Author: Wayne Harada

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TRIVIAL, BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

Knowledge is essential but fleeting; we learn, we forget.

But some things – often called  trivia –should always be etched in our minds.

How many of this short list do you know by heart? No Google searching, please.

Elvis Presley: What were three films he did in Hawaii?

  • The lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
  • The words to “The Lord’s Prayer.”
  • What were Clark Gable’s famous  eight-words utterance in “Gone With the Wind”?
  • Who said ,“May the force be with you” in “Star Wars”?
  • The song that is credited to be the first to launch the rock music era?
  • The color of Judy Garland’s shoes in “The Wizard of Oz”?
  • The titles of three films Elvis Presley did in Hawaii?
  • The number of Santa’s reindeer and their names?
  • Who said, “Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten?”
  • For Hawaii citizens only, the lyrics to “Hawaii Aloha” and “Hawaii Ponoi”?
  • What happened to Jack, when he went up the hill to fetch a pail of water?
  • The crime committed by Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables,” that sent him to prison?
  • What famous Hawaiian holiday tune was flipside song of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” 78 rpm disc?

Feel free to add to this list to continue this discussion…

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KEALA SETTLE JOINS ‘WICKED’ FILM

Great to learn that some of our Hawaii-reared talent are finding their way to the big screen.

No, not referring to the likes of Jason Momoa and Dwayne Johnson. They are in their own league, with signature projects under way.

Talking about the likes of Keala Settle, who will play Miss Coddle in the Jon M. Chu-directed movie version of “Wicked.” You know Settle best as the former Kahuku actress who famously portrayed the Bearded Woman in Hugh Jackson’s mega-hit musical, “The Greatest

Keala Settle

Showman,” in which Settle might have been a sideshow attraction but wound up performing and scoring a huge musical hit, “This Is Me.”

Headliners in this Broadway-to-cinema transition of “Wicked” will be the earlier announced Cynthia Ervo and Ariana Grande, who will take over the leads of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) originated by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth (Glinda the Witch of the South), respectively. “Wicked” (the movie) also will bring together Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Bowen Yang as Pfannee.

Director Chu, who  helmed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” in its film incarnation, has expressed an opinion that “Wicked” ran 2 hours and 45 minutes as a Broadway show, but opined on Twitter that “it would be impossible to wrestle the story of ‘Wicked’ in a single film without doing some real damage to it.” Omitting or trimming tunes or character roles felt like fatal compromises to the original sources, and composer Stephen Schwartz seconded the motion. Thus, a two-parter is in the works and composer Schwartz has agreed that Act 1 will conclude with “Defying Gravity,” and he will write a new original addition to the flick version, as reported in Variety. “Wicked Part 1” is due to be released  by Universal on Dec. 25, 2024, and “Wicked Part 2” will follow on Dec. 25, 2025. Talk about a multi-Christmas present. …

Auli’i Cravalho

Elsewhere,  Auli‘i  Cravalho, who voiced Moana in Disney’s “Moana” animated film, has been cast in the forthcoming Paramount+ film version of “Mean Girls,” which will be directed by Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne. Cravalho will portray Janis, with Renee Rapp reprising her role as  Regina George (she did it on Broadway), Angourie Rice as Cady, and Jaquel Spivey as Damian in other key roles…

Still strumming and teaching

The annual Ukulele Festival no longer is in founder Roy Sakuma’s rear view mirror. He’s moved on.

Roy Sakuma

“Boy, how times have changed,” he said in an email. “ I am still teaching (mostly on Zoom) but do go to the studio on Wednesday mornings to teach.  It’s still a lot of fun to teach.”

Of course, the folks love him since he’s a jovial sort, with not just teaching skills, but with memories to share.

Meanwhile, wife Kathy still has been busy running the studio. Almost like a mom-and-pop operation, like the good  ol’ days. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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IS HONESTY STILL ALIVE IN THE WORLD?

Just asking…

Is there still a lot of honesty in the world today?

My answer — based on personal experience — is an emphatic yes.

In the past month, I dropped (lost) a couple of credit cards and my driver’s license.

The first time was at the Safeway check-out in Hawaii Kai a couple of weeks back. Picked up a card, but not my license. I learned the license was missing when I had a one-night staycation in Waikiki; at check-in, no license. Needed a card with a photo … and fortunately, one credit had an image. When I called Safeway in Hawaii Kai, was told that my lost cards were turned in and in a safe, awaiting my inquiry.

The second instance was yesterday; was shopping at Marshalls at Ala Moana Center. Used a credit card for payment; but a few cards slipped out of my wallet without my knowledge. Backtracking, figured the only time I used plastic was yesterday. So called the store; was told the cards were found, and was able to retrieve them after dinner last night since the store was open till 11 p.m.

Clearly, I need to be more cautious and diligent in monitoring my cards. First time that I’ve had these issues. Happily, there’s a burst of honesty about some folks, for which I will be eternally grateful.

A footnote: I got a notice from one of my cards about a suspicious charge of more than $600 for a hotel stay that wasn’t mine. So that card was deemed invalid and I’m awaiting a replacement next week.

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HAWAII’S MILES IN ‘SWEENEY TODD’ REBOOT

Hawaii’s Ruthie Ann Miles, a Tony Award winner, will be part of the cast of a revival of “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” the acclaimed musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler.

Miles will  play the Beggar Woman in this reboot, headlined by Josh Groban as the murderess barber Sweeney Todd and Annaleigh Ashford  as Mrs. Lovett, the pie maker.

Ruthie. Ann Miles

Miles, a Kaimuki High School graduate, earned a Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Tony for her portrayal of Lady Thiang in an earlier revival of “The King and I.”

Other supporting roles include Jordan Fisher, from “Dear Evan Hanson,” as Anthony, and Gaten Matarazzo, of “Stranger Things, “as Tobias.

Thomas Kail, who directed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning “Hamilton,” will helm the show.

Previews begin Feb. 26 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with opening night set for March 26…

Hiccups on KSSK

I’ve been listening to KSSK, to get into the holiday mood, and it’s a most wonderful thing to hear the likes of Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Brenda Lee, and many others whose vocals are not commonly on the airwaves these days.

But the radio station has a peculiar hiccup/stutter distraction, where a word or two is repeated. Sounds like those old phonograph records, which can jump or be stuck while listening, but KSSK’s music resources are all digital, so something’s quirky on air and that shouldn’t be happening.

Makes me wonder if anyone deejaying on air listens to what’s playing, to fix the problem.

Just wondering …

Broadway grosses, week ending Dec. 11

“The Music Man” still prevails at No. 1, in Broadway gross tallies, with $3.389 million.

But there’s been a bit of up-and-down rankings last week.

No. 2 is “The Lion King,” with $2.365 million.

No. 3 is “Wicked,” with $2.083 million.

No.4 is “Hamilton,” normally second, but dropping to $2.077 million.

No. 5 is “The Phantom of the Opera,” with $2.020 million

The list is courtesy of the Broadway League…

And that’s Show Biz. …