Category: Show Biz

Dwayne Johnson seems to be everywhere these days, especially in the cinema.

His newest film, “Jungle Cruise,” takes its title from the Disney theme park adventure cruise up a river but has been transformed into an unexpected journey aboard a ramshackle boat down the Amazon. He plays Frank Wolff, opposite Emily Blunt as Dr. Lily Houghton, who enlists him to search a tree with healing powers that could change the future of medicine.  The cast also features Jack Whitehall, Edgar Ramirez, Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti. Opens July 30, 2021…and likely will be a blockbuster, considering the Disney ties. …

Other Johnson flicks on the horizon:

• “Red Notice,” a Netflix film featuring Johnson as an Interpol agent searching for an art thief, with Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds aboard for the ride. Rawson Marshal Thurder, who directed his blockbuster “Skyscraper,” is at the helm, so expect visual fireworks. Due this year.
• “Black Adam,” playing the title character in a D.C./Warner Bros. release, originally destined to be a baddie in “Shazam.” Now the character gains its own movie, with Jaume Collet-Serra directing, following his association with Johnson in “Jungle Cruise.” The cast includes Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodges, Sarah Shahi and Pierce Brosnan. Due  Dec. 22

• “Fast & Furious 10,” based on the late Paul Walker’s franchise (and now Vin Diesel’s trademark), in which Johnson returns as Luke Hobbs. The speeding roadsters include Diesel as Dominic Toretto, plus Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster and Sung Kang.  Directed by Justin Lin. Opening April 2, 2022.
• “San Andres 2,” a sequel to the disaster adventure what amassed $473 million in world ticket sales, so a second installment is not a surprise. Alexandra Daddario is said to direct, but this one’s still in development.
• “Doc Savage,” based on a pulp magazine adventurer, with Johnson as the lead. Shane Black is writing and directing. No timetable yet.
• “Big Trouble in Little China,” the John Carpenter classic featuring Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, is due for a makeover. No timetable.
• “The King,” which sounds like a flick about Elvis, is the much-delayed, multi-challenging biopic of sorts, about King Kamehameha. Johnson, who is part Samoan, Hawaiian and black, is eager to team up with directors Husain El-Minbawi and Robert Zemekis. There is hometown pride to create this one but expect controversy in the playout. Still on the drawing boards – and while Johnson has the physique to portray the king, the Hawaiian community may question ethnicity on this one. …

Food for thought

Though Lanai Tabura and his cohorts of the Aloha Plate food truck were eliminated from the Food Network’s Food Truck series recently, the local boys made a good impression, as they have in seasons past (and having won the food truck during season four).  So kudos to Lanai, his brother Adam and fellow chef Shawn Felipe for bringing aloha to the nation via the TV show.

Food mattered, but so did the spirit of aloha, in competition and culinary savvy, and these guys were great chefs and embodied the Hawaiian spirit. …

Around town

Entertainer Willy Falk and his partner Andrew have been in and out of town, returning to their New York digs. They flew to Maui first, then paused in Honolulu, before flying home.

And it was quite an experience. Their usual Maui hotel choice was going for $2,000, but they found a b&b at a more reasonable rate; rental cars were absurdly priced, but unavailable anyway, but located an affordable vehicle via Turo.com.

It had been a joyous but topsy-turvy visit, since they were even booed by Hawaiian activitists on Maui, shouting “go back home.”

Such is the tumultuous tone amid the visitor industry, as things return to normalcy.

Had a chance to dine with them at Assaggio Bistro in Kahala, which didn’t have our reservation but managed to provide a table, yet another small pock mark on the recovery process. The New Yorkers dodged Waikiki hotel rates (as if rooms were readily available) by staying at the Kaimuki home of the late Neva Rego, still occupied by her business partner Betty Grierson, so that was a blessing.

Willy had been signed to create and star in a Disney cruise on the East Coast, rehearsals for which were halted at the start of the pandemic, and soon will begin again, with plans to finally launch after this long delay.

Because Willy is a Punahou grad, he knew the late entertainer-philanthropist Joy Abbott, also an alum, so there was some discussion about her passing two years ago, and a memorial service held earlier this month. One thing we agreed on: Abbott not only was a wonderful singer and theatrical pillar, she missed her calling as a stand-up comic. “I once had a competition with Joy, to see if we could come up with 25 jokes with the punch line, and she won,” he opined. …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

With Broadway prepping its fall comeback in New York, NBC also is reopening its playbook with plans to revive “Annie,” airing live on TV, on Dec. 2.

Harry Connick Jr. has been cast as Daddy Warbucks and Taraji P. Henson will perform as Miss Hannigan. The Annie role has not yet been announced.

The resumption of Broadway live via TV thus lights up the small screen, making NBC the key network for live stagings of cherished musicals.

The Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Harold Gray’s comic strip features music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan. “Tomorrow” was the breakout hit from the show.

