‘DKMD’ SIGNS MEAN DOOGIE’S BACK

If you spot a temporary yellow street sign which says “DKMD,” with arrows pointing left or right, it’s the first clue that Season 2 filming has begun for Disney+’s Hawaii-based “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.” series, starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, as the minor who has a major youth presence as a licensed doctor at a hospital.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee

About the tell-tale directional sign: DK stands for Doogie Kamealoha, MD is for medical doctor. The code name, thus, is DKMD, and if you spot it somewhere in your community, that’s an indication that shooting is under way nearby. Follow the arrows.

The first evidence of the sign appearance was in May in Waimanalo, where the TV home of Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha lives, the teen who leads two lives: as a teen with peer needs, as an MD who can perform surgery. It’s a wholly Disneyesque project, for sure, with meaningful and plenty ‘ohana rituals. ‘Ohana, of course, means family, which was the core of Stitch, in Disney’s earlier Hawaii-set “Lilo and Stitch” animated series and films.

Like the sophomore first season, “Doogie” will film 10 episodes with production expected to continue till mid-August, or thereabout. Season 2 episodes will launch in the fall.

The series, created by Kourtney Kang (who also is an executive producer), is a reboot of Neil Patrick Harris’ “Doogie Houser, M.D.” The island version has a credible cast, including Jason Scott Lee, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Matthew Sato, Wes Tian,Emma Meisel, Mapuana Makie, Jeffrey. Bowyer Chapman, Ronnie Chieng, and Alex Aiono. Expect a few additions this year….

Around town…

Lacey Chabert

Lacey Chabert, who played Little Cossette in “Les Miserables” on Broadway, before becoming part of the cast of “Party of Five” on Fox, has become a hugely popular Hallmark star with nearly 30 projects thus far. She’s been in town filming “Groundswell,” under the Crown MediaFamily Network banner (the company produces the Hallmark projects, too).

And local singer Anuhea plays herself – as a “celebrity host,” — in a segment involving a cooking competition. …

Then there’s Blake Vanamserfoorth formerly from Hawaii but now a Venice Beach resident who launched his own clothing brand — will be seen in “Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love,” airing beginning June 9 via WOW Presents Plus, a streaming service. The reality dating show, reeling back the curtain on gay romance quests, is produced by the makers of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Vanamserfoorth is a contestant on the series, which will feature conversations about sex positivity and other topics within the gay dating community.

In his pre-airing notes, Vanamserfoorth indicates his intent is to find a date who makes him laugh and isn’t afraid to voice his opinion, a companion who loves to dress up and go to parties. Game on! …

And that’s Show Biz. …

WANNA BE ONE PIDGIN PLAYWRIGHT?

Lissen up, folks. Lee A. Tonouchi, aka Da Pidgin Guerilla, goin offa one course in pidgin English, one language you kno if you local.

It’s free, and will be online, so gotta get up early and tune in.

If you get experience, good for you. You can learn how fo write one play, you know da kine script stuff for one theata.

Even if you dunno, you can sign up and learn.

As bruddah Tonouchi wen say in hiz online instructions:

Lee Tonouchi

“No mo’ limit on class size.

“Can be any age. Although I probably recommend da person be at least high school, but if one younger person like chance ’em, das cool too.

“Knowing how for write Pidgin stay optional.

“You no need be from Hawai’i for sign up.”

So mebbe you dunno Pidgin and feel lef out. Now’s your chance to try learn. Might not happen overnight, but dis can be one good summer project to learn Guerilla style. Not to be confused with Gorilla, but Guerilla. Means some rules might be broken, in case you dunno how fo write with propah technique. As long as you have hidden talent to tell one story, Pidg goin try help you shape ‘um into one play, or maybe jus’ one skit if you little bit slower.  But no pressure, you can join and try write, but you gotta share what you write and read aloud.  Goin get feedback, from the Pidg and udda fellas tuning in, but no need be shame of make A. The point is, dis can be da starting point.

Or, as Pidg sez, dis goin’ be Miyagi-style, da way  Pat Morita wen teach karate, by inventing wax-on, wax-off teaching, where main ting you try, and no give up.-

The Pidgin Guerilla is da real deal. He stay win awards for his Pidgin plays, which wuz performed in theaters like Kumu Kahua and Honolulu Theatre for Youth, where dey staged da kine funny Pidgin stuff.

