Category: Show Biz

Posted on

TRI-CROSSOVER ‘NCIS’ SET JAN. 2


What’s better than one crossover TV show? How about a three-way networking?

The online buzz, confirmed by recent CBS promos, is that the first-ever three-way crossover is set involving the three remaining “NCIS” shows  in the procedural’s stable on Jan. 2, dominating prime time from 7 to 10 p.m. that evening.

The three-hour-long block will assemble teams from the three shows who will unite in Washington, DC, to celebrate a FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) professor, who trained members from each squad. On the eve of the celebration, the prof is discovered dead of an apparent suicide and his former students immediately suspect foul play.

Familiar “NCIS” regulars, gathered for the triple crossover shows airing Jan 2.

First up, “NCIS” and its episode, entitled “Too Many Cooks,” where the teams will come together and sort out investigative strategies.

“Hawai’i” is next up at bat, via “Deep Fake,” where some agents will find themselves captured while some find assets arriving in the islands that could be connected to several overseas assassinations.

“L.A.” is the finale, with an episode called “A Long Time Coming,” with agents find themselves ambushed with each with a $200,000 bounty on their head.

One night, three thrillers and teams, proving there’s strength in numbers, with CBS banking on high ratings from the Good Ship NCIS. Remember when the flagship procedural gave birth to three other series: “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” and “NCIS: Hawai‘i” (New Orleans has been cancelled).

Mark Harmon

It would be a coup, if the flagship original show’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs –that would be Mark Harmon, who led the investigations as special agent Gibbs over 18 seasons – might be aboard, too. But it’s unlikely, since he has not been an on-camera regular for the past two seasons, though he has been credited as an executive producer for most of the run. He wanted out after season18, but remained for two appearances in season 19, to assure CBS to remain committed to the franchise.

Spoiler! Online buzz theorizes that a body bag figures in the crossover, with an unthinkable and unsettling discovery!

There have been some crossovers involving three shows still airing on three other fronts. The networks haven’t been toasting a three-bie  involving the trio of  “Chicago,” “FBI” and “Law and Order” franchises. One doctor or cop or fireman or investigator have made quick cameos in these camps. …

Sight ‘ems

Melanie Tojio Lockyer

I bumped into New York theater couple local actress-director Melanie Tojio Lockyer (“Miss Saigon,” “Allegiance”) and her actor husband Peter Lockyer (“Miss Saigon,” “Les Miserables,” “Chicago”) at the opening of “The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled last weekend at Mamiya Theatre. They’re holidaying here to visit her family but enjoyed a reunion of the holiday musical’s co-creators, Kyle Kakuno and Roslyn Catracchia. …

At the recent Randy Rainbow concert at Hawaii Theatre, he asked the audiences during a Q&A moment, where he might find nightlife action following his concert. Several in the audience shouted “Hula’s,” and it was uncertain if Rainbow knew this was a gay hangout. I ran into Hula’s proprietor Jack Law, after the show, in a nearby parking garage, and he was all smiles. “Quite a plug,” said Law. Not likely that the comedian/parodist made the trek after the show. …

Broadway grosses, week ending Dec. 4

While “The Music Man” remains No. 1 as the top-grossing Broadway show with $3.083 million last week, “The Lion King” roared to the tune of $2.162 million for No. 2 creds, leaving “Hamilton” at No. 3 with a respectable $2.083 million.

Such is the see-sawing rankings, courtesy The Broadway League.

The numbers:

And that’s Show Biz. …

Posted on

HISTORIC 8-WEEK RUN FOR ‘HAMILTON’

“Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s highly anticipated musical that embraces hip-hop and rap to depict the  history and climate of the nation’s founding fathers, opens a historic eight-week run tonight (Dec. 7) at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

 The show — which has won 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), the Grammy Award for Best Musical, and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama –is the first Broadway musical ever to be booked for an extended run through Jan. 29. Most shows are in and out of town for two, maybe three weeks, so this is a biggie. Hope Hawaii supports this mammoth endeavor.

