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HAWAII’S BARE-FOOTED TONY WINNER

There was one notable Tony Award winner from Hawaii, in Broadway’s biggest event last night. And she put her best (bare foot) forward.

Nicole Scherzinger, who’s been performing as fading movie star Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Blvd.” revival, won the battle of the divas over Audra McDonald, a nominee for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Scherzinger, an island native, delivered a powerful, nuanced “As if We’ve Never Said Goodbye,” a song and role that earlier earned her an Olivier Award in London, before the show made its way to New York. If you watched her last evening, you might have noticed her local-style tradition of a hula dancer: she performed her solo in bare feet. Cool!

Nicole Scherzinger

However, our  hometown daily, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, didn’t mention her Hawaii ties (shameful), in the manini Tony coverage this morn; they either didn’t give a hoot or simply didn’t know.

Scherzinger is making her Broadway debut with “Sunset”  – you go, girl! – and acknowledged Lloyd Webber’s support of her trans-Atlantic journey…and her knock-out victory over the winningest Tony trouper  ever – McDonald, who performed “Rosie’s Turn.”  ‘Twas a difficult version to watch, with moments of grotesque moves of seeming desperation and exasperation.  A seventh Tony trophy eluded her…

Unforgivable: The Tonys snubbed one nominee in this category – Jasmine Amy Rogers’ role as Betty Boop in “BOOP! The Musical.” She and the new musical were denied equal screen time…

By the way, there was another  island moment that most viewers likely missed. In his acceptance speech for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role, winner Francis Jue – in the Asian play that featured Daniel Dae Kim and his nomination–  did a shout-out to his longtime Hawaii friend, Alvin Ing, a pioneering Asian American actor (now deceased) known for “Pacific Overtures” and “Flower Drum Song,” who gifted Jue with a black  bow tie to wear when wins a Tony. He did, wear and win…

Some observations:

Darrin Criss
  • A new dawn beckons, with a new generation of emerging Broadway stars, like Darrin Criss in “Maybe Happy Ending” (Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Musical), Michael Arden of “Maybe Happy Ending (Best Director of a Musical), “Oh Mary!” (Cole Escola, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and the first nonbinary actor; Sam Pinkleton, Best Director).
  • That medley from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton”  was nothing short of astounding, marking the 10th anniversary of the hit show still running at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. The tunes —  yes, with such titles as  “The Room Where It Happened,”  “My Shot,” “Alexander Hamilton,” “The Schuyler Sisters” –  were performed by the original cast dressed in formal  attire or black – instead of the usual costumes, with the exception of Jonathan Groff, who donned a kingly red jacket and carried a scepter, on ”You’ll Be Back,” as King George III. But he carried a scepter…
Jonathan Groff
  • The aforementioned Groff stunned Keanu Reeves, when the former – singing a medley from  his “Just in Time” musical – leaped onto the latter’s arm rests while the cameras caught the awkward straddling moment, clearly one of the evening’s best impromptu moments.
  • Cynthia Ervio,  who hosted the CBS show, is a terrific singer and a efficient host. She dons expensive gowns, but the garments are way out of this world,  which might be fashionable to some, but largely bizarre to many. Is there another designer in the house?
  • Is Andrew Lloyd Webber returning to Broadway?  The prolific composer, who herald ed “the ritish invasion” of shows, apparently is shopping sites for a possible revival of “The Phantom of the Opera,”  and a new immersion musical “The Illusionist.” Truly, ALW is a dying breed, the lone creator for decades of theatrical phenoms. Think about it: the likes of Rodgers & Hammerstein are non-existent, with only R&H revivals available. ALW can rehash titles , too, like “Evita,”  “CATS,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and “Starlight Express.” But only  one –“Phantom” — has had staying power, like 35 years. And he’s got another newbie sooner than later…
Aaron Tviet
  • Another opening, another show
  • Nothing like announcing your forthcoming new show on the Tonys. Aaron Tviet (last seen in  “Moulin Rouge” and “Sweeney Todd”) and Lea Michele (last seen in “Funny Girl”) will co-star in the revival of “Chess,” a Cold War musical also feauring Nicholas Christopher. No dates were announced on the awards cast, but the show – with tunes by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyrics by Tim Rice – is expected to be on Broadway at a Shubert theater…

By George, he did it!