Alex Rudzinski will direct.

Long a stage classic, the Tony-winning show will be the fourth filmed version, preceded by the original 1982 TV movie co-starring Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, the 1999 remake with Kathy Bates and Victor Garber, and the 2014 version with Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz.

‘Harry Potter’ returning as a single play

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will resume on Broadway this fall, but staged as one show instead of the two-part original that played the Great White Way prior to the pandemic.

Thus, “Cursed Child” will premiere next Nov. 16 at the Lyric Theatre in New York, where the two-parter had been in residency for a couple of years. Another premiere will be Jan. 11, 2022, at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, followed by a Canadian company debuting in May 2022 at the Mirvish Theatre in Toronto.

The one-show format will enable to audiences to still enjoy a journey of magic and mystique, with a mature Potter but with the convenience of getting the tale told in a single visit, vs. a second time slot for part two.

Fourth and foremost

“A Capitol Fourth,” a PBS concert airing on Sunday (July 4), will be multi-tiered Fourth of July celebration, though minus the traditional live show from the West Lawn of the U.S. capitol.

Instead, Vanessa Williams will host a myriad of pre-taped performances originating from a gamut of locations across the country, though there will be a few live moments.

Hawaii’s Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of Disney’s “Moana” animated feature, will be among the performers to be featured.’’ She will sing “A Whole New World,” from “Aladdin,” originating at the Unisphere in Queens, New York, while Mickey Guyton performs “Without a Net.”

Jimmy Buffett sings Woody Guthrie’s signature “This Land Is Your Land,” taped from California, with quick clips depicting the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty.

Alan Jackson emerges from Nashville, for a taste of country; Renee Fleming brings her operatic sizzle to deliver the national anthem; Cynthia Erivo performs from Southern California.

Among other legendary troupers on board: Gladys Knight, Jimmie Allen, Ali Stroker, Laura Osnes; “Hamilton” star Christopher Jackson shares the patriotic “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”

Pentatonix (from Los Angeles), Train (from San Francisco) and Jennifer Nettles (from Time Square on Broadway) also take the spotlight.

NASA astronauts, Kermit the Frog and the National Symphony Orchestra reflect the diversity of celebrants, embracing the message of patriotism, love, unity and hope…

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

To escape the clutches and controversary surrounding her efforts to abolish her conservatorship ties with her father, entertainer Britney Spears has escaped to Hawaii with her beau for rest and recreation, perhaps hoping that resolution will swerve her way.

Her destination and vacation details are not known; but overnight, a Los Angeles judge has denied her request.

Legal beagles admit Spears’ case might be a challenging battle; her next date in court had been set for July 14, but might be changed with the new wrinkle in her battle

Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, has been her co-conservator for the past 13 years, an alliance intended to provide protection for her. At 39, she obviously feels she is no longer vulnerable for career abuse, and has been seeking to terminate the conservatorship.

Whatever the outcome, perhaps the lesson is: it may be best for career entertainers who begin as young and budding performers to seek managerial leadership outside of the family. When the friction is within the ohana, it surely becomes a sticky wicket. …

‘Love Island’ filming in Hilo

Two Hawaii competitors will be featured on CBS’ “Love Island,” seeking amour this summer, with filming originating from the Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo (a Doubletree Resort).

They are Christian Longnecker, 24, owner of a coffee company, and Kyra Lizama, 23, a coronavirus relief worker.

The show will premier Wednesday (July 6) on CBS, then will be screened at varying time slots through the end of the season. So check your TV guide for airtimes.

Host Arielle Vandenberg and narrator Matthew Hoffman return filming on the premises of the Big Island’s beachfront hotel.

for fun and frolic, both indoors and out. Perhaps the cast and crew have been advised that Hilo is known for sprinkles and rain, even during the summer, so umbrellas and tents might be at the ready just in case there’s an occasional drizzle.

In short, temptation and temperament will be displayed, and on Love Island, there can only be one love couple. …

Double the Silky pleasure

Silk Sonic clearly is leaving its door open … for more laurels.

SS, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, immediately became fans of followers, radio and websites, with the release of its first chart powerhouse, “Leave the Door Open.”

The tune easily passed the 1 million sales mark, landing at No. 1 on the Billboard survey, and since has and surpassed the 2 million level, making Silk Sonic eligible for a second (2 times) platinum certification.
According to Hip Hop by the Numbers, Mars and .Paak should further earn a second plaque from the Record Industry Assn. of America (RIAA).

Surprisingly, Mars is the winningest RIAA-winning artist of all time, collecting five of the 60 awards so far presented. …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

…

Colleagues and friends of the late Joy Valderrama Abbott bid her a final adieu at a mid-day gathering Wednesday (June 23) at Waialae Beach near the park. They couldn’t let the coronavirus further delay a memorial gathering.