I have seen the show twice at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway, once with the original cast that featured the beloved creator who did the book, music and lyrics.

I have fond memories of the first time, when Miranda was the lead. It was so difficult and expensive to secure tickets then, because of high demand and the frustration of elevated ticket prices. Long story short: I had to pay $750 per ticket ($1,500 for a pair) and the seats were in the second-to-the-last-row in the balcony, where you almost could touch the ceiling!  But worth it, what with the anticipation and expectation of a high-profile show.

My second visit was in Chicago, when local boy Joseph Morales was portraying the Sunday matinees at the Private Bank Theatre (now renamed). He since has assumed the Hamilton role in an ongoing national tour for nearly three years, criss-crossing the U.S. and earning hurrahs, before the pandemic and since all theatrical shows resumed tours.

The third time was again in New York, when Big Islander Marc delaCruz was in the ensemble and understudying the Hamilton and other roles before the pandemic.

Here’s the rub: Wherever you sit or whomever plays the title role, it’s highly likely you’ll be charmed.

DeAundre Woods is “Hamilton.”
Joan Marcus photo

The show has been a leader in diverse casting, with Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and others singing and dancing among white actors. Don’t be stunned if George Washington is an African American.

In the production here, DeAundre Woods will play Hamilton.

And if you think you’ve seen “Hamilton,” since you watched that luscious and revealing filmed version on Disney+, you really haven’t. Like the promos airing on TV say, to truly appreciate the show, you have “be in the room where it happens,” meaning in a theater. The film had bonuses of close-ups and aerial shots, but theater means being there in the flesh.

I will be taking in three performances here, for different reasons; I’ll attend a media performance on Thursday (Dec. 8), and also on Saturday (Dec. 10 is my season ticket slot). But I’ll be in the room where it happens again on Dec. 21, when I’m inviting my nephew, who will be spending Christmas in Hawaii, on a break from his Army duties at Ft. Bragg, N.C.


Some general advice and tidbits, for first-timers at the show:

  • Get acclimated in advance to the cadence and rhythm of the hip-hop raps. If you saw the Disney film, great; you know the flavor and tempos. If not, secure a CD to listen to the numbers before attending. In other words, prepare for your investment in tickets and time.
  • This visiting cast is dubbed “And Peggy.” That’s the name of the tour, with other companies also boasting a different code name.
  •  There’s a marvel of techie stuff on the single set, which has multiple movements to fit the needs; all shows (assuming And Peggy, too) utilize a turntable revolving stage that’s part of the choreographic modes.
  • King George (a delightful character) appears in the show twice, so his big number, “I’ll Be Back,” rings true. FYI, his crown weighs 2 ½ lbs. and conceals his mike. You’ll adore him.
  • A catwalk will fly in-between acts, so if you’re in the house, look for this set installation. Be in the house when it happens.
  •  “Hamilton” is the lone show, one of four in the Broadway in Hawaii season, which employs mobile tickets for non-season sales. Season subscribers had “hard” tickets mailed to buyers; if you ordered via Ticketmaster or the Blaisdell box office, you’ll have to transfer your tickets to your mobile phone for entry. (Those without iPhones can complete ticketing at the box office on the night or day of the performance).
  • “Hamilton” has a special color for some costumes, including the lead actor’s coats, a tannish tone, dubbed “Hamil-tan.”
  • It takes 13 trailers (53 footers) to transit the show from one city to the next (not certain if those trailers moved via planes or boats).
  • Splurge a little before you exit; secure a souvenir of a memory you won’t forget. On Broadway, I purchased a T-shirt as well as a baseball cap with A. HAM inscribed…

And that’s Show Biz. …

Posted on

‘ALMOST’ NEARLY A CHRISTMAS CHARMER

“Almost,” which means “not quite” or “nearly,” is an operative word in describing “The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled.”

