Category: Show Biz

Bruno Mars, barkeep?

Hawaii’s superstar, a big draw as a showroom star in Las Vegas, is the barkeep of The Pinky Ring, a ritzy new lounge at the Bellagio resort on the strip on Monday (Feb. 12).

To elevate the opening night, Mars’ long-time band, The Hooligans, will be the resident band for two weeks only. Hmmmm, would Mars take a mike, to share his uptown funk moves, at The Pinky Ring?

“I’ve been performing in Vegas for years, and I’ve always wanted a place where I could throw glamorous parties when I’m in town,” Mars (pictured) said when the project plans first were announced.
“A place that felt like my personal penthouse suite, with live music and sensational cocktails. The Pinky Ring is that,” he said.

The Pinky Ring is located on Bellagio’s casino floor  where Lily Bar & Lounge once occupied.

Hours will be from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  Entertainment will include all kinds of music…

Two more restaurant closures

Sorry to report the upcoming closures of two restaurants.

Paisano, the popular Italian restaurant at Manoa Marketplace, will be shutting down Feb. 17 after 32 years. For theater goers like me, who usually dined there before a Manoa Valley Theatre show, Paisano was a tradition for a hearty, delish dinner before theater. Yes, there are a few other restaurants at the marketplace, but none with the quality of food and swiftness of service. The closure is due to issues with the owner’s health, since no one is able to take over the operations.

Haili’s Hawaiian Food, a popular dine-in, take-out restaurant in Kapahulu, will close in June. Other details are not known…

Super troupers

This is Super Bowl weekend, with Usher (pictured0 headling the halftime show on Sunday, when Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs take on Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers.

To me, Bruno Mars staged the best, most entertaining and cohesive show, with only his band, The Hooligans, pumping up the pulse. No backup singers, no chorus of hoofers, no assembly of marchers/dancers to fill the field and/or multiple stages. And no aerial entrance. or animal prop to trot in. No need. Just Bruno.

So who drew the largest at-home TV audiences at earlier Super Bowls?

The Top 10, with year and viewership:

1—Rihanna, 2023, 121.017 million

2 —Katy Perry, 2015, 121 million.

3–Lady Gaga, 2017,  117.5 million.

4—Coldplay, 2016, 115.5 million.

5–Bruno Mars, 2014,  115.3 million.

6–Madonna, 2012, 114 million.

7–Beyoncé, 2013, 110.8 million.

8– Black Eyed Peas, 2011, 110.2 million.

9–Justin Timberlake, 2018, . 106.6 million.

10—Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, 104 million.

It’s a coveted gig, and only elitist acts get invited to do the party. They’re’s no paycheck for this honor, only the joy of publicity and viewership…

‘Lion King’ back to No.. 1 on Broadway

On Broadway, “The Lion King” has roared back to reclaim No. 1 on the list of grosses:

1 – “The Lion King,” $1,666 million.
2—“Hamilton,” $1,656 million.

3— “Wicked,” $1,602 million

4 — “Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,517 million.

5 —  “MJ The Musical,” $1,317 million.

6 – “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,517 million.

7—“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,113 million.

8 – “Aladdin,” $1,068 million.
9 – “& Juliet,” $1,o10 million.

10—”Back to the Future: The Musical,” $953,000.

And here’s the complete rundown of shows and grosses, courtesy The Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

Veteran island entertainers Gail Mack and Brickwood Galuteria have collaborated on a melodic and charming mele entitled “My Tūtū and Me,” which is an homage to the bond between kūpuna and their moʻopuna.

Kūpuna, Hawaiian for grandparents, often are domestic first-responders, caring for their moʻopuna, Hawaiian for grandchildren. In many homes and lives, there’s customarily a warm bond between grandpa and/or grandma and the grandkids, so this song magnifies the magical relationship between elders and keiki.

Galuteria (pictured left) currently  a trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, composed “My Tūtū and Me,” which he produced with Kūpuna Power. Galuteria has been a long-time radio and television personality, a musician, a songwriter, and a former state senator.

“My Tūtū and Me,” featuring the voice of Mack (pictured right) was inspired by the Partners in Development Foundation’s “Tūtū and Me” traveling school. Mack is widely known as a member of George Street, and is annually heard on radio performing her yuletide hit, “

“Christmas Once More in Hawaii.”

“Grandparents offer their grandchildren love, acceptance, patience, stability, wisdom, fun, and support, which positively affects a child’s well-being,” said Galuteria. “This song is dedicated to grandparents and grandchildren throughout Hawaii and beyond.”

The special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren “is like a beautiful friendship that defies age and generations,” said Galuteria.

Mack added, “It’s such a nice message and for  a good cause.”  

“The sacred connection between kūpuna and moʻopuna is a gift that brings so much joy and insight to both young and old, creating heartfelt memories that last a lifetime,” said Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni, who is president and CEO of Partners in Development Foundation.
Clearly, the new song likely will connect and reverberate  with preschoolers impacted by the ongoing work of the foundation.

Sheet music of “Tūtū and Me” song and lyrics.

The Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool serves Native Hawaiian families with keiki ages from birth to age 5 in underserved communities on the five major islands of Hawaii. The program strives to meet a family’s educational and emotional needs so keiki will enter school ready to learn and succeed.

“It’s such a nice message and for a good cause,” said Mack of the music and the mission of the foundation.

It’s also the perfect song for Grandparents Day, which is Sept. 8 this year.

