The fall season for Hawaii’s theater community brings two acclaimed productions this weekend. One is very appealing and time-tested for local — or loco — palates, with previous sell-out runs at Kumu Kahua Theatre. The other is a Tony Award-winning musical, making its Hawaii debut and bustling with feel-good feelings, inspired by the life-changing after effects of 9/11.
Manoa Valley Theatre is reinventing Lee Cataluna’s beloved comedy, “Da Mayah,” which explores the hijinks of a shady Hilo mayah – that’s mayor, in pidgin. The laugh-filled local-style political shenanigans opened last night (Sept. 11). And I believe this is Cataluna’s debut at MVT; welcome, dear prolific one — better late than never.
Diamond Head Theatre presents the island premiere of “Come From Away,” a true and timely 9/11 story of humanity about the residents of Gander, Newfoundland, which welcomed 38 airborne flights to land in their airports when other airports were locked up and shut down during the tragic bombings of New York’s Twin Towers. The drama opens tonight (Sept. 12).
Due to public demand for tickets – many performances are virtually sold out — MVT has already tacked on two extended playdates, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 and 3 pm. Oct. 5; if you seek seats, this would be where you’ll find ‘em.
DHT’s “Come From Away” should attract theater-goers, too. The announced run should end Sept. 28, but an extension for a couple more shows could happen.
The “Mayah” cast features politics, secrets, and plenty of mishaps collide in Hilo with a shady new mayor, his stressed-out assistant, a bumbling hitman, and a karaoke bar owner who’s seen it all. The talented cast includes Devon Nekoba, Elexis Draine, Matthew Miller, Karen Kuioka Hironaga, Stu Hirayama, Juvy Lucina, and Sharon Garcia Doyle.
Themes of politics, secrets, and mishaps galore collide in Hilo with a questionable new mayor, his stressed-out assistant, a bumbling hitman, and a karaoke bar owner.
“Come From Away,” written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, features Howard Bishop, Andrew Erwin, Kalani Hicks, Samuel Tofolo, Isiah Gundermann Graham, Jarren Amian, Vanessa Manuel-Mazullo, Courtney Watanabe, Leleaʻe “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong, Ainsley Shearer, and Chelsea LeValley.
Imagine if you’re landed in an unfamiliar turf, without your luggage and become friends with your giving, kind Gander folks, who provide shelter and kindness and rescue you with an outpouring of unexpected aloha spirit while America, and the world, were rewriting the nature of travel amid the fiendish skies.
The DHT cast met with Vikram Garg, a real-life global restaurateur, of UMI at Halepuna Waikiki Hotel, who had a front seat in the Newfoundland situation, creating meals and fellowship and hope, and he wound up as a character in the tale of resilience, sharing, and caring. On Sept. 11, DHT welcomed first responders to take in the musical, which features gentle folk-rock music in the spirit of healing during a dark time in history.
For MVT tickets, call (808) 988-6131.
For DHT tickets, call (808) 733-0274.
‘Hamilton’ is where it’s still happening
“Hamilton” still rules, and Leslie Odom, back in the show as Aaron Burr, surely is the reason. “Wicked” still is defying gravity, as both “Hamilton” and “Wicked” dominate the $2 million club.
The Top 10:
1—”Hamilton,”$2.150 million
2—“Wicked,” $2.005 million
3–“Mamma Mia!,” $1.503 million
4—“The Lion King,” $1.451 million
5—“Art,” $1.263 million
6—”Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.234 million
7—”Just In Time,” $1.217 million
8—“Oh, Mary!,” $1.213 million
9—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.164 million
10—”John Proctor is the Villain,” $1.054 million
The full list, for the week ending Sept. 7, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…