It’s a holiday musical, which opened last night (Dec. 3) at Mamiya Theatre at St. Louis School/Chaminade College, and runs Fridays through Sundays through Dec. 18 as the lone family-friendly theatrical show in Honolulu this Christmas.

It is the premiere endeavor for Mo‘olelo Studios, and it’s almost certainly won’t be its last.

Adoringly written and directed by Kyle Kakuno with a delightful and charming score by Roslyn Catracchia, they also collaborated on the lyrics for the 10 assembled songs.

It’s a big little show, brimming with goodwill and tidings of the season, with potential to prevail as a future or returnee. It’s almost but not quite perfect.

The threat of a no-Christmas agenda emerges when Santa Claus (Matthew Pedersen, delightful with a commanding presence) discovers that he is ill and “burned out,” because of the pace and stress of the yuletide. Mrs. Claus (Callie Doan, comforting and forthright) summons a doctor (Jantzen Shinmoto) to assess the wellness of the man in the red suit. The analysis: Santa needs three months off to rest and recuperate, meaning there could be no Christmas just days ahead.

This is where the “almost” comes in. Santa’s workshop is filled with elves young and older, all concerned about the jolly one’s health and the dilemma of skipping Christmas. These elves are effusive, almost always singing and dancing with good cheer. There almost seems to be a scene missing, where elves help Santa with toy-making to fill his bag for delivery. The production lacks that holidaze hustle-and-bustle within the workshop.

The playbill for “The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled.”

Not that the elves aren’t helping Santa. They make hot chocolate and bake gingerbread cookies, like a kitchen squad,  supported by theme-specific tunes, “There’s Something About Hot Chocolate” and “Gingerbread Cookies.”

Can’t argue about the singing; the cast boasts expressive, impressive voices that underscore the excitement about providing nourishment for ill Santa. While Alexandria Zinov’s choreography is brisk and fills the stage, it doesn’t jingle with the Christmas spirit.

The ranks are filled with sweet and lively elves, with fairy tale names like Shinny (Poasa Aga), Gander (Christopher Casupang), Bushy (Samuel Tafolo), Alabaster (Sanoe Harris), Pepper  (Isaiah Castillo), Wunorse (La Faamausili-Siliato) and Sugarplum (Ka‘iulani Iaea), with their nationalities clearly reflecting diverse casting.

Catracchia’s songs like “I Believe in You” (sung by Iaea and Casupang) and “Christmas Magic” (rendered by Harris and Faamausili-Siliato and the elves) properly uphold the season’s messages and tidings. The merriment is perfect, not almost.

As the Narrator, Isaac Kapono Chock shares a welcoming spirit and presence, from his perch next to a Letters-to-Santa mailbox.

Now here’s a minor quibble, almost like a half-cup full, half-cup empty matter on whether Christmas is cancelled or not. It depends on where you are in the world– in Santa’s onstage workshop home or elsewhere around the world.

The bottom-line theme — that wellness and good health are equally important in your life — resonates with a feel-good aura. Almost makes you want to sing your favorite Christmas carol.

Hearty kudos to the production team. There’s periodic snow falling in the show, and Santa gets aboard his red sleigh (looks like Rudolph’s on sick leave) and the sleigh takes flight as the curtain falls. And that handy-dandy playbill listing cast and credits, is joyful and triumphant, a keepsake for the cast ensemble for years to come. The producers do everything right here.

Tip: After you exit, kids may take photos with Santa in the theater lobby; outside in the courtyard, there’s a free snowflake light show (nighttime) and more faux snow, plus hot cocoa with marshmallows (yummy!), gingerbread cookies and s’mores kits for purchase, for a merry show extra.

 *.  *   *


“The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled”


Showtimes: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 6 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 18.

Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for students, at www.moolelostudios.com
extra.

