Category: Show Biz

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MVT NEW HOME FOR HORSE, ANGEL

Comedian Frank DeLima has donated a horse and an angel to Manoa Valley Theatre.

Well, yes… and no.

DeLima discovered he had  costumes of a horse and angel amid his collection, storage for which had become an issue. So he wanted the items to reach a good home, and called MVT to donate the rare gear. And the theater accepted. Now it owns a horse and an angel.
“The horse has a front and a back end,” DeLima said. It was a costume intended for a Japanese show with samurai, which never reached fruition.

“The angel is huge – 8 feet – and since I can’t stand for a long time, I can’t use it any longer,” he said.

Frank DeLima

The horse never was in a show of his. But the angel made one Christmas appearance, in a Christmas production co-starring Glenn Medeiros at the Polynesian Palace years ago.

So there are warm memories of both costumes.

“I think I bought the horse, but the angel was designed by Kathe James,” DeLima recalled.F

So who knows? Some day the horse may trot out onto the MVT stage. The angel’s fate is not known, but she already is a blessing no matter the season…

A celebrity couple

Vanessa Lachey, tapped to portray Jane Tennant in CBS’s “NCIS: Hawai’i,” is married to boy band singer Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees. Which begs the question: will his celebrity factor in on hers?

Vanessa Lachey

Vanessa Lachey is making history in the “NCIS” orbit as the first and so far only female to lead an NCIS task force. In the mothership original, Mark Harmon is chief; in the Los Angeles version, LL Cool J and Chris O’Connell share the leadership; in the outgoing New Orleans rendering, Scott Bakula is honcho.

Besides singing, Nick Lachey also has been an actor/host on TV, co-hosting Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” with the missus, and appeared in The WB’s “Charmed.”  Will he appear as an actor in “NCIS” here? He’s certain to have a SAG membership. Will he corral his 98 Degrees buddies to concertize here? The possibilities are unlimited. …

Moonlight serenade

Robert Cazimero is gearing up for yet another Moonlight Concert, at 7  p.m. May 27 at Chef Chai’s on Kapiolani Boulevard. A sit-down feast is served from 6 p.m.

The monthly performance features hula, too, but the joy is the unknown factor about Cazimero’s songlist. Hawaiian? Hapa-haole? Standards? He does ‘em all, a key reason the moonlight serenades work for him and for restaurateur Chai Chaowasaree.

Next one: June 24. …

Tickets: $95 at https://chefchai.com …

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And that’s “Show Biz.” …

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DANIEL DAE KIM, MAN OF ALL REASONS

Daniel Dae Kim, 52, has emerged as one of show business’ most active players, at unimaginable tiers both on screen and off.

We locals best know him from his role as Jin-Soo Kwon in ABC’s “Lost” and more recently as Chin Ho Kelly in CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0.” Both were filmed in Hawaii, establishing Kim as a powerhouse figure, and giving him island roots in the process.

Since then, he’s been all over the map –a man of all reasons.

I saw him several years ago, portraying the King of Siam, in Lincoln Theatre’s award-winning Broadway musical, the beloved “King and I.” He also did a stint in London.

After “Five-0,” he distinguished himself as a TV producer-actor via his 3AD production company, tapping a Korean drama and retrofitting the storyline to America in ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” still on the air.

He’s been a TV figure for an incredible 35 years now, a rarity among Asian Americans in an industry favoring mostly white, and more recently black, thanks to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Daniel Dae Kim, on the cover of New York magazine’s Culture Pages.

Of Korean descent, he’s become perhaps the most visible face and voice of the current Asian American hate front, speaking with clarity and earnest about the hate crimes that have targeted innocent Asians in racially motivated physical attacks.

No wonder he’s been tagged as The Diplomat, in an April interview in New York magazine’s The Culture Pages, where he discussed his zeal to combat inequities in salaries. Perhaps the most successful alumni of the “Five-0” cast, he (joined by colleague Grace Park, who played Kono Kalakaua) walked away from the show in protest of paychecks smaller than their two other white leads, Alex McLoughlin and Scott Caan, in a situation where the four actors were, in reality, an ensemble.

Kim and Grace Park, in “Hawaii Five-0.)

As a producer, Kim is quoted, “Now, whenever I develop a show, I specify right off the top what ethnicity the lead is,” making salaries tantamount to intention.

He will have the lead role of Matthew Ryker in National Geographic Channel’s “The Hot Zone: Anthrax.”

His credits are vast and varied. He played Ben Daimio in “Hellboy,” has a recurring role in NBC’s “New Amsterdam” as Dr. Cassian Shin.

He was heard but not seen in the animated “She-Ra and the Princess of Power” and “Raya and the Last Dragon.” And he’s been filming episodes—not yet released — of the animated “Pantheon,” portraying David. Gamers may know him from a series of video games.

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

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MOTHER’S DAY FACEBOOKING

Drew and Colton Bright, sons of Clarke and Jade Bright, sent their mom a special, lasting floral bouquet for Mother’s Day.

Jade Bright, with Mother’s Day Lego florals made by sons Drew and Colton

‘Twas fashioned from Lego bricks, so it took some time and effort to shape and make. Proves that the Bright siblings are not only stage-savvy, but they’re also adept in plastics, too.

Of course, proud grandma Mo Bright, widow of the beloved stage director Ron Bright, posted a pic of the creation on Facebook. …then Jade confessed that she provided the kit for her sons. Hey, if it works, why not?

Glenn Medeiros, Saint Louis School president, was at home on Mother’s Day, at his keyboards. So why not serenade and singing and self-accompany himself, rendering a sweet version of “Where Is Love,” an appropriate but underrated ballad from the musical, “Oliver.”

He’s still got his pipes. And charm. Check it out on Facebook. …

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After Medici, New York

Entertainer Shari Lynn is prepping for another gig at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace this month. She takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 21, at the Manoa Marketplace venue. Doors open at 6 p.m. for pre-performance dinner.

Shari Lynn

Tickets are $59, include dinner, plus a handling fee. Visit https://medicismanoa.com for tickets.

By the end of May, Shari and hubby Michael Acebedo will be celebrating their wedding anniversary with a romantic lakeside dinner at Central Park’s Boathouse restaurant. It’s a belated 45th celebration, since they wed in June, and the trip had to be delayed because of the pandemic. So the dinner will be an early celebration for No. 46 this year….

For Shari, this won’t be a theater-watching visit since the bulk of the Broadway reopenings won’t be ready till fall. Still, when you’re in The Big Apple, there’s still a lot to do and engage in. …

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Strumming duo

You never know who shows up and presents an unplanned mini-concert.

When Rick Ornellas was at the Kahala Mkt recently, he encountered a first-class ukulele performance by dual strummers Jake Shimabukuro and Herb Ohta Jr.

Visitors-diners s at the MKT’s restaurant were treated to an impromptu performance – a lucky happenstance, natch.

Shimabukuro recently was on Henry Kapono’s Blue Note tribute to the late Don Ho, and the strumming doubled as a trickle-over post-show salute to Uncle Don. Yes, we remember him, too. …

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Got tidbits? Share ‘em…

I’ve been getting emails from folks who wonder how to get into this rebooted column.

Best way: email me at wayneharada@gmail.com, with notes and quotes you deem interesting to share with peers and readers. Or put together a graph or two, if you’re doing a concert or project. Submit items a week to 10 days before an event, to allow time to publicize here; data may be included in occasional Date Book calendar listings. This still is a work-in-progress website. Mahalo…

And that’s “Show Biz”: …

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JOHNSON’S ‘YOUNG ROCK’ EXTENDED

Dwayne Johnson’s “Young Rock,” the sorta doc-sitcom on NBC, has been renewed for a second season.

Dwayne Johnson

Johnson, a Hawaii native, is up there in popularity; “Young Rock” is rated the No. 2 comedy in the valuable 18 to 49 demographics, and surely, his stature as a Hollywood Big Name is the key to the success of this giddy venture.

The series explores the youthful years of the dude who would become The Rock and then the centrifugal force of cinematic action dramas laced with a bit of comedy.

Doesn’t hurt, of course, that he appears on “Young Rock” and also is part of the producing team with tongue firmly in cheek.

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Name game

Laprete

Laprete, formerly known as Aidan James and also Aidan James Powell, continues to Wemerge as an actor, musician, composer, instrumentalist, recording artist and TV star. With quite an expanding list of credits, it’s amazing that he’s only 19, though he’s been strumming ukulele since he was a toddler.

Named after his mom, TV producer Angie Laprete, he will be seen in Amazon Prime’s “The Wilds,” Season 2 of the YA survival series, filmed in Australia,  previously with females, soon to be focusing on males.  Laprete will appear as Henry Tanaka.

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Horace Dudoit III

All in the ‘ohana

Horace Dudoit III and his Ho’okena group will be heard harmonizing and lending vocal support to country music star Josh Turner’s holiday album this winter.

Turner enlised Dudoit and his buddies to guest-sing on “Mele Kalikimaka, My ‘Ohana,” one of the tracks on Turner’s album.

The connection began when Turner asked Dudoit for kokua, to assist with some of the Hawaiiana in the holiday song.

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And that’s “Show Biz.” …