Da class will be presented via six consecutive Sunday mornings, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.  June  5, 12, 19, 26, July 3 and 10 — via Zoom.

Remembah, dis is freebie, so if you sign up, make sure you show up. If you like take one chance, no waste time, cuz you snooz, you lose… so fill out dis  FORM.

And that’s Show Biz. …

‘TOP GUN’ CRUISES TO NO. 1

It’s official: Summer officially has begun, with all the right elements: a stellar story, hypnotic air flights and fights, and the key ingredient named Tom Cruise.

The fact that “Top Gun: Maverick” is a sequel of a film from 30 years ago, when Cruise first took on Pete “Maverick” Mitchell … somewhat astonishing. And then the pandemic stalled the release of “Maverick” for nearly three years … something frustrating.

But the delay heightened anticipation and expanded expectation and the Memorial Day weekend turned out to be the perfect moment to welcome “Top Gun,” which raked in a $100 million three-day gross, which, if international box office is added, meant a $248 million global tally. With today’s Memorial Day (May 30) holiday, another $50 million could be added to the explosive total.

Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick”

The alignment of the delay, the performance of Cruise as the cocky but dependable fighter pilot-turned-mentor, and the public’s eagerness to see the aerial dynamics in movie theaters (which has struggled to fill seats till now) meant the stars were aligned in filmland.

Wow.
The plot was somewhat predictable, but there are surprises: generals make mistakes, mavericks take chances, a few original characters return, old wounds are resolved, a romantic bond is sealed, and Lady Gaga seals the deal with her end-titles ballad, “Hold My Hand,”
uplifting the soundtrack as folks exit the theaters. Gage’s composing collaborators are  Harold Faltermeyer and Hans Zimmer. Clearly, it’s headed to No. 1 and will be an Oscar song contender next year.

It’s fun to know and hear the “handles” of the military mights: Maverick, Iceman, Rooster, Cyclone, Fanboy, Hangman, Coyote, etc.

And here’s a rarity just might increase: Cruise welcomes fans prior to the film, in a tack-on video akin to a handshake (Benedict Cumberbatch did a similar clip prior to his “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness “sequel earlier). Could more actors and films adopt this policy? …

Elton John doc due on Disney+

A documentary on superstar Elton John is due from Disney Original Documentary and Disney+.

Deadline reports that the doc, entitled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years. That Made His Legend.”

Elton John will be featured in a new documentary with a mouthful of a title.

Yes, it’s a mouthful. But John has been a musical figure not wholly represented in films. The thrust of the doc will be John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” when he spent months on tour, culminating in a November gig at Dodger Stadium that will cap his final North American show.

Unseen footage of his 50-year global success will provide essential videos of John earlier in his career, when his shows included lavish costumes and spectacles that reflected his charismatic flamboyancy.

“Rocketman,” the 2019 biography with Taron Egerton as John, explored his life but lacked theatrical vigor since the performance factor fell short; there was no soaring climactic fervor like the “We Will Rock You” finale with Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in the Queen biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” …

And that’s Show Biz. …

LARRIN’S MEMORIES LIVE ANEW

Jay Larrin, absent from the concert scene for nearly three years, broke the drought with a rare appearance Saturday night (May 28) at the Hawaii Convention Center.

He may be a bit rusty, but he’s still trustworthy to put on a show, mixing ingredients that have made him an island legend, hauling in a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts earlier this year.

Yes, he’s best known as a singer-composer for a fistful of hit tunes. “The Koolaus Are Sleeping,” and lots more. He’s also a dedicated pianist, capable of hitting those ivories with unashamed power.

He’s truly a conversationalist, turning moments into personal share-a-story sequences that reflect his glorious global vision of a world without hate, an environment linked to the ‘aina, a posture of perpetuating the soul of the islands.

And clearly, he is a poet at the keyboard, whether he’s reciting a poem that throbs in his heart, or singing out – no, shooting out – the grandeur of “The Snows of Mauna Kea,” his awesome signature that brings out the best of his melodic brand.

Nature. Kupuna. Traditions.

Jay Larrin

These are at the heart of his artistry. And at this one-nighter,  dubbed Na Kupuna Nights, he ended his years of “retirement” freedom, as he uncorked the bottled wine of his wisdom, and purred out the glory that is Hawaii, and in the end, demonstrated that he’s not lost his touch and his brand.