 *.  *   *

And that’s Show Biz. …

Posted on

RAINBOW CONNECTION: 10 TAKE-AWAYS

Randy Rainbow last night (Dec. 2) concluded his months-long Pink Glasses tour at the Hawaii Theatre. And it was an effervescent, eclectic and entertaining evening.

Rainbow (his real name)  combines live singing with his famous pre-recorded YouTube videos targeting mostly bad-behaving folks in the political spectrum. Thus, his act is a blend of glowing stand-up comedy with charming crooning, with guffaws and slams at the naughtiness in the spectrum of politics.

Ten take-aways from the giddy fun:

1 – Rainbow lives up to his self-acclaimed hype as the queen of political parodies. He is undoubtedly gay to the max, and is proud and out and simply sells his brand with flair and finesse. He’s simultaneously witty and gritty and he eloquently and occasionally speaks French (f-bombs and s-words galore), delivered in the spirit of entertaining fun.

2 – He’s a clothes horse, trotting in wearing a handsome and glittering black tux, accessorized with a mammoth pink feather boa, with glittering pink shoes; he exited in a chic pink suit adored with his trademark pink eyeglasses. In-between, he changed outfits several times, including a pajama-like number with a flowing and matching silk-like robe.

The many faces of Rainbow, in this video clip from his show.

3— A Broadway musical fan from small-kid time, he’s adopted many tunes from a roster of hit shows to hand-pick songs to suit his needling goals. Clearly, he’s the master of his craft, a brilliant lyricist with a knack to make each parody a mini-movie, complete with multiple voice-overs and choreography.

4 –Based on his numerous darts on Donald Trump, he likely helped Orangeface become the president. On his usual home front – the internet – Rainbow has been kingpin, demonstrating a keen representation of style, slams and silliness. Thus, weaving in his earlier clips was vital to complement his live show.

Donald Trump is Randy Rainbow’s favorite target.

5—He’s quite a name-dropper, familiar with the political wizards as well as the snakes. The targets included Ivanka, Jared Kushner, Donald Jr., Giuliani, Hawley, et al.

6—He’s unafraid of working in words like vagina  and penis (in reflections of Trump’s infamous revelation of itchy fingers and size) in adult-aimed shots, and he also is precise in picking out specific truisms of politics, like his funny line about Mitch McConnell’s neck nearly swallowing his face, and Kellyanne Conway’s coining of her  incredible slogan, Alternative Truth. What dat?

7—In unreeling his parodies, Rainbow is a fierce multi-tasker — interpreter, lyricist, commentator, vocalist, educator. You may think he’s biased against the GOP, but his bits with Dr. Fauci and President Biden show he can geev ‘em to Democrats, too.

8 – He’s a smart pitchman; periodically, he paused to promote his biography and accessories (pink glasses, posters, etc.). Like a rock star or Broadway show, he knows that merchandising matters in bringing in moolah.

9—His brilliance is undeniable, delivered with joyous glee, in such segments like “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Korea” (from “The Sound of Music” dealing with Trump’s fondness of Kim Jong-Un) and “The Very Stable Genius” (based on “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” from “Pirates of Penzance”) questioning the leadership of the dubious MAGA leader.  Oh, and that visual of Vladimir Putin alongside the Trumpster was a howl — a Ritz cracker photo-shopped over the face of the ex-pres.

Rainbow said he’ll be eyeing a presidential run, anticipating a Trump bid again.

10 –He’s ready to run for president, or so he announced (with tongue in cheek) about an intended bid in anticipation of the Trumpster’s campaign to be on the ballot in 2024 (legal complications notwithstanding). Rainbow simply will be watching The Donald’s shenanigans to watch for material to resolve the drought of new clips while he’s been on tour…

And that’s Show Biz. …

Posted on

MUSICAL ASKS: A YULE MINUS SANTA?

Just in time for the Christmas holidays, a new, original musical about a dilemma facing Santa Claus, premieres at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 3) at Mamiya Theatre on the St. Louis School/Chaminade University campus.