George Clooney
  • Don’t think that George Clooney, sitting with his wife Amal Clooney at the Radio City Music Hall, expected to be nominated for the Best Actor Tony award (for his role in ‘Good Luck, and Good Night,”) much less with winning the coveted prize, but he had guts and grits to (1) star in the play, (2) get it produced in a theater and (3) earn him a Best Actor nomination, and,  further (1) stage a live performance on CNN for a global audience, (2) sell it to a marketing team and (3) attract a supportive and receptive ticket-buying audience which set gross records exceeding $4 million every week of its run.
    If nothing else, the Tony organization should award Clooney (next year) a special Tony award for this once-in-lifetime achievement, for his commitment to the performing arts, for taking a stand with his timely message of addressing challenges in our world fractured by lies, fears and threats…  
         And that’s Show Biz…

And that’s Show Biz

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NEW SHOWS FOR EX-‘5-0’ STARS

Scott Caan, one of the  former co-stars of “Hawaii Five-0,” has been cast in Netflix’s new film, the sequel to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” set to begin filming this summer. This film will be one of Caan’s biggest since he mostly does TV shows. However, specifics about his role are unknown.

Meanwhile, Daniel Dae Kim’s Amazon Prime Video spy-thriller, “Butterfy,” will flutter in a streamer set to premiere Aug. 13. The former star of such TV faves like “Lost,” “Five-0,” and “The Good Doctor,” will have the lead role as David Jung, a former U.S. intelligence operative who emerges as a prime target, in the six-episode thriller adapted from a graphic novel from Arash Amel and Marguerite Bennett.

While Caan’s role has not yet be defined, he will be in Dave Fincher’s follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 flick, which starred Brad Pitt as the stuntman Cliff Booth, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Pitt will return to the sequel, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio  as the fading movie star whose film double is Pitt. Margo Robbie will appear as Sharon Tate, whose stardom grows with the Manson Family lurking in the background.

Daniel Dae Kim headlines Prime Video’s “Butterfly” streamer, beginning Aug. 13.

The “Butterfly” project includes co-star Reina Hardesty as Rebecca, with Piper Perabo, Louis Landau, Kim Ji-hoon Park Hae-soo, Kim Tae-hee, Charles Parnell, Sean Dulake and Nayoon Kim also featured…

Father’s Day events

The Makaha Sons will headline a Father’s Day concert and buffet June 15 at Mango Street. Gail Mack and Gordon Kim will be the opening act.

The Makaha Sons perform Father’s Day at Mango Street Grill.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for the buffet dinner, which will be available from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. The performances will follow.

Cost is $82 per person for adults, $41 for youths 3 to 9, and free for children 2 and younger. Pre-sales continue through June 12, at (808) 627-5451, for reserved seating. All sales are final.

Augie T and Andy Bumatai will entertain dads at Blue Note Hawaii.

Comedians Augie T and Andy Bumatai will be featured in a Father’s Day brunch show, at 1 p.m. June 15 at Blue Note Hawaii.

Doors open at 11 a.m. for beverage and food service.

Admission is $56.47 for premium seating, $45.70 for loge and bar area seating; the cost includes fees and tax.

Reservations: www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890…

Broadway grosses, for the week ending June 1

“Good Night, and Good Luck” remains the sole $4 million club production on the Great White Way, for the week ending June 1.

The  Top 10:

1—”Good Night, And Good Luck,”  $4.246 million

 2—”Othello,” $3.550 million

3—” Wicked,” $2.302 million

4—”The Lion King,” $2.008 million

5—”Glengarry Glen Ross,” $2.005 million

6—”Hamilton,” $1.926 million

7—”The Picture of Dorian Gray,” $1.457 million

8—”Aladdin,” $1.366 million

9—” Death Becomes Her,” $1.346 million

10—“Sunset Blvd.,” $1.253 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

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‘STITCH’ SKIPPED STREAMING ROUTE

There’s joy and jubilation aplenty, in Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” summertime hit.