OK, he’s silver-haired now; FYI, he had a haircut prior to this engagement, letting the white hair flow like the snowcaps of his fave mountain. Yep, he’s got a bit of a paunch; like the rest of his aging generation, he moves slowly and cautiously. But he doesn’t disappoint. His memory and manner are sharp. And lord, he’s got a lot on his mind.


He remembers when and how he penned a prologue and an epilogue, to Eddie and Myrna Kamae’s “E Kuu Morning Dew,” and shares the beginning and ending few know about. That’s the poet at work.

He recalls how he was mentored by Pilahi Paki, the resourceful Hawaiian spirit who wrote “Aloha Is,” and worried that she didn’t respond to some minor tweaking he did with her creation, until the late Moe Keale ventured to record the mele that has evolved into a mantra about what aloha stands for.

He confesses he’s long been a fan of Kui Lee and his songwriting skills, and particularly lives by the message of “The Days of My Youth,” which prompted him to honor Lee with a poem.

He reflects on how he wrote “Molokai Lullaby,” as a tribute to Melveen Leed’s birthplace, and one of the most atmospheric “place song” embracing the virtues of the Friendly Isle.

And clearly, his adoration of the islands has fueled his songs. “I Wish You Forever Hawaii”
comes to mind. Emphatically.

Larrin used to run his shows like a piano bar, with his fans and friends listening and watching him at the piano. Over the decades, he’s been serenading in a range of locations, from Castagnola’s to Canlis, from Horatio’s to the Gangplank Lounge of the Moana Surfrider Hotel, and his compositions and camaraderie were always the primary staples.

In the distant past, he concertized in a cozy lounge as well as the main ballroom of the Hawaii Prince Hotel, where he delivered his Christmas melodies and memories, but when the pandemic hit, everything shut down everywhere. A fan at the Convention Center reminded him that he didn’t deliver “Silver Bells” for a couple of Christmases, so he did the tune and invited the audience to chime in, shaking keychains or tingling water glasses with silverware, to briefly celebrate the holidays, belatedly.

He fondly remembers a young Warren Marley, a fellow haole singer-composer-pianist from Idaho, and how they’d hang out, comparing notes, until his buddy’s too-early passing.

He’s haole, too, from Tennessee; he still has somewhat of a Southern drawl, but happily Hawaiian theories and traditions bubble in his heart and soul, and he likely knows more about the islands that have become his home for perhaps four decades.

Bryan Tolentino

The event also showcased the energy and enlightenment of NUENa ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu, featuring Bryan Tolentino (tenor ukulele), Halehaku Seabury (baritone ukulele) and Kama Hopkins (bass ukulele).  The three (ekolu) have a splendid repertoire of classic and current Hawaiian, with the trio of different ukes setting off melodic magic.

Kuuipo Kamakahi also was part of the bill, serenading outside the dining room, sharing her Hawaiiana with casual charm. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

KUMU LOOKS BACK, SPRINTS AHEAD

Kumu Kahua, the island theater group dedicated to stage plays by  playwrights who focus on works and themes reflecting the island lifestyle or history, has set its 2022-2023 season with flashbacks to its heritage.

Throughout the new season, Kumu Kahua will acknowledge and address the legacy of its founder, the late Dennis Carroll, a pioneering playwright and professor emeritus of the University of Hawaii’s Department of Theatre and Dance. He died in 2021, but set the foundation for Kumu to seek scripts by playwrights who express and explore island themes and local stories, reflecting the Hawaiian culture in comedies and dramas.  

“It’s particularly fitting that as we look ahead with excitement to the new, that we’re also celebrating old friends,” said Donna Blanchard, Kumu Kahua Theatre managing director. “Community has always been at the heart of the theater, and we are humbled by the enthusiasm of our audiences and the passion of our advocates in helping us to sustain our mission.”