Entitled “The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled,” the family-friendly show is produced by Mo‘olelo Studios with a pair of veteran local theater names — Kyle Kakuno and Roslyn Catracchia –collaborating artistically. He scripted the show and is directing, she composed the musical score featuring 10 songs.

“What if we wrote our own Christmas show?” Kakuno asked Catracchia during a phase of pandemic, when they had ample time to consult. “The script evolved over the last year, and the pandemic provided us time to meet and create the show, because everything (referring to the local stage shows) was shut down.”

Kyle Kakuno

“We wanted to bring something new and fun for the families this Christmas – especially after the cancellation of live events due to the pandemic over the past couple of years,” said Kakuno.

Catracchia agreed, “Hawaii needs something joyful and exciting. Kyle and I have been working together for over 30 years, so – after having no productions for the past two years – it’s been refreshing and a total blessing to be working on a brand-new holiday musical together for our island families.”

The story takes place in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, where a sobering thought emerges: What if there is no Christmas?

Mrs. Claus is the first to recognize the possibility that there could be no Santa at Christmas, since he is ill and his doctor mandates three months of rest and recuperation.

Roslyn Catracchia

The story themes resonate with elements of hope, faith, wellness, giving and the spirit of can-do. The underlying tone – if you become ill, there’s always the consideration that you refrain from doing things in your life — is not verbalized but implied and it’s a realistic message all should adopt.

Matthew Pedersen plays Santa; he is the lone Actor’s Equity union member in the cast and has Broadway creds, including “Miss Saigon.” Callie Doan is Mrs. Claus.

Kakuno, the drama honcho at St. Louis for two decades, has resigned from teaching but still is affiliated with Saint Louis and Sacred Hearts Academy, which have been the foundation for casting roles. The cast includes Poasa Aga, Isaiah Castillo, Christopher Casupang, La Tanya Faamausili- Siliato, Sanoe Harris, Ka’ulani Iaea, and Samuel Tafolo as Santa’s faithful elves. The actors range from fifth graders to high schoolers and collegians.

Kakuno and Catracchia also were artistic collaborators at Honolulu Theatre for Youth, and she is widely known as the composer for the late Lisa Matsumoto’s stable of pidgin-English musicals, which parodied fairy tale figures in a local-style retelling.

“It’s always terrifying when your work gets a public viewing for the first time,” said Kakuno. Some of his dialogue recurs in a few of Catracchia’s melodies. He said they both perused the script and she would say “I see a song here, a song there,” and thus was born the score.

Among the tunes to expect: “Sweet, Sweet Snow,” sung by Mrs. Claus to the man in red, and “Christmas Magic,” sung by the ensemble contemplating the notion that there would be no Christmas magic if there’s no Santa.

The show’s producer, Mo‘olelo Studios,  is a wing of KaiHonua Entertainment, which last year took over the operations of Mamiya Theatre, where Kakuno had a relationship for 22 years directing all of the school’s stage productions ranging from “In the Heights” to “Footloose.”

Kakuno said, “Long story short, the president of KaiHonua Entertainment is Kainoa Jarrett, a former student of mine and my stage manager over the years.” The company specializes in providing tech support in audio and lighting equipment. So the outsourcing of the theater continues to have links with the longtime director, who now is manager of Mamiya Theatre and artistic and managing director of KaiHonua.

Kakuno anticipates that the launch of ‘The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled” this season could be tweaked, edited and nurtured to possibly become a recurring holiday attraction in the future. Indeed, it could be the gift that keeps on giving during the Yuletide. …

*. *. *

“The Year Christmas Was Almost Cancelled”
Showtimes: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 6 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 18.

Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for students, at www.moolelostudios.com

Extras: After each performance, there will be entertainment, food and drinks including s’mores, hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies, Santa photo-shoots. and a snow and light show.

And that’s Show Biz. …