Mack, who has been performing at Mango Street Grill in Wahiawa with Gordon Kim, reports that after 43 years together, Kim has retired from live performances. “He’s had problems with arthritis in his fingers for a while and feels he can’t play his guitar up to the standards he would like.”

Kim bowed out in December but plans to continue writing music. “Very sad for me,” said Mack…

And that’s Show Biz…

Singer Shari Lynn and her pianist companion Jim Howard launched a Saturday jazz format last year at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Paradise Lounge located in the hotel’s Rainbow Tower.

But all that jazz will come to an end this weekend, but appropriately, Shari (pictured below) and Jim will bring down the proverbial curtain this Saturday night (Jan. 27), since the hotel is changing to a Hawaiian format in the space in February.

In a town with many jazz stylists – vocalists and instrumentalists – but not enough jazz venues, it’s a shame. Hilton’s plan to resume Hawaiian music in the Paradise Lounge beginning February is not a bad tradeoff, since Waikiki hotels should offer island music, too. But the hotel doesn’t adequately promote the acts in this hide-away locale, so it’s rough going here.

The Paradise, clearly, is not so paradise-y, in that it is unabashedly a pass-through-corridor for visitors going to or coming from dinner. I’ve been there earlier when some walkers actually cross right in front of the performers. Further, the space has only a few seats where viewers can see the entertainers; two large pillars, which obviously help hold up the tower of hotel rooms, suggest that singers and listeners were not the intended tenants in the zone.

Word-of-mouth advertising – you know, the coconut wireless – has kept the club operational, with rotating jazz stylists like Ginai, Rachel Gonzales, Bruce Hamada, and  Tommy James on Saturday nights. Even vacationing warblers like Mary Gutzi has added credence and joy to the menu.

Jan Brenner has been the agent juggling the acts for gigs in the club for the past year. She’s looking for a possible jazz nook elsewhere. Meantime, Shari will set anchor at Medici’s at the Manoa  Marketplace, likely on March 2, with hopes of a once-a-month residency. Bassist John Kolivas will join Shari and Jim at Medici’s…

Pre-Grammy events at Kani Ka Pila Grille

Mahina Mele, a musical series from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (Jan. 25, 26 and 27) at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef Hotel, will be a preview of the forthcoming Grammy Week event in Los Angeles.

Ho’okena’s Horace Dudoit III, Glen H.K. Smith and Chris Kamaka, left, and Jeff Peterson, right.

The slate:

• Thursday, Kawika Kahiapo and Kainani Kahaunaele.
• Friday, Kahiau Lam Ho with Kala’e and Kalena Parish.
• Saturday, previous Grammy nominees Ho‘okena with Jeff Peterson.

Pruden celebration of life is set

That earlier-announced celebration of life event for the late actress, Jo Pruden (pictured right) will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Manoa Valley Theatre. The beloved actress, often known as “The First Lady of Hawaii Theater,” died Jan. 10 at her Mililani home following a long illness. She was 84.

Her husband, Jip Pruden, is creating a commemorative T-shirt featuring a Corky Trinidad cartoon of Jo, with proceeds to be shared by MVT and TAG (The Actors Group), where Jo did most of her late-in-life acting and Readers Theatre performances…

Samson service will be private

According to folks in the know, the family of the late Kit Samson (pictured), the versatile and likeable leader of the Sound Advice group, indicate that the service will be small and private, restricted to family. It was unknown, if the service has already been held, or coming up shortly.

Samson , who was 89, led his show and dance combo for nearly a quarter of a century at the original Kahala Hilton, and helped put the posh resort on the map, the first outside of the traditional Waikiki tourism zone. His keyboard dynamics and low-profile personality, coupled with Danny Kaleikini starring at the next-door Hala Terrace, made for a dynamic combo.

His first gig was at the Waikiki Biltmore, run by his family, which was eventually developed into the Hyatt Regency Waikiki by Chris Hemmeter on  prime Waikiki real estate. Samson moved to the Kahala resort , which was to become the hub for vacationing notables and continues to attract celebrities now.

Because Samson and his Sound Advice were anchored in the Maile Lounge, which had to be accessed to get to the fabled Maile Restaurant, the music quickly became a passport and passageway to the restaurant. With his vast repertoire and  ability to recognize a “name” walking through the corridors, Samson commonly played a theme song associated with the star.

The Sound Advice originally featured  Anna Lea, who was  followed by Connie Kissinger, though numerous female vocalists had the privilege to chirp in  his spotlight.

Samson became fast friends with another poet of the piano, Roger Williams, of “Autumn Leaves” success, who visited Samson at his Kahala home and autographed Kit’s piano, and Burt Bacharach, the composer of numerous hit songs, who obliged to man the keyboards one night…

‘Lion’ again is king of the Broadway jungle

“The Lion King” is back where it used to be, ruling over the Broadway jungle. Missing from the Top Ten: “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Eking in a slot: “& Juliet.”

Here’s the Top Ten grosses, for the week ending Jan. 21:

1 – “The Lion King,” $1,813 million.

2—“Hamilton,” $1,762 million.

3–“Wicked,” $1,695 million.

4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,688 million.

5 –“MJ The Musical,” $1,436 million.

6—”Gutenberg! The Musical!,” $1,163 million.

7—”Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,076 million.

8 – “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,074 million.

9—” Aladdin,” $1,051 million.

10—”& Juliet,” $974 million.

The full list of shows and grosses, courtesy The Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz …