Category: Show Biz

It was all in the ‘ohana recently, on the set of CBS’ “NCIS: Hawai‘i,” when actor Kian Talan – who portrays Alex Tennant – had kin folks visiting here. And the family wound up as extras in a scene to be aired soon.

While Talan commonly argues with his on-air mom, Jane Tennant, portrayed by Vanessa Lachey, he was quite a family dude when his dad, mom and brother visited during the Christmas holidays.

Turns out that Talan’s family were huge fans of Lachey, who is part Filipino, as is Talan.

So the chance to witness and experience son’s work style – and being on camera even if only as background actors – was thrilling.

“They just play people who are walking around in the back but they got to see the entire process of how we create these episodes and they’re like fan-girling over Vanessa like, ‘Oh my God,’” Talan said to express.com.

“Filipinos are culturally big fans of other Filipinos in mainstream media, so they were like, ‘I need a picture, I’m sweating,’” said Talan.

‘Twas a Filipino pride moment for all.

He acknowledged a challenging growing up.
“I’m used to being stereotyped and judged,” he has been quoted. “I’m the son of two Filipino immigrants and grew up in a white, suburban town in New Hampshire. I didn’t need another reason for people to stare, so I always kept my my head down and never pushed myself to see what I could do.”

Relocating to New York gave him the freedom to get over past insecurities, “pushing me toward my acting dream.” …

Calendar notations

Gigs to contemplate, over the next few days:

• Josh Tatofi has a four-night run, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday (Feb. 13-16), at Blue Note Hawaii. A special Valentine’s dinner – prime rib surf and turf, with suggested wine pairings plus desserts keyed to V-Day – is available.  Visit www.bluenotehawaii or call (808) 777-4890.
• Mike Love has two Blue Note gigs – an acoustic solo night Feb. 17 and a group encounter with The Full Circle Feb. 20. See above for reservations.
• Judy Collins will be featured Feb. 18 and 19 at Blue Note. See above for reservations.
• A Smooth Jazz concert is on tonight (8 p.m. Feb. 12) at the Hibiscus Ballroom of the Ala Moana Hotel. Featured: guitarist Peter White, keyboardist Gregg Karukas and saxophonist Michael Paulo. Visit TIX.com or call (951) 696-0184. …
• And that’s Show Biz. …

At long last: Zippy’s at the Koko Marina Shopping Center will indeed reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 15),

as reported here last week. Dine-in services will be limited, however.

As you know, we Hawaii Kai folks have to drive to Zippy’s Kahala for dine-in get-togethers. That ends soon.

Zippy’s reopening on the marina will be a joyous welcome. However, for now, hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only.

The restaurant has undergone some renovations, so I guess we’ll all find out when we make our initial visit.

Take-out orders will continue, and available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

If the Kahala menu is an indication, there may be some sticker shock for those who’ve mostly ordered takeout during the pandemic closure of the Hawaii Kai dining room. Prices have risen, but you must know that from your weekly grocery shopping and gasoline fill ups. Prices for everything everywhere have risen, right? …

‘Doogie’ star lands Disney+ film

When it rains, it pours. Peyton Elizabeth Lee, the titular character in “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” will co-star in “Prom Pact,” as  Mandy Coleman, a high schooler who also is a feminist.

Her co-star will be Milo Hanheim, from the movie “Z-O-M-B-I-E-S.”

“Prom Pact,” a high school rom-com with prom fever at its peak, will be produced by Disney+, where “Doogie’s” first season is streaming now on Disney+.

In the new film, Lee’s character has a keen eye on making it to Harvard, but she is smitten with Hanheim’s character, Ben, as blooming complications arise, according to Deadline.

“Doogie,” which is filmed in Hawaii, has been renewed for a second season, so Lee likely will be “Prom”-bound only after her streaming filming completes production. …

 And that’s Show Biz. …

This just in, courtesy ABC: the nominees for the 2022 Academy Awards.

So let the guessing games begin.

The 94^th annual Oscarcast will be held March 27 on the ABC network. On the Mainland, air time is 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific; it’s likely that Hawaii will air the telecast in real time, so at 3 p.m., with possible retelecast in prime-time evening.

The list of nominees:

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Best Picture

BELFAST
Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, Producers

CODA
Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers

DON’T LOOK UP
Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers

DRIVE MY CAR
Teruhisa Yamamoto, Producer

DUNE
Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, Producers

KING RICHARD
Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith, Producers

LICORICE PIZZA
Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers

NIGHTMARE ALLEY
Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, Producers

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, Producers

WEST SIDE STORY
Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers

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Actor in a Leading Role

Javier Bardem in BEING THE RICARDOS

Benedict Cumberbatch in THE POWER OF THE DOG

Andrew Garfield in TICK, TICK…BOOM!

Will Smith in KING RICHARD

Denzel Washington in THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

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Actor in a Supporting Role

Ciarán Hinds in BELFAST

Troy Kotsur in CODA

Jesse Plemons in THE POWER OF THE DOG

J.K. Simmons in BEING THE RICARDOS

Kodi Smit-McPhee in THE POWER OF THE DOG

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Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain in THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE

Olivia Colman in THE LOST DAUGHTER

Penélope Cruz in PARALLEL MOTHERS

Nicole Kidman in BEING THE RICARDOS

Kristen Stewart in SPENCER

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Actress in a Supporting Role

Jessie Buckley in THE LOST DAUGHTER

Ariana DeBose in WEST SIDE STORY

Judi Dench in BELFAST

Kirsten Dunst in THE POWER OF THE DOG

Aunjanue Ellis in KING RICHARD

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Animated Feature Film

ENCANTO
Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer

FLEE
Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

LUCA
Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren

THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES
Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho

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Cinematography

DUNE
Greig Fraser

NIGHTMARE ALLEY
Dan Laustsen

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Ari Wegner

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Bruno Delbonnel

WEST SIDE STORY
Janusz Kaminski

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Costume Design

CRUELLA
Jenny Beavan

CYRANO
Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran

DUNE
Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan

NIGHTMARE ALLEY
Luis Sequeira

WEST SIDE STORY
Paul Tazewell

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Directing

BELFAST
Kenneth Branagh

DRIVE MY CAR
Ryusuke Hamaguchi

LICORICE PIZZA
Paul Thomas Anderson

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Jane Campion

WEST SIDE STORY
Steven Spielberg

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Documentary (Feature)

ASCENSION
Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell

ATTICA
Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry

FLEE
Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein

WRITING WITH FIRE
Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh

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Documentary (Short Subject)

AUDIBLE
Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean

LEAD ME HOME
Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk

THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL
Ben Proudfoot

THREE SONGS FOR BENAZIR
Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei

WHEN WE WERE BULLIES
Jay Rosenblatt

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Film Editing

DON’T LOOK UP
Hank Corwin

DUNE
Joe Walker

KING RICHARD
Pamela Martin

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Peter Sciberras

TICK, TICK…BOOM!
Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum

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International Feature Film

DRIVE MY CAR
Japan

FLEE
Denmark

THE HAND OF GOD
Italy

LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM
Bhutan

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Norway

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Makeup and Hairstyling

COMING 2 AMERICA
Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer

CRUELLA
Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon

DUNE
Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE
Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh

HOUSE OF GUCCI
Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras

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Music (Original Score)

DON’T LOOK UP
Nicholas Britell

DUNE
Hans Zimmer

ENCANTO
Germaine Franco

PARALLEL MOTHERS
Alberto Iglesias

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Jonny Greenwood

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Music (Original Song)

“Be Alive” from KING RICHARD
Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

“Dos Oruguitas” from ENCANTO
Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

“Down To Joy” from BELFAST
Music and Lyric by Van Morrison

“No Time To Die” from NO TIME TO DIE
Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

