Category: Show Biz

The playbill is back! Hooray! Cheers! Finally!

Diamond Head Theatre’s rescheduled “Oliver!,” which opened  Oct. 22 minus fanfare, has an actual print stage program for the first time in these pandemic days.

About time!

I’ve yet to see the Lionel Bart musical, since the show was “sold out” because of social distancing concerns. When an extra week was added, I was able to secure tickets for Nov. 3.

The playbill is part of the theater-going community; it is an informational and instructive tool for show-goers, because it properly gives credit and identity to those on stage and off who helped mount the production.  With the coronavirus restrictions, the invaluable keepsake – not just for the actors and musicians, but anyone involved in designing and mounting sets and props –was not available as a take-home memorabilia for patrons.

As I’ve advocated in the recent past, the lack of a playbill for the earlier “A Chorus Line” was kind of an affront for the performing and techie teams – a missed opportunity to salute the singing and dancing soldiers, in a time that we all needed that escape from the health crisis. Betcha you still don’t know all the troupers in that marvelous mounting of a beloved favorite.

So, to DHT — redemption! Onward, in this slow and tedious road to the normality of the past. …

Over at Manoa Valley Theatre, where “Be More Chill” suffered the same lack of a playbill, there was no physical program to take home . The sad news: MVT doesn’t expect to resurrect the playbill for its upcoming “The Joy Luck Club,” running Nov. 26 through Dec. 12. If plans change, we’ll let you know.

But the good news: all seats will be sold with the loosening of COVID restrictions.

Bravo! …

Show biz at sea

In a Facebook posting, Honolulu’s Tricia Marciel  states, “We are just a couple of weeks away from officially launching the inaugural voyage of the Enchanted Princess and dress runs are in full swing.” Not certain where this cruise is destined but it’s truly a busy-happy time for the entertainer. “It’s hard not to feel emotional when I see the hard work, commitment and love on display every day from my castmates. You are superstars and the time to shine is sooo close!” …

Marciel, a familiar face and voice in Broadway shows, was last seen locally in Diamond Head Theatre’s “Shout! The Musical,” I believe. …

Itemizations

Robert Cazimero’s November “Full Moon” concert will be Nov. 11 at Chef Chai’s. The $95 tariff includes dinner and the show, with a pair of hula dancers joining Cazimero. …

“”Coyote Creek Christmas,” a Hallmark Channel Christmas feature, will be a nice birthday gift for actress Janell Parrish of Honolulu. The rom-com premieres today (Oct. 30), which happens to be Parrish’s birthday. …

And that’s Show Biz …

Smokey Robinson will return to the Waikiki Shell next year, bringing along a cache of his hit songs

Robinson, former lead voice of The Miracles, will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tickets already are on sale online, but be warned – it won’t be on the cheap.

Reserved seats will be $150, $99.50 and $89.50, the higher the cost, the better the location. General admission lawn tickets are $69.50, but lawn chairs are not allowed.

Robinson is the legendary sweet-voiced Motown Records fave from the past, still a big draw today.

You’ll likely be singing along, when he unpacks that stash of signature tunes, including “Cruisin’,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”

Online data lists this as a BAMP Project-sponsored event.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or https://moremusic.at/smokeyrobinson012922

…

Mars in orbit

Bruno Mars, our homegrown superstar, has added two more concerts – Dec. 17 and 18 – at the Dolby Live Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas. This is an addition to his earlier-announced Dec. 30 and 31 New Year’s Eve gala at the same site.

Regular tickets start at $215 and range up to $815, but these are scarce, since most seats have tremendous resale prices into the thousands, depending on the location.  Tariffs are even higher for the end-of-the-year gigs, which – if you can find them and if you can afford them – include packages with hotel rooms and other perks. …

‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ No. 1 among TV newbies

It may not be the best show of the fall TV season, but the island-based-and-filmed “NCIS: Hawai‘i” has been deemed the No. 1 newbie on the tube so far this year.

The ranking comes from The Wrap, an online entertainment site, that put our local  CBS “NCIS” atop the survey, with a conclusion: “When your show starts with ‘NCIS,’ the (older) viewers will come.”

The rest of the top 10:  “FBI International,” No. 2;  “Ghost,” No. 3; “La Brea,” No. 4; “CSI: Vegas,” No. 5; “Ordinary Joe,” No. 6;  “The Wonder Years,” No. 7;  “Alter Ego,” No. 8;  “Queens,” No. 9; and “Our Kind of People,” No. 10. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Note: this column has been updated with a correction.

It’s a bit earlier than usual, but a few Christmas events are already being promoted.

