Category: Music

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DHT announces ‘Les Miz’ cast

Do you hear the people sing?

You will, when Diamond Head Theatre unveils its cast for the upcoming “Les Miserables” production, opening July 24. 

Anthony Fedorov will portray Jean Valjean, the protagonist unjustly imprisoned for 19 years who breaks parole to seek  a rich life, but Jose Ver, cast as the antagonist Inspector Javert, is forever in pursuit of Valjean.

This beloved musical based is based on Victor Hugo’s novel and showcases  musical theater’s grand, rich score, which most theater fans can sing, since every number has become part of the folklore of musical theater. 

Its uplifting characters perform songs of hope, heartbreak, struggle and redemption, laced with romance, honor and heroism in wartime 19th century France.

The Cameron Macintosh production is the world’s longest running musical, and boasts a grand score featuring music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and book by Alain Boublil, based on the classic wartime Hugo story.

Other leads in the company: Mehana Stone (Fantine), Lainey Hicks (Cosette), Ainsley Schearer (Eponine), Kimo Kaona (Marius), Buffy kahalepuna Wong (MadameThenardier), Presley Wheeler (Thernardier), Kime Braud (Enjolras), Mali Na’auao (Gavroche), Philex Kepa (Gavroche), Elle Silver (Little Cosette/Young Eponine), Mazzy Meers (Little Cosette/Young Eponine), Madison Abe-Revera (Little Cosette/Young Eponine).

Also in the Ensemble: Mike Abdo, Kim Anderson, Landon Ballesteros, Becca Brake, Drew Bright, Ioane Camacho, Mary Chesnut Hicks, Kalani Hick, Sage Hirasuna, Casey Lauti, Lee Nebe, Shane Nishimura,Cayden Park, Larry Paxton, Pualaela Slover, Marie Staples, David Weaver, Karsyn Wentzell, Brian Willis, Trent Yamagata, Rain Young, Anna Young.

Doug Kreefer will direct this spectacle, and Jenny Shiroma is musical director. “Les Miz” enables the artistic team to take advantage of the revolving stage installed on the DHT floor.

Willie Sabel is set designer, and it’s a no-brainer that he’ll build the show’s iconic barricade.

Jericho Sombrio is sound designer, Kyle Conner is props designer,Chris Gouveia is lighting designer, Emily Lane is costume designer, Aiko Schick is hair and make-up designer, Trudi Melohn is production stage manager.

Though opening July 24, the formal opening night will be on July 31; and even before the show opens, extension dates have been announced for 3 p.m. July 26, 7 p.m.. Aug. 5,   7 p.m. Aug. 20 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21.

Tickets: $70 and $54 at (808) 733-0374 or diamondheadtheatre.com

And that’s Show Biz…

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‘Island moments’ in the Tonycast

There were “island moments” — two — in last night’s (June 7)Tony Awards televised on CBS.

No one mentioned it, so I will: Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger were key award presenters since they both won Tonys last year… Criss, as Best Actor in a Musical (“Maybe Happy Ending”) and Sherzinger, as Best Actress in a Musical (“Sunset Boulevard”). Their presence was part of the ritual of passing down the crowns to this year’s victors in the same categories.

Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger, key Tony presenters.

Lest you forget, Criss spent his early childhood in Hawaii; Scherzinger still has family here and has had a notable musical career as the centerpiece of  The Pussycat Dolls.

I haven’t seen any of this year’s winning shows and performers, but I’ve been researching the slate of attractions, since I’m heading to The Big Apple in July to see some of the shows, and already have secured tickets to many titles with toe-tapping energy, including “Schmigadoon,” the parody of “Brigadoon,” which snagged four trophies including Best Musical.

Ann Harada, in the ensemble of “Schimagadoon.”

And drum roll, please; another island tr!ouper —Ann Harada (no relation), a Punahou grad –is in the “Schimagadoon” ensemble. Yippee!

Other new musicals I’ll catch: “The Lost Boys”  (four Tonys) and “Cats: the Jellicle Ball” (three Tonys). Will experience “Titanique”  (the Celine Dion-“Titanic” parody) — nominated for Best Musical.

Will see “Oh, Mary” for the first time, but will revisit “Moulin Rouge” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the latter a pared-down version (“Harry” originally was a two-show attraction).