Islanders flocking back to the cinema, to enjoy a bona fide treasure and pleasure, will realize this isn’t a kiddie film. It’s a dramady with laughs, with a positive script and appealing cartoon characters coming to life.

Surely, you must know someone in the film – a relative, a neighbor down the street, a hula dancer you’ve seen –so there’s plenty to applaud. Further, “L&S” appear to be this year’s smash hit, so clap like crazy. With its opening weekend gross last week topping $183 million domestically, it’s almost certain that a Disney sequel will be in the works in the distant future.

Stitch with Lilo (Maia Kealoha): Skipping streaming for the big screen.

For the record, Disney earlier pegged “Lilo & Stitch” as a streaming film via its Disney+. Luckily, somebody saw gold and plans swiftly changed. “L&S’s” performance – a live-action flick with cartoon roots — was No. 2 for the Mouse House for the first weekend — with “The Lion King” checking in at No. 1 with $171 million” in 2019  and “Beauty & the Beast” garnering $174 million in 2017.

Maia Kealoha

Clearly, the blue alien from the cartoon original is back and steals the picture. Stitch was naughty, two decades again, and he’s still unabashedly eager to create havoc, and he’s the key non-human (also known as 626, in his earlier life) we still adore. The cutie who steals the film is newcomer Maia Kealoha, who brings Lilo to life, but she’s still  searching for a friend, still loving Elvis Presley on vinyl, and  is unafraid to shove her hula halau smartie off the stage. She needs a companion badly, and this turns out to be Stitch, who resembles a dog or a koala bear, who’s blue, with a lot of teeth, has special powers, and well, becomes a pet and a companion in escapades that put both in trouble. Lilo names him Stitch, and he arrives from the heavens and they become best buddies. Message here: you take the friend that crashes in your troubled life.

Tia Carrere

Her sister Nani (Sydney Agudon) still frets about holding a job, finding another one, caring for Lilo, and dodges the social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere) who wants to split the family. But yes, Lilo and Stitch both know – family means ‘ohana, and no one gets left behind. 

‘Twas the mantra then, and it still works now. If you don’t abandon hope.

Ksipo Dudoit

Kaipo Dudoit, appearing as David Kawena in his feature film debut, has a crush on Nani, and is a neighbor of Lilo and Nani. Off camera, he dances hula with Robert Cazimero’s Merrie Monarch-winning Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, occasionally sings with his father’s group Ho‘okena, plays the violin, and is a massage therapist. Reviewers are calling him a hunk! He boasts a fit body, and he’s got trendy, Hawaiian tattoos.

Amy Hill

And how can you resist  Tutu (Amy Hill), the caring surrogate grandmother to Lilo and Stitch and a neighborhood pal anyone would want and comes to your rescue.  She voiced a fruit seller in the animated cartoon, but in the flesh, she’s precious. Looks the part, talks the part, and has the heart of a beloved tutu wahine.

Heard, but not seen – the enthusiastic and engaging Kamehameha Schools Children Chorus (directed by Lynette K. Bright – performing the charismatic “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” this time with American Idol winner Iam Tongi plus Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu joining in. That tune, plus “He Mele No Lilo,” are back for another serenade, with links to the first animated “Lilo & Stitch” film. They were good luck charms then, and lovely sounds of aloha now, like great friends reunited again.

Chris Kekaniokalani Bright

There’s more off-camera camaraderie in the screenwriter role. Chris Kekaniokalani Bright co-wrote the movie with Mike Van Waes. Chris’s mom is Lynelle Bright, Kamehameha Schools Children Chorus, and as a child, Chris became friends with Dean Dubois and Chris Sanders, original screenplay writers of the first “L&S” cartoon feature, sharing cultural and island history then. Sanders directed the cartoon and voiced Stitch, and leaves everyone in stitches in the live-action update. However, the director here is Dean Fleischer Camp, known for his precious “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” who masterly nurtured the spirit of Hawaii and delivered the right touches and sentiments dealing with woman/female issues of life challenges. Lilo is a little princess, but this is not your customary princess adventure.