Abbott was a well-known singer, dancer, philanthropist, businesswoman, tennis and golf enthusiast and a Broadway booster who resided in three states: Hawaii, Florida and Pennsylvania.

She died on Feb. 8, 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic began to lock down life and activities, so a planned memorial then was cancelled. A year later, when COVID 19 was still in full bloom, here and elsewhere, it still was not prudent to hold a memorial service on the first anniversary of her passing.

Instead, a quiet, private remembrance gathering finally was held on the Waialae shoreline, with flowers dancing as if choreographed by Abbott. It was a time to reflect and say aloha to a beloved trouper.

Abbott was a member of Punahou School’s class of 1948, and her lifetime friend and fellow student, Elva Yoshihara, assembled a handful of Buffanblu grads for the send-off, with the scriptures shared by Philip Ching, also a classmate. An informal lunch at Waialae Country Club followed.

Abbott was the widow of the legendary Broadway producer, director, and playwright George Abbott, whose iconic creations included “Damn Yankees,” “Pajama Game” and “Pal Joey.”

While she never performed on Broadway, she was an advocate of theater and had been staging the “Mr. Abbott Awards,” honoring a luminary on the Great White Way, annually until her death.

She had an unbridled passion for the stage, particularly the Broadway musicals, and was never shy to share her vocal talents. In recent years, Abbott staged free cabaret performances tapping Jim Howard as her pianist accompanist. To reciprocate, her Arcadia friends even hosted a birthday party for her a couple of years ago.

Yoshihara recalls her BFF’s “never say no” spirit, citing an occasion from the past where Judy Murata invited them to dinner at the House Without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel, in the era where Kanoe Miller was the featured hula soloist.

 “At that time, Joy had not had her second knee surgery or second hip surgery, so she was having a hard time walking with a cane,” said Yoshihara, who assisted Abbott to the stage.

Abbott replied, “Elva, when I’m on stage, I have no pain.”

Indeed, she was prone to so many surgeries – her shoulders, her knees, her hips – that I affectionately called her Bionic Woman because of numerous operations and interior replacements.

She had a flair for fashions, so she was always clad in attractive, eye-catching gowns. While her Hawaii gigs were informal and intimate, she also staged a Hawaii Theatre performance in decades past, where he singing and dancing and vogue-ish manners intersected. Oh, she also had a warehouse of jokes that she could share, mostly off stage.

Her indomitable spirit to entertain began years ago. At age 8, she was known as the Shirley Temple of Hawaii. As a performer for her business company named Moana, she did frequent shows, but after she met and married George Abbott in 1983, after a 25-year courtship, she curtailed her performances as her husband’s career flourished on the Great White Way. He died in 1995.

Joy graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1953, where she excelled as a nationally known tennis player, competing her collegiate career as the captain of her undefeated team, earning a slot in the Temple University Hall of Fame.

Her allegiance to Temple resulted in the formation of the George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater at the college, ensuring support and academic opportunities, for future generations of theater students. In 2007, Joy bequeathed her ownership share and future royalties earned through production of George Abbott shows, along with memorabilia, to the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Joy also had a friend and business partner, Jerry Mirrow, who assisted her in staging shows on the East Coast and in Florida. They were companions until her death …

And that’s “Show Biz.” …

The local surfing and acting community is buzzing with of an HBO Max series, entitled “Ke Nui Road,” filming in the epicenter of North Shore watersports.

Producer John Wells is launching “Ke Nui Road,” focusing on the North Shore surfers and lifeguards, zooming in on the relationships between an elite crew of heavy-water lifeguards and the young adults and tees they train and mentor in a junior lifeguard program.

One intent of the contemporary drama is to capture the pulse of the lifeguard profession that embraces the dangers, the beauty, and the struggles of the unpredictable currents and waves, amid the island-style spirit of aloha.

Clearly, this one will require and hire a bunch of water-experienced swimmers and surfers, plus crowds of extras if a surfing meet is part of the agenda.

To the regulars who live and love the water culture, the film’s title will immediately ring a bell of recognition. The location is the epicenter of the project; Ke Nui Road is a brand of sorts, with an element of attraction and adventure, where residents and surfers traverse. In heavy wave season, the road becomes a character of sorts, too, fighting for survival along the coast, where the Pacific Ocean can unexpectedly spill into the shoreline properties of residents, while surfers try to catch the waves, as part of the mainstream surfing tradition.

Matt Kester (“Animal Kingdom”) will be an executive producer who also will provide the script.

There’s no word on how many shows will filmed, but the camera-hungry crowd here is excited about casting that’s still under way, because series “regular” roles are likely to be filled with Hawaii actors/athletes.

As one online post advises, “Time to check in with your agent.”

Wells has numerous TV and film credits, but he is best known as a showrunner and exec producer of such series as “ER,” “Third Watch,” “The West Wing,” “Shameless,” “Animal Kingdom,” and “American Woman.” …

And that’s “Show. Biz.” …