Was curious about the  “Beaches” musical, based on the film featuring Bette Midler and her signature hit, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” but without a star wattage, the Broadway version was shuttered when it wasn’t nominated for a Tony.  The cancellation enabled me to buy tickets to “Titanique,” completing my show list.

The Tonys spectacle is truly a wonderment and a revelation: How can producers and backstagers move one show’s sets and sundry performers off the stage, and get another cast and sets placed in an incredibly short time, with the cadence and confidence of a marching band.

This year’s Tony cast also staged several remarkable hits again with on-and-off tempos – “Chicago,” “The Book of Mormon” (back in action in real time, following a theater fire two weeks ago) and “A Chorus Line.” The latter was a singular sensation—a Cassie singing the show biz anthem, “What I Did for Love,” but it would have been a bonanza to have the “One, Singular Sensation” showstopper, but it would have been a miracle chore to assemble singers-dancers dressed in glittery duds and topped with hats. Just a thought…

It’s summertime, and the going’s not easy

Summertime theater-going  dropped in overall grosses for the week ending June 31. An indication: “Wicked,” normally in the top five, took a dive to No.6.

The 2026 Best Play production, however, soared to No. 3 before the Tony Awards this past Sunday (June 7), and likely will inch-up toward the top of the horse race. So will “Schmigadoon,” the just-crowned Best Musical, find its way to the Top 10?

 “Hamilton” managed to be the lone show topping the $2 million level.

As summer vacationers head for Broadway, there should be more see-sawing attendance figures.

The Top 10:

1—”Hamilton,” $2.028 million

2–“The Lion King,”$1.979  million

3—“Death of a Salesman,” $1.35 million

4—“MJ the Musical,” $1.582 million

5—“Oh, Mary,”  $`.534 million

6—“Wicked,” $1.464 million

7—“Ragtime,” $1.300 million

8—“The Lost Boys,” $1.290 million

9—“Aladdin,” $1.196 million

10—“Giant,”  $1.178 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:




And that’s Show Biz…

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‘Thriller’ defines ‘Michael’ biopic

In “Michael,” the biopic with Michael  Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson as the centerpiece, there’s authentic movie magic. Jermaine Jackson’s son is launching a film career, and yep, it’s a stunning mix of emotional acting and enticing impersonation. By end of the flick, you may feel Jaafar isn’t a copycat here; after all, he’s got that DNA to vocalize and dance.

Here are 10 take-aways:

1—“Thriller,” MJ’s iconic Halloween-y vocal/dance, is the No. 1 in the roster rock from the King of Pop’s catalogue. So the precision and enactment of the famous MTV video depended on the dancers learning and reimagining the moves and grooves for the big screen. So yes, “Thriller” is a killer!

Jaafar Jackson, as Michael Jackson: : “Thriller” defines his moves and grooves.

2—“Billie Jean” is a super  duper second-placer. Again, the recreation chills because of the energy and power delivered.

3 – The single-glove lives and shines. Supposedly worn, to shield scars of a developing skin condition. What happened is that the glove became an iconic element of his presence.

Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s cousin as MJ: A star is born.

4 – The moonwalks are plentiful and Jaafar didn’t  create them, but he perfected the glides and bouncing to and fro, and his uncle must be proud that the crown has been sort of unofficially turned over.

Colman Domingo, as Joe Jackson

5—Colman Domingo— as Joseph “Joe” Jackson, MJ’s real-life father — is perfection as the meanie patriarch who belt-whipped the kid in his mentorship of Michael and the Jackson 5. It’s the film’s toughest and most challenging and complex character  – a bad dad – with personal greed in his veins with demonic demands. However, he could earn an Oscar nomination next year.

6 –MJ’s link to Peter Pan and Neverland was real; it explains a lot why he wanted to be forever young.

7 – His at-home zoo was strangely real; peacocks, a giraffe, a snake, a llama and the adorable chimp named Bubbles were among his animal pals depicted. And toys – MJ was a boy-man who loved stuffed figures including Mickey Mouse. And ‘twas cute, when he taught Bubbles how to navigate the Twister gameboard.

8 – As painful it must’ve been in real life, that horrid accident of MJ’s misfortune – his hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial – was a moment of terrifying winching. Yet he persevered, and this misfortune changed  him into a humanitarian supporting hospital burn units.

8 – Missing in action: Janet Jackson. Pourquoi? Marvelous in action: child actor Juliano Valdi(aka Juliano Krue Valdi) as Young Michael at 12: he fibs, saying he’s 8, at one point of the film. Mystiful.

 9—Gasping, screaming, fainting girls are part of the shrieking and adoring fan ship.  Happens quite often in rock shows, dating back to Elvis Presley,  but the hysteria was vital, providing raw energy.

10 –This is Part One of the MJ story; Part Two is coming  — unnecessary, since No. 1 showed and glowed with the MF the world cherished. The sequel will downplay the magic of his music and deal with  MJ’s dark side as a pedophile, with a tangle of accusations and court issues, for sure. This is not “Wicked.” …

One is a Lonely Number

And there was only one again, in the challenging and elistis $2 Million Club. And that’s
“Harry Potter,” again and again and again.

The Top 10:

1—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,”$2.31 million

2—“Hamilton,” $1.94 million

3—“The Lion King,” $1.89 million

4–Every Brilliant Thing,” $1.65 million

5—“Death of a Salesman,”$1.47  million

6—“Chicago,” $1.59 million

7—“MJ the Musical,” $1.35 million

8—“Moulin Rouge,” $2.64 million

9—“Ragtime,” $1.17 million

10—“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” $1.00 million

The entire list, courtesy of the Broadway League:

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Earth, Wind & Fire sets June gig

Earth, Wind & Fire, the legendary pop, soul, blues and rock band, will return to Hawaii for a concert at 8 p.m. June 13 at the Blaisdell Arena.

Because Hawaii residents are still struggling in the aftermath of the recent Kona low rains that flooded numerous sectors across the state, “Rick  Bartalini Presents,” the concert’s presenter, is generously donating a portion of the proceeds to the relief efforts for the storm that left many citizens homeless.

Earth, Wind & Fire: Coming for a concert June 13

Hawaii residents will get first dibs for tickets, which go on sale online at 10 a.m. Friday (April 3) at www.tickertmaster.com  and continue till 9 a.m. April 10. Prices have not yet been announced and there is an eight-ticket limit to buy early. Mainland sales will begin at 10 a.m. April 10. The Blaisdell box office opens at 10 a.m. April 10.

The group has a special history with Hawaii, where it has staged numerous concerts dating back to 1975. One of the memorable performances has been inside Diamond Head Crater. Over the decades, the band has performed in numerous concerts at Blaisdell, the last time on Dec.10, 2022, when its sold-out tally was 7,200 fans.

Earth, Wind & Fire has been a prolific group, with numerous chartbusters including “September,” “Reasons” and “Let’s Groove.”

Hula laurels for Robert

Kudos for Robert Cazimero

Following his two concerts at Paliku Theatre, singer-kumu hula Robert Cazimero flew to Okinawa to stage a show for a teacher he met many years ago. It was a quickie in-and-out event, and he was off to Tokyo for a belated birthday party “because we couldn’t celebrate last year”…

And Cazimero must be doing something right. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs honored him for his lifetime service and enduring legacy, citing his devotion and support for sharing hula and mele on the global stage. “His work has elevated hula and grounded us in place, memory and identity,” the office said in a resolution…

Shows around town…

Sandy Tsukiyama: Brazil calls.

Multi-talented singer Sandy Tsukiyama will be featured in “Brasileiro: The Music of Sergio Mendes,” in two shows hosted by DeShannon Higa, at 5 and 8 p.m. April 18 at Kapono’s at The Lounge in Hawaii Kai. The mood will be Brazilian soul, with its infectious rhythms and grooves incorporating jazz and pop. Tickets: http:kaponosatthelounge.com/…

You can spend Easter Sunday on the waterfront, when the trio Maunalua, led by Bobby Moderow Jr., presents two shows at Kapono’s at the Lounge at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday April 5. The group is known for its traditional Hawaiian music with rich vocal harmonies and cherished slack key guitar vibes. It should be told that Maunalua owes its name to the bay in East Oahu fronting the club and other merchants and residents in Hawaii Kai and the Portlock area…

Gail Mack, Lance Luke, Keith Hiraoka and Bobby Nishida will concertize in an Easter concert from 5 to  8 p.m. Easter Sunday (April 5) at Mango Street Grill in Wahiawa. For reservations, call Daryl at (808) 627-5451. And if you so desire, pre-order a prime rib meal at the same time…

And that’s Show Biz…

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LUMINOUS OUTING FOR CAZIMERO, HALAU

Robert Cazimero’s “A Ko‘olau Au,” his two-show spectacle Sunday (March 22) at Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College, was a luminous, ambitious endeavor saluting the Ko‘olaus and the Windward side.