“Somehow You Do” from FOUR GOOD DAYS
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

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Production Design

DUNE
Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos

NIGHTMARE ALLEY
Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Production Design: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Amber Richards

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH
Production Design: Stefan Dechant; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

WEST SIDE STORY
Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo

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Short Film (Animated)

AFFAIRS OF THE ART
Joanna Quinn and Les Mills

BESTIA
Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz

BOXBALLET
Anton Dyakov

ROBIN ROBIN
Dan Ojari and Mikey Please

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER
Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez

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Short Film (Live Action)

ALA KACHUU – TAKE AND RUN
Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger

THE DRESS
Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki

THE LONG GOODBYE
Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

ON MY MIND
Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson

PLEASE HOLD
K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse

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Sound

BELFAST
Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri

DUNE
Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

NO TIME TO DIE
Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb

WEST SIDE STORY
Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy

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Visual Effects

DUNE
Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer

FREE GUY
Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick

NO TIME TO DIE
Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner and Chris Corbould

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick

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Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

CODA
Screenplay by Siân Heder

DRIVE MY CAR
Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

DUNE
Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth

THE LOST DAUGHTER
Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal

THE POWER OF THE DOG
Written by Jane Campion

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Writing (Original Screenplay)

BELFAST
Written by Kenneth Branagh

DON’T LOOK UP
Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota

KING RICHARD
Written by Zach Baylin

LICORICE PIZZA
Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier

And that’s Show Biz…

We don’t usually talk much about Disney’s Hispanic flicks or tunes, but it’s very much worth talking about “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a track from the Mouse House’s hot soundtrack from “Encanto,” which is now enjoying a third non-successive week at No. 1 on the Billboard’s single and album charts.

Further, the “Bruno” tune –wholly unrelated to Bruno Mars, our homegrown superstar — has surpassed the studio’s “Let It Go” title from the movie, “Frozen.”

And “Bruno” is the first Disney track to sit atop the music charts since “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” was numero uno back in 1993.

In case you’ve been out of the loop, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, of “Hamilton” fame, and it’s one of eight tunes he composed for the film. Miranda, of course, has become a prolific figure in the Disney universe, since the studio acquired the movie version of Miranda’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical which evolved into a much-see product on Disney+, the studio’s streaming service, enabling the blockbuster into homes and viewed by folks who couldn’t see or afford the show in pre-pandemic times.

The actor-composer-mega-star also acted in the studio’s “Mary Poppins” sequel and has turned on his composition skills to create music for animated projects, the latest being “Encanto,” which translates to “charm.”

The animated tale is about a family from Colombia, named the Madrigals, who receive magical gifts in their town of Encanto. Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, wants to save the secretive magic of her family’s gift. Bruno, Mirabel’s estranged uncle voiced by John Leguizamo, has the power to see the future. So in the song, the family wants to be mum about Bruno and seal their lips, so “Bruno, no, no, no,” is a catchy recurring lyric kids and adults alike can sing.

The studio also is touting the fact that Miranda’s solely-composed hit track is the first by a solo composer to hit No. 1 in four years, since Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” reached the top spot, without the customary deejay support in radio spins, without concert tours to promote the artist and his music, without the benefit of exposure from a Broadway show, virtually without the normal push and sell. It first charted at No. 50, then leapt to No. 2, and grabbed the pinnacle last week.

In comparison, “Let It Go” became a song a legion of young girls (and some adults) could never let go, from the hit movie which eventually was transformed into a blockbuster on Broadway. Even then, “Let It Go” peaked only at No. 5 on the hit parade.

“Bruno” was not easy on Adele’s “Easy on Me,” her hit ballad benefitting from a TV concert , which prevailed at No. 1 for 10 weeks, until vanquished by “Bruno.”

The tune was gaining 34.9 million U.S. streams, twice more than Adele’s return-to-the-charts biggie, though it received only 1.5 million radio airplay numbers, about 1/62^nd the impressions of Adele’s powerhouse radio appeal.

Not surprisingly, radio has discovered “Bruno,” so it’s finally widening its network of listeners.

But with six voices credited for the performance – beating an old record of five – folks are beginning to “know” the unknown: Carolina Gaitanh, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerro and Stephanie Beatriz are the six performers.

The lone disappointment for the song: it cannot compete for  an Academy Award since Disney only submitted another “Encanto” track, “Dos Oruguitas,” for Best Song consideration for the upcoming Oscarcast. At nomination time, “Bruno” was not yet on the radar, and “Dos Oruguitas” (translated as “Two Little Caterpillas”), was deemed a possible contender; the tune expresses how Abeula, the Madrigal family matriarch, lost her husband.

If the song makes the cut and wins an Oscar, it would complete composer Miranda’s EGOT status (he’s already got an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony —  but lacks an Oscar). Could happen that the popularity and power of “Bruno” might earn votes for “Oruguitas.”

Thus, the whole issue of the success of “Bruno” has triggered analytical chatter about this  phenom. Did Tik-Tok trigger response and reaction and framed the rise of a novelty ? Did  the earlier “Despacito” Puerto Rican best-seller by Luis Fonsi- Daddy Yankee and/or the more recent romantic Shawn Mendes-Camila Cabello duet “Senorita, ” set up its success, with their Spanish flavors and motifs? Are Latinos fueling and dominating the streaming processes? Or is this one of those once-in-decade flukes, where an unexpected unknown leaps into the limelight and get everybody giggling delight, like the dance-crazy Los Del Rio chartbuster, “Macarena”?

So this swirling, unexpected to-do about “Encanto” has become a source of delight and the operative word is  charm. Next to ponder: which will come first, an “Encanto” sequel or a Disney Broadway musical production?  Either could already be in the works. …

Let’s talk about  ‘Doogie’

So let’s also talk about Doogie, as in “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” the certified filmed-in-Hawaii family sit-com. It’s earned a green light for a second season.

But why not? It’s the best series filmed in Hawaii ever.

Disney+, which is streaming the show, has not yet announced a start-up date for film production, nor an airdate premiere for season two.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee plays the wunderkind teen doctor, aka Lahela, a role originated by Neil Patrick Harris’ popular sitcom of yesteryear, “Doogie Howser.” Her parents are portrayed by Kathleen Rose Perkins (mom, and the teen’s doctor-mom) and Jason Scott Lee (dad, who owns a shave ice and floral truck).

Kourtney Kang is writer-exec producer.

So let the “Doogie”  boogie begin. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Weather notwithstanding, Loretta Ables Sayre has left the comforts of her Mililani Mauka home and is currently in Michigan rehearsing for a concert version of “Fiddler on the Roof,” under the auspices of the University of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Orchestra.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 and 4 p.m. Feb. 20; then the show moves to Philadelphia, with the Philadelphia Orchestra providing the music.

In an email, she admitted it was “chilly, chilly” in Michigan, unlike sunny, sunny in the islands.

“We are in the beginning of a huge snow storm that is expected to dump between 8 and 15 inches here in Ann Arbor,” she added. “This local girl is freezing. But there’s hardly enough time to worry about it with our rehearsal schedule.”  

Overall, it’s nice work, a reunion with some Broadway colleagues involved in Lincoln Center’s “South Pacific,” where her work as Bloody Mary earned a Tony Awards nomination in 2008.

The “Fiddler” concert assembles a full cast of singers, rendering the theatrical score, minus the lavish costumes and sets. Musically, the beloved tunes will come to life thanks to a cast of singing pros.

The musical will be directed by Sarna Lapine, who most recently conducted Jake Gyllenhaal in “Sunday in the Park With George” on Broadway; Lapine was Bart Sher’s assistant director in “South Pacific,” and she said, “I have been in awe of her work since then.”

Her good friend, Andy Einhorn, is a New York music conductor and director, who was MD for Bette Midler in the recent “Hello, Dolly!” revival, who is conducting the orchestra, and Ables Sayre worked with him with the Cleveland Orchestra prior to the pandemic.

“My Tevye is Tony Award winning Chuck Cooper,” she said. “We have more Broadway and Tony nominated leads in other roles and it is so thrilling to be rehearsing and creating with these absolutely amazing talented people.”

Golde’s signature song, performed with Tevye, is “Do You Love Me?,” which requires skillful timing and nuances, and she renders with others “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Tevye’s Dream.”

Cooper earned a Tony as a Featured Actor in a Musical for 1997’s “The Life.” Ables Sayre was a Tony nominee for Bloody Mary in 2008.

And choreographer Alison Solomon also is part of the creative team.

This is Ables Sayre’s first theatrical project she’s accepted since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

Over the past year, she adapted to lockdown protocols, cleaning, decorating, baking, cooking – the stuff of the domestic life. Ables Sayre and husband David Sayre cleaned carpets, power-washed sidewalks and driveways, planted edible flowers to decorate her culinary creations.

She sewed slipcovers, curtains and more, and let her hair naturally turn gray.

Under the strictest protocols, she took on assorted acting roles, including “The White Locus,” on HBO Max, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” on Amazon Prime, “Magnum P.I.” on CBS, and “Ke Nui Road,” on HBO Max, masked and socially distancing when not on camera, to assure safety and respect health concerns.

She has other irons in the fire, but cannot divulge, pending approval to go public. …

Calendar cues

You know the climate’s changing, when traditional gigs — gone during the earlier phases of the pandemic – start reappearing.

So: Na Leo, the trio that often drops the Pilimehana from its name, will resume Mother’s Day concerts beginning this year. Nalani Jenkins, Lehua Kalima and Angela Morales – childhood friends and lifelong musicians — convene at 1 p.m. May 8 at the Hawaii Theatre. Hotel showrooms with buffets were the way to go in the past, and moms loved that format, but a theatrical show is a great way to jumpstart the tradition. Tickets: $35 to $75, at www.hawaiitheatre.com …
The Hawaii Theatre Center’s Theatre Education will team put with PAPA (the Pacific Academy of Performing Arts) to stage “Tarzan,” a musical based on the Disney film (and subsequent Broadway production), inspired by Edgar Rice Burrough’s “Tarzan of the Apes,” with book by David Henry Hwang and music by Phil Collins. Playdates: Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., Feb. 19 at 1 and 6 p.m., and Feb. 20 at 1 p.m.  Tickets; $5 and $10, at www.hawaiitheatre.com …

Is Zippy’s ready to reopen in Hawaii Kai?

I’ve been patiently waiting and wondering about the imminent reopening of Zippy’s at the Koko Marina Shopping Center. The authorities are mum, the hired hands dispensing take-out orders are anticipating, too, beginning last fall, when rumors started pouring about a November, December, then January return. Nevah happen.

The family restaurant has been a go-to haunt for breakfast, lunch and dinner, particularly for those of us who live in Hawaii and nearby neighborhoods in Kuliouou and Niu Valley. We all have to drive to the Kahala Zippy’s for dine-in, right?

Well, the latest reports finally tout a likely but unverified reopening date, Feb. 15, which is right around the corner. Those trucks and vans, sitting outside the restaurant, have come and gone. Recruiting for wait help has started. A new wrinkle in the Zippy’s in Hawaii Kai rumor: apparently, the chain wants to launch one of those on-tables ordering screens, to scan menus, place orders, and await your meal. Hello? The senior population in East Oahu don’t want to order via a screen gizmo; they want to make choices and exchange aloha with the servers…the old-fashioned way. Can someone in the Zippy’s ‘ohana review and go instead with traditional waitresses and waiters? …

 And that’s Show Biz. …