have definitely returned to being a student and my long-term plans are to pursue a music librarianship with a focus on indigenous preservation and advocacy,” Shiroma said in an email. “Ideally, I can find some balance in that and return to a more regular live musical performance schedule as well. A man can dream, ha-ha!”
Shiroma’s absence was clearly, or perhaps dimly, visible in Streetlight Cadence’s recent “A Lightbulb Concerto” posting on YouTube. His colleagues Jonathan Franklin performed on violin, Brian Webb on cello, and Ben Chai on banjo, with friend Clara Stegall guesting on guitar, as mentioned in this column here.
So Shiroma shed light on his latest journey, but admitted that he intends to hang with his buddies when they’re in town. Should be later this year, when Streetlight Cadence performs in the Waikiki Aquarium’s “Ke Kani O Ke Kai Series,” in August.
Surely, Shiroma will bring his newfangled accordion with him, not the classic of yesteryear. …
No doubt, it’s sad
“Mrs. Doubtfire,” the new musical based on the popular film starring Robin Williams, will close on Broadway May 29 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. A bit of Hawaii will also be shuttering.
It was a record-breaker, with hot box office sales, when it premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre during the 2019 holiday season, prompting a move to Broadway.
The island element is that “Mrs. Doubtfire” was produced by Hawaii’s Kevin McCollum, whose earlier hits on the Great White Way included “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “Something Rotten.”
Something rotten called COVID happened, impacting the Broadway marketplace, when “Doubtfire” began previews in March 2020, and had to be shut down due to the pandemic, resuming performances in Oct.21, only to be shuttered again in January 2022. The show reopened again on April 14 but will lower its curtains for good on May 29.
McCollum has said in Broadway media, “Even though New York City is getting stronger every day and ticket sales are slowly improving, theater-going tourists and, especially for our show, family audiences have not returned as soon as we anticipated.”
Much like some theatrical films, adult and family audiences have shown some reluctance in returning to the theater, unless it’s a Marvel adventure.
Some good news: “Mrs. Doubtfire” is set to premiere in London this fall, with a national U.S. tour scheduled for 2023. Unless the economic crisis in the U.K. and in the U.S. improves, box office response could become an issue, too. …
Musical notes
Ho‘okena, featuring Horace Dudoit III, Chris Kamaka and Glenn Smith, will showcase its award-winning Hawaiian music, at 6:30 p.m. today (May 25) at the Plumeria Beachhouse at the Kahala Hotel. Seating starts at 5:30 p.m.; reservations may be made via Open Table. …
The Stephen Inglis Project, with guest artist David Gans, will be featured at 7 p.m. Saturday (May 28) at Slack Key Lounge, at Hawaiian Brian’s on Kapiolani Boulevard. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; a $15 cover is in place.
Inglis will share some originals, with his pendulum swinging from Dylan to the Grateful Dead. Gans is expected to showcase his finger-picking style, on ballads, some rock, fueled with improv and surprises. …
And that’s Show Biz. …