On a rainy, wet day, this was a sunny diversion, jam-packed with Hawaiian artistry and mele.

Robert Cazimero, at the keyboard, in Paliku Theatre show.

Cazimero, kumu hula of hālau Nā Kamalei O Lililehua, assembled his dancing and singing gents performing hula kahiko and  ‘auana.  The afternoon resembled his pair of shows last October at the Leeward Community College Theatre, when Cazimero performed a matinee and evening concerts in a fund-raiser that celebrated the hula hālau’s victory in last year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.

Because I didn’t request a playlist of performance numbers at Paliku, this reflection won’t provide specific titles of oli or mele in the impressive and innovative program with a cache of superb guest artists.

The m.o. (modus operandi) seemed to be, if kumu asks, you come without hesitation. How else could he assemble such first-class guests with repertoire to share?

Kumu hula Vicky Holt Takamine

Then again, Cazimero’s degree of excellence is well known and his peers share that kind of allure, so they participate as honorable guests. Take the four guest kumu hula: Vicky Holt Takamine of  Hālau Pua Ali‘i (aka Pa‘i Foundation), Mapuna di Silva of Hālau Mohala ‘Ilima, Kuana Torres Kahele of Hālau Māluakiʻiwailehua (and allied with four other groups), and Michael Lanakila Casupang of Mid Pacific Institute’s student hālau Pupukahi I Ke Alo Na Pua.

Mid-Pacific Institute dancers, in modern hula moment.,

Casupang’s MPI dancers are unique, comprised of students in grades 9 through 12, and rendering a stunning style, combining kahiko with modern style often  with balletic moves.

Jerry Santos with papale.

The show’s most popular guest had to be Jerry Santos of Olomana, performing with his usual ally, Kamuela Kimokeo. And the most popular tune clearly had to be Santos’s “E Kuu Home O Kahalu‘u,” with its taunting, prolong slack key guitar intro. The twosome also shared another Olomana classic, “E Kuu Sweet Lei Po‘ina Ole” with finesse. Note to Uncle Jerry, who’s been donning a papale in shows:  Better to take off, bro, ‘cuz  cannot see your face ‘neath the shadow.

As a hana hou or sorts, veteran hula soloist  Kanoe Kaumeheiwa Miller – who performed in Cazimero’s October Leeward shows – returned for a quick dance. And this factoid will follow her through life: she is the only wahine who is officially one of the “boys” of Nā Kamalei, because of a long-time friendship with kumu. Besides, she’s great – she used to be the solo hula artist at the Halekulani Hotel, after all.

Na Kamalei gents, in hula ‘auana,.

And the Royal Hawaiian Dancers, hula soloists back in the day when the Brothers Cazimero made appearances at the hotel, so they’re part of the Cazimero history, and Sky Perkins Gora still hulas regularly with RC at his Chef Chai’s performances. And if you’re a Chai’s patron, you’d recognize Keola “Bully” Makaiau, too, in all the ensemble numbers. And if you’ve noticed, a few new, young lads are in the Nā Kamalei line-up  and the elder dancer participation are fewer and fewer in these rigorous outings.

Na Kamalei gents, in hula kahiko..

Nā Kamalei troupers continue to impress, with stunning group hula, and always clad in terrific costumes, from aloha shirts to malos. For a kahiko dance, the gents had unique all-black shirts and pants, with black (or very dark brown) kukui nut lei.  And some of the guys also performed on ipu, which they mastered while studying hula. Kudos for the fashion show, gents.

The house  band was Bob’s Boys, hand-picked musician allies of Cazimero, featuring his Kamehameha Schools best-buddy, Kaipo Hale, plus Richard and Keola. Sorry guys, I still don’t know your last names. But all provide solid support and it’s likely you’re gonna be Cazimero’s regular band.

The Wāhea Foundation sponsored these shows, as they did for the Leeward outings…

And that’s Show Biz…