Locals also know that Chris’ father Clarke Bright is now bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band, and conductor of the orchestra at all I’m a Bright Kid Foundation musicals, and his grandmother is Mo Bright and late grandfather was Ronald B. Bright, legendary director and drama teacher at Castle High School.

Clooney drama will air live before Tonys

George Clooney’s “Good Night and Good Luck” continues to sit atop Broadway’s weekly box office grosses, for the week ending May 25. The play has set records, now in the lofty $4 million club; it is vying  for five Tony Awards, including Clooney’s Best Actor in a Drama nomination in the  June 8 event. The  show will air live in an unprecedented screening at 7 p.m. ET (1 p.m. Hawaii time) the day before, June 7.

The Top 10:

1—”Good Night, and Good Luck,” $4.238 million

2—”Othello,” $3.327 million

3—“Glengarry Glen Ross,” $2.750 million

4—”Wicked,“ $2.353 million

5—”The Lion King,” $2.055 million

6—“Hamilton,” $1.956 million

7—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.559 million

8—”Aladdin,” $1.349 million

9—”Moulin Rouge! The Musical,“ $1.277 million

10–“The Outsiders,” $1.268 million

The full list, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

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‘LA MANCHA:’ VOICES/SONGS/SET

There are three elements in Diamond Head Theatre’s “Man of La Mancha” that elevate, fascinate  and thrill audiences:

  • The pair of lead voices of Buz Tennent as Miguel de Cervantes /Alonso Quijano/Don Quixote and Anna Young as Prisoner/Aldonza/Dulcinea bring power and finesse to their roles. Note the slashes (/) between the character names; they’re plentiful in this show.
  • The inspirational and immortal tune, “The Impossible Dream,” is the exit song audiences sing or hum en route home. And Tennent owns this one, each time he sings it. He projects, perfects, and protects the integrity of the power ballad that is the essence of hope and conquest.
Deanne Kennedy’s set design, with arches, is formidable and functional. A walkway, right, descends to provide entry and exit in two scenes. Brandon Miyagi photos, courtesy Diamond Head Theatre.
  • Deanne Kennedy’s impressive single set, comprising eye-filling arches beneath which all the action takes place, is formidable and smartly functional. There are smaller arches reflected in the window designs, and this single three-in-one set disavows noisy movements of smaller set pieces shoved on and off stage, a problematic quest  for DHT since its new theater opened. The set is challenged only by a metallic staircase that unexpectedly drops from the heavens, sort of,  to provide a dramatic entrance and exit in two scenes in the show. Smoothly and quietly.

The musical, written by Dale Wasserman (book), Mitch Leigh (music) and Joe Darion (lyrics), is a tangle of hope, dreams, and intentions of a playwright and poet (Quixote), who is fascinated by windmills, and his idealism, imagination and inclinations collide in his characterizations. Simply, he struggles and is conflicted between reality and delusion. As Cervantes, he is sent to prison during the Spanish Inquisition where he relates the tales of Don Quixote via a play-within-a-play with his  fellow prisoners to protect his Quixote novel.

Buz Tennent, as Don Quixote, owns the “Impossible Dream” tune.

Multiple themes – perseverance, imagination, and the element of dreams – are   heightened via recurrence  and repetition. Quixote and his devoted manservant, Sancho Panza (Mo Radke) are Spaniards in Seville, though their mission to right wrongs and undo evils, might emulate the knights of the roundtable upholding chivalry in “Camelot.”

Anna Young is Aldonza, aka Dulcinea.

 The delusional Quixote mistakes a windmill for a huge four-armed giant. Worse, at a roadside inn Quixote thinks it’s a castle, and he challenges muleteers and recognizes Aldonza, who toils at the inn, but mistakes her for Lady Dulcinea, to whom he has been eternally loyal. Also shamelessly loyal: Sancho, who pledges his bond with Quixote on “I Really Like Him.”

This not the easiest show to sit through, because of the volley of themes and tuneful reprises. Besides the two lead voices, there are a few other dependable and dedicated singers, too: Larry Paxton (Padre), Garrett Hols (Dr. Carrasco) and Lainey Hicks (Antonia).