Thus, Kumu is looking to the past as it sprints forward to its 52nd season, which will feature these five productions:

* “Aloha Las Vegas,” by Edward Sakamoto, Aug. 25 to Sept. 25, 2022. About a retired widower, Wally Fukuda, living comfortably in Liliha, till his pal Harry visits from Las Vegas, who proposes Wally does the same, where he can live for a fraction of the Hawaii cost. Family dynamics put a damper on his decision.  
* “Lucky Come Hawaii,” by Jon Shirota, Nov. 3 to Dec. 4. An adaptation of Shirota’s 1965 novel, a comedy set in wartime 1941, where a precarious balance exists between American GIs, local Japanese and West Maui Okinawans. But when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, martial law is imposed and the world goes topsy-turvy when a new normal prevails.
* “Gone Feeshing,” by Lee A.Tonouchi, Jan. 19 to Feb. 19  2023. Da Pidgin Guerrila’s father’s friend is the inspiration of this true-life heroism journey exploring love, communication and forgiveness. Two brothers go fishing; the older bro comes to terms with his relationship to their dad and his tragic death. With the pidgin guru’s orientation, expect a lot of local lingo.
* “Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers,” adapted to the stage by Keith Kashiwada and John H.Y. Wat, inspired by Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s groundbreaking novel. It’s a 1970s, coming of age tale set in Hilo, where Lovey Nariyoshi endures middle school with the support of her bestie, Jerry. A sense of identity is forged, shaped by white American pop culture and media, that makes her ashamed of her upbringing, laced with the beautiful and the brutal realities of growing up local.
* “Folks You Meet at Longs,” by Lee Cataluna, May 25 through June 25. The denizens, who make Longs a part of their days, are the focus of these raucous monologues, tapping a creepy uncle, a hickey-necked teen, a pickled-mango-craving hapai mom and more.. The play evolved in an award-winning book for Cataluna.

Tickets: $80, returning season subscribers; $90, new season subscribers; $25, student season subscribers; $170, Viewer’s Choice Pass ($10 tickets per pass); $70, scholarship subscription (a season ticket order given away by Kumu Kahua).
Where: (808) 536-4441; email officemanager@kumukahua.org; at box office, 46 Merchant Street, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. …

Broadway’s weekly grosses

No change in the leaders, who continue to lead: No. 1, “The Music Man;” No. 2, “Hamilton;” No. 3, “The Lion King.”

Grosses for the week ending May 15, 2022, courtesy the Broadway League:

Show NameGrossTotalAttn Capacity%Capacity
A STRANGE LOOP$690,667.956,5897,37689.33%
ALADDIN$998,162.7912,77713,81692.48%
AMERICAN BUFFALO$536,163.904,8686,00881.03%
BEETLEJUICE$886,771.508,06712,81662.94%
BIRTHDAY CANDLES$266,797.003,7375,81664.25%
CHICAGO$667,945.656,9448,64080.37%
COME FROM AWAY$468,509.245,0488,36860.33%
COMPANY$719,968.097,0248,36883.94%
DEAR EVAN HANSEN$522,763.895,8347,87274.11%
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF$249,353.604,0616,18465.67%
FUNNY GIRL$1,316,457.009,6249,75298.69%
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY$289,305.003,9416,38461.73%
HADESTOWN$943,568.757,3147,34499.59%
HAMILTON$2,053,252.0010,22810,59296.56%
HANGMEN$288,436.083,0626,41647.72%
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD$1,163,099.1010,22812,97678.82%
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE$364,925.004,3415,09685.18%
MACBETH$1,233,487.427,2267,35798.22%
MJ THE MUSICAL$1,352,143.2010,46811,09694.34%
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL$537,705.404,7505,20091.35%
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT$858,847.006,5198,33778.19%
MRS. DOUBTFIRE$395,679.005,2228,27263.13%
PARADISE SQUARE$235,604.005,4887,85669.86%
PLAZA SUITE$1,619,810.907,7207,80098.97%
POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE$461,864.256,32611,60854.50%
SIX$1,190,681.008,1498,24898.80%
TAKE ME OUT$474,951.234,2114,64890.60%
THE BOOK OF MORMON$941,030.657,6798,52890.04%
THE LION KING$1,636,928.0012,65913,56893.30%
THE MINUTES$386,898.003,8905,33672.90%
THE MUSIC MAN$3,377,554.0412,26812,200100.56%
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA$728,082.267,70412,84060.00%
THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH$115,745.002,3715,29044.82%
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL$1,015,122.008,62611,82472.95%
WICKED$1,361,373.0011,04014,45676.37%
And that’s Show Biz. …