Shari Lynn is doing her annual Christmas sing-out on Dec. 10 at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace. Her holiday show will be laden with traditional standards and familiar carols, with a bit of a cultural jolt. She’s Jewish, but nonetheless observes Christmas complete with decorated trees in her Kailua home, so she’ll serve a darling Jewish number (or two) to mark her faith. Tickets: $59, includes dinner. …

We also mentioned, a few weeks back, that Robert Cazimero will do a five-night Christmas residency, starting Dec. 15, at Chef Chai’s, where he normally stages his once-a month Full Moon concert. Well, ho-ho-ho, there will 2021 yuletide serenades, too. …

The producer report

Retired producer-director Phil Arnone is recovering from a double hernia operation at Queen’s Medical Center, one of the health issues plaguing him in recent months. Send get-well wishes and prayers, so he can be up and running again. Well, walking – he stopped running years ago! (Note: an earlier posting misstated the hospital where Arnone had his surgery) …

Rick Quan, KITV news anchor, has produced and directed a new documentary on show entrepreneur Jack Cione. Alas, Cione will be out of town when the doc premieres at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Consolidated’s Kahala Theatre, as part of the fall Hawaii International Film Festival, and again at 7 p.m. Nov 17 at Maui’s Kaahumanu Center’s Consolidated Theatre.  No airdate yet, however, on KITV. ..  

Televiews

Recurring characters, longtime favorites on ongoing procedurals, are slowy vanishig from TV landscape.

Take Mark Harmon, playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs for 18 years on CBS’ “NCIS,” who made his exit recently, in this mothership NCIS show’s 19^th season. It’s possible, but not likely, that Harmon will make infrequent appearances; he’s wanted out for several years, and finally had his wish granted, leaving a huge gap on the show and threatening its popularity among diehard followers. One possible solution to galvanize the show is to hire Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo, to return as lead agent, but that’s highly unlikely, since he departed to star in CBS’s “Bull,” and it’s logical that he wouldn’t now want to return to a sinking ship. …

And speaking of a void: NBC’s “Chicago Fire” drama has lost a valuable asset, Jesse Spencer, who portrayed Capt. Mathew Casey. He exited the show to keep his promise to care for and watch over the sons of a deceased firefighter colleague. Thus, Casey will relocate to another city to become a protective “dad,” upholding his commitment and sidetracking his personal goals for now, as reflected in a recent episode leading to this development. A loss for Firehouse 51 and its franchise viewers. …

And that’s Show Biz …

Manoa Valley Theatre is the first local stage group to kick off a delayed and occasionally truncated drama season. Its Hawaii premiere of “Be More Chill” opened Thursday night (Oct.14) and  runs through Oct. 31, with new protocols.

Consider:

• For the first time, season subscribers, along with single-ticket buyers, had to designate specific seat choices. Assigned seating will be in place throughout the 2021-22 season.
• Masks must be worn to enter the theater and watch the play, as has been the practice during the past season.

• Proof of vaccination is required, so bring your vaxx card for certification.
• Social distancing protocols mean that MVT can only sell and fill 60 of its 120 seats, meaning half the house.
• The post-show opening night party is canceled as long as the pandemic lingers.
• With the pushback in dates, there won’t be a week or two of extension performances, because the finale of the current show would affect the preparation and opening of the next production, which is “The Joy Luck Club,” beginning Nov. 26.
• Audience members are asked to exit the hall after the performance, which means that apres-show gestures of aloha – lei or bouquets, gifts and hugs – are discouraged. Gifts for cast members on opening night were collected and distributed backstage.
• Playbills are part of the sacrifices of a pandemic – there is only a virtual playbill, available at www.manoavalley.com .  It’s a misfortune for actors and techies involved in the ritual of theater – a memory keepsake unavailable for now. …

‘Oliver’ seats scarce

 Diamond Head Theatre has virtually been silent about its “Oliver!” season opener, which begins Oct. 22. Because of the half-house seating protocols, most of the performances have been “sold out,” since season subscribers had to be reassigned to other nights. (When sales started, the pandemic protocols suggested that all seats could be sold; that changed).

At this time, only one performance, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, offers pairs of seats available for purchase. Details: www.diamondheadtheatre.com .

The obvious requirements are in place: mask-wearing, social distancing, proof of vaccination before entry.

Further, DHT has eliminated its opening night party, along with the complimentary playbill (a virtual one exists on the website) and also discourages friends and other patrons gathering after a performance for the customary shared aloha with cast members. …

A virtual ghost story

Kumu Kahua’s world premiere of “The Kasha of Kaimuki,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, is perhaps Hawaii’s most unusual debut this fall. The thriller, about a notable and terrifying haunted house in Honolulu, will be performed virtually. The play is by Hannah Ii Epstein.

A virtual performance is not unusual these days, but the cast will assemble from four different time zones, to perform as one ensemble. Talk about a looming twilight zone.

The cast and crew will involve talent not only in Honolulu, but also in California, Illinois (Chicago), and Pennsylvania.

“One of the best things to come out of having to work digitally, is working with people from all over the place,” said Kumu’s Harry Wong III. “Especially when we get to work with those with local ties to Hawaii, people who are going to school outside of Hawaii, or some who had to leave Hawaii to seek work elsewhere.”
For instance, islander Alisa Boland, is attending school in Chicago, and the virtual performance enables her to participate from afar. So it’s a new wrinkle and twinkle to the digital experience.

“The digital format will also lend itself well to the scary aspects in this production,” said Wong. Which means if things go awry, there will be unintended obake drama. …

And that’s Show Biz. …