Director Bryce Chaddock is like a prison warden here, taking on this journey of quixotic quests and dreams of a creative soul searching for perfection in an imperfect world. Of the cast of 21, 15 play prisoners and other double- and triple-cast roles.

Two faux horses generate smiles and appeal; they giddy-yup and trot with amusement and charm, but the actors are not credited in the playbill. At least, I couldn’t detect the identities.

John Rampage is choreographer, though “La Mancha” isn’t a dance-centric show.

 Jenny Shiroma gets a full sound from her eight-piece orchestra, and the tech work is efficient and clean – Dawn Oshima (lighting), Mike Minor (sound), Kyle Connor (props), Emily Lane (costumes) and Mia Yoshimoto (hair and makeup) can all take a bow.

Advisory: There is no intermission, so the advice is to sip your drinks and visit the bathroom before the show. Running time: 1:55…

And that’s Show Biz…

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‘Man of La Mancha’

What: A musical about Miguel Cervantes, who stages his ‘Man of La Mancha’ while imprisoned. The show was written by Dale Wasserman (book), Mitch Leigh (music) and Joe Darion (lyrics).

Where: Diamond Head Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays;  extended playdates at 7:30 p.m. June 13 and 3 p.m. June 14.

Tickets: $41 to $68, at www.diamondheadtheatre.com and (808) 733-0274

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SEE ‘STITCH,’ THEN BUY THE MERCH

Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” now in the multi-plex theaters over the Memorial Day weekend, is anticipated to break box office records by Monday, a holiday.

The Hawaii-filmed project is surely to draw a family audience, whose patronage will probably boost the film with a $175 to $180 million gross, besting the Paramount-Tom Cruise “Mission: Impossible —  The Final Reckoning” summertime powerhouse.

“Lilo & Stitch” will be driven by the popularity of the naughty-but-nice blue alien, who is the lone cartoonish character in the film, and an obvious scene-stealer. And sorry, Lilo, the most popular figure from the movie.

You know a film is hot, hot, hot, when it is accompanied by a swarm of merchandise to accompany the buzz from the movie. And while Lilo has a few entries in the buyables, Stitch is going to be the character to fuel the jingling cash registers.

Stitch talking plush.

Parents, get your charge cards ready. The merch looks wonderful, and the kid on the block to be the first to get one of the items will be the king or queen of  the summer. But several items are for adults, so parents won’t be left out. But because of the prices of the products, moms and dads mahy prefer to save the purchases as Christmas gifts. But knowing Disney, there will be more stuff later that Santa will deliver to the young ones.

Stitch canvas tote,

Since Disney Stores have vanished in Hawaii, the easiest way to buy merch will be via online. So let me share a preview, with prices, of some of the best gifts available while stocks are plentiful.

The cool finds:

  • A basic Stitch “talking” plush, $39,99.His eyes light up and shows many moods.
Stitch sweatshirt.
  • An oversized vinyl Stitch, $24.99.
  • A puppetronic Stitch plush, $49.99. A hand inserted into a cutout on the back of Stitch’s head makes the doll’s mouth open to “talk.”
  • A Lego house, presumably where Stitch lives with Lilo, $89.99.
  • An adult sweatshirt, with ‘Ohana lettering on the back, $79.99.
  • A canvas tote, depicting a surfing Stitch, $19.99.
Stitch crocs.
  • An adult blue pair of Cros, festooned with Stitch images, $64.99

Go to www.disneystore.com to purchase and see more official Stitch buyables. Other sites, like Etsy and Target, may  carry some of these items, or variations thereof.

Of course, you know that the cast includes many local actors, including:

  • Maia Kealoha, as Lilo.
  • Kaipo Dudoit, as David Kawena.
  • Jason Scott Lee, as the luau manager.
  • Sydney Agudong, as Nani Kelekai.
  • Amy Hill, as Tutu.
  • Tia Carrere, as Mrs. Kekoa.
  • Celia Kaleialoha Kenney, as AJ.

Another local notable, with an esteemed credit: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, one of the screenplay writers for “Lilo & Stitch.”

And that’s Show Biz…