THE CLOCK IS TICKING…
May your day be merry…
‘TIS CHRISTMAS TIME…IN RHYME
‘Twas the night before Christmas
And Santa wondered in his sleigh;
“What am I delivering
“For the folks of Hawaii Nei?”
Since the yuletide is on Sunday
His worries were tough;
Delivering his presents
On the Eve? Whoa, rough!
The coronavirus had challenged
His legion of elves.
Despite face masks and boosters
They could barely fill his gift shelves.
For Governor Josh Green
Aloha wear aplenty
No more green scrubs
As work gear, evidently.
For LG Sylvia Luke
A roster of must-do chores
To validate her election
With projects she adores.
For Mayor Blangiardi
A special wishing well.
To get the rail rolling
Come high water or hell.
Another December vacation
For Barack and Michelle;
And a holiday title for Bette Midler:
The Jingle Belle.
For Bruno Mars another stint
As a Super Bowl half-time trouper
Pure talent; no frills,
Just Hooligans. Super duper.
And please, for Marcus Mariota,
Just let him be;
Still a QB work-in-progress
He’ll eventually get there. Whee!
And no more injuries
For the Dolphin’s QB Tua;
Plus a Super Bowl bid
Some day, for shuwah!
For Jason Momoa,
Less projects, more time.
To focus on authenticity
For his movies sublime.
For the “NCIS: Hawai‘I” crew
A Hawaiian language dictionary
To bolster pronunciation
Hey, the show’s not Pictionary.
For“Magnum’s” Jay Hernandez
A welcome-back nod
For NBC, peacock feathers,
For a miracle…like God.
For the visiting “Hamilton” cast
Bravos, standing ovations!
Being in the room where it happens
Is cause for celebrations.
For comic Frank DeLima;
More home-grown parodies
For prolific Henry Kapono
More feel-good isle melodies.
For Robert Cazimero, what else?
A hefty 12-string pikake lei;
For Shari Lynn, a rescheduled
Jazz concert, soon, okay?
Another home-brewed concert
For Royal Hawaiian Band maestro Clarke Bright
May the ork returns to Carnegie Hall
‘Twould be aloha — book a flight!
And wouldn’t it be sweet
If there’s more collaboration
Between Kyle Kakuno and Roslyn Catracchia
For more yuletide exploration?
For Loretta Ables Sayre,
Deliver a Broadway show;
It’s time for her to rev up
Her singing, comedic glow.
For Judy Murata
A jug of good cheer.
For Danny Kaleikini
Perennial aloha that’s dear.
For author Frances Kakugawa
A fifth “Wordsworth” book.
For Alan Wong and Alan Takasaki
New kitchens where they’d cook.
For Vanita Rae Smith
More directing chores;
For the Bright Kid brand
A show to reopen the doors?
For Kevin Iwamoto
No more plumbing leaks;
Dripping water, mold,
A mess no one seeks.
For the venerable Roy Sakuma
More time teaching kids;
The Ukulele Festival is pau
Anyone with new bids?
For retired Cha Thompson
Something simple, besides wealth;
More mo‘opuna time, less stress
A recipe for good health.
For Afatia and Misty
The Tihati Productions team
A new Polynesian show…
Would be a keen dream.
For Jerry Santos, Bryan Tolentino
More gigs small and big;
For Makana, Taimane
Rolando, too. Dig?
For Kuana, Keali‘i,
Two peas in a pod.
As singing kumu hula
They deserve halau nod.
Applause for Manoa Valley
For its vibrant website;
A nudge to Diamond Head
To catch up, shed light?
For Kimie Miner, a trophy
For her “Christmas in Hawaii” tune;
It’s surely a notable hottie
With lyrics that’ll make you swoon.
For my Mainland buds
Ellen, Christine and Willy?
Warm hoodies, of course,
It’s winter time, silly!
To animal advocate Audy
An arf and a meow.
Maybe a song to show
The rest of us how?
Carole? Melveen?
Nohe? Amy? Marlene?
Maybe it’s time to update
The Local Divas? Keen?
Or perhaps a Dudes version
With Keola? Kapono?
Kapena? Kalani?
Would this be ho‘oponopono?
And why not assemble
An all-star band?
With Michael P., Jake S.
John K., Benny C. Grand!
An Obie for Lee Cataluna
A Tony for Greg Zane;
A Pulitzer for Paul Theroux
Awards wish list..sane?
For sea-worthy Jack Cione
A lifetime cruise pass.
With shipboard musicians
Ho‘okena, Makaha Sons. Class!
For Al Waterson and Nancy Bernal .
And Eddie Onouye and Carole Kai
Eternal happiiness and togetherness
And toss in a mai tai.
For Jay Larrin, joy
With snows on Mauna Kea;
For Nippon deejay Kamasami Kong
More fans here and deah.
For you, dearest readers
You Mr. and Ms.
Season’s tidings, aloha,
And that’s Christmas Show Biz. …
‘HAMILTON’: UNDERSTUDIES MATTER, TOO
I revisited “Hamilton” for the third time earlier this week (Dec. 21) at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, experiencing a different Alexander Hamilton, Tre Frazier; another Eliza Schuler, Emma Claye; and a new George Washington, Ellis C. Dawson III.
It was a half-full house, on a week night, and I hope the empty seats get filled in the coming weeks since “Hamilton” runs through Jan. 29.
Simply put, it’s a pleasure to experience different performers since cast members have days off. So it matters little who’s doing a role. It was my third time here watching this incredible show … and three earlier viewings in New York and Chicago. I never tire of seeing something I like, over and over.
A touring company like this one, dubbed “And Peggy,” commonly will have cast adjustments and a high bar to contend with, but in reality, anyone cast in any role must be capable of working up to the level established by the original New York company that originally showcased Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The understudies, like the aforementioned, are vital for a big production like “Hamilton.” They fill in for principals, who get a night or day off from the tight schedule, not only in tours like this cast but in sit-down shows anchored in such markets as Broadway and the West End. Understudies provide a valuable role and doing leads bolster their profiles.
When you attend a show, here or elsewhere, that inserted white sheet in your playbill will list alternates filling in for the regular leads. Since you don’t know traveling casts, you won’t know who’s principal or who’s understudy, so just soak in the performances. Better yet, revisit the show and see others in action. You won’t be disappointed…remember, understudies matter. …
Broadway grosses, week ending Dec. 16
It’s a toasty Christmas for “The Music Man,” which grosses $3.255 million last week. You might thing the No. 1 hit featuring Hugh Jackman hit the cast is chirping, “It’s a Most Wonderful World.”
No. 2 was “The Lion King,” earning $2.449 million. Its anthem just might be, “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
No. 3 was “Hamilton,” pulling in $2.255 million. Its shot could be, “Joy to the World.”
No. 4 was “Wicked,” logging $1.159 million. Its bewitching popularity merits a bouncy ditty, so why not “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?.
No. 5 is a newbie in the million dollar club, “Funny Girl,” amassing $2.005 million. The thematic “Jingle Bell Rock” could apply here, since the cash registers have been ringing like crazy since Lea Michele became Fanny Brice.
The listing is courtesy The Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz. …