Hawaii’s Bette Midler stars in “The Fabulous Four,” a wedding comedy also featuring Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
It’s a women’s buddy tale, when four lifelong friends travel to Key West to recreate their friendship bond, as the Midler character, Marilyn, is getting married.
Bette Midler
A trailer debuted on the Tony Awards show, with the film opening July 26.
The bride-to-be Marilyn – a budding Tik Tok star –invites her college chums to be bridesmaids, in her second marriage after hubby’s death.
The gal pals come from different spheres, as they face senior hood. Ralph’s Kitty character is a stoner; Mullally’s Alice has a thing for gummies; and Sarandon’s Lou, in stethoscope and scrubs, executes Face Time chats with her cats….
Traveling man
Robert Cazimero
Robert Cazimero is off to Japan, serving as a judge in Kuana Torres Kahele’s hula competition. Then he stages a concert, featuring the winners of the hula competish…
Was kinda nice to see Cazimero and a flock of island entertainers recently in Hawaiian Airlines’ pre-flight (to New York, anyway) clips of music videos. Among the other acts featured: Henry Kapono, Keali‘i Reichel, Keauhou (with Cazimero) and Kelly Boy DeLima. Music, after all, is one of our state’s precious resources…
‘Five-O’ regular Taylor Wily dies
Taylor Wily, the Honolulu actor who played Kamekona in the reboot of CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O,” died June 20 at age 56. A cause has not been announced. He played a lunch wagon honcho and starred in 171 episodes between 2010 and 2020. Later, he also reprised his role for seven episodes in the 2018 revival of “Magnum, P.I.”
Taylor Wily
Wily’s real name was Teila Tuli.
“I am devastated. Heartbroken,” said Peter Lenkov, the CBS showrunner for both “Five-O” and “Magnum.” “You were family. And I will miss you every day, brother. When we spoke last week, we laughed at how right you were from Day 1. ‘Five-O’ was our dream job. And I was so lucky we got to share that magic together.”…
Ballet Hawaii raises goal
Ballet Hawaii has had to raise its 21 days of giving goal, due to unexpected expenses.
According to Richard Vida, executive director, the ballet company faced an unexpected issue with the installation of new flooring in the main studio, so a new goal of $21,000 has been necessary.
“All monies raised toward this new goal will be restricted and applied to the refurbishment of our floor in studio one,” said Vida.
Services for Jade Stice, beloved actress in island and Broadway shows, will be held July 7 at the Ko‘olau Ballroom in Kaneohe.
The agenda includes visitation from 3 p.m., services at 4 p.m., and a celebration reception following the rites.
Stice died on June 6, in a hiking accident in California. She was 53.
Stice, who graduated in 1988 from Castle High School, exemplified the best values instilled by her Castle High School mentor, the late director Ronald Bright: Believe.
In 1991 Stice set her sights on the bright lights of The Great White Way, auditioning for and securing a role in the original Broadway cast of “Miss Saigon,” which starred Filipino actress Lea Salonga as Kim and Hawaii native Willy Falk as Chris, the American soldier. Stice was an ensemble member, eventually inheriting the role of Ellen, Chris’ wife, in the hit musical.
Later, Stice was a member of the first touring company of another Broadway hit, “Jekyll & Hyde.”
Stice also starred in numerous Hawaii shows, and one of her career highlights was portraying Queen Lili‘uokalani, in the world premiere of “A Timeless Princess” at Mamiya Theatre.
Her Broadway experiences enabled Stice to hone and share her skills, and founded, with sister Ligaya Stice, the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation, to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of Mr. B. Her stage triumphs with IABK included “The Wiz,” “Songs for a New World” and “Children of Eden.”
At the time of her death, she had been planning to work with youngers in IABK’s summer training sessions for island youth, which culminates in a staged production. While theater was her first love, Stice also had passion for and devotion to the Familly Hui Hawaii, where she was stage program manager of the parent support group working to prevent domestic violence. She also was an advocate for the health and wellness of women and children.
The Stice ohana requests that in lieu of flowers, consider donations to the Family Hui Hawai’i or the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation…
Aquarium event a one-night
For the first time since its launch, the Waikiki Aquarium’s “Ke Kani O Ke Kai” summertime concert will be a one-night-only staging, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. today (June 2) on the aquarium grounds.
Kawika Kahiano
Performers will include an all-star lineup of Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning musicians, including Kawika Kahiapo, Bobby Moderow, Robi Kahakalau, Makana, Crossing Rain, andthe 2024 Merrie Monarch Festival Overall Winner, Halau Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai o Haʻehaʻe.
Other guest artists include Joe Berinobis, Dean Wilhelm, Anthony Pfluke, and Dwight Kanae.
Because of on-site construction beginning July 1, only a single concert will be staged this season.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for sponsors and premium ticket holders; general admission entry starts at 5 p.m., with the concert beginning at 6 p.m.
Attendees may explore the aquarium galleries, which will remain open all evening, and guests should bring beach blankets and seats. Outside food or beverages are not allowed; concessions will be available for refreshments.
“Merrily We Roll Along,” which just picked up four Tony Awards this past Sunday (June 16), still is rolling along, this time with cameras filming the Stephen Sondheim show.
Broadway is buzzing about this beloved show, especially with filming underway inside the Hudson Theatre, where “Merrily” has been in residency since last Oct.23, 2023. But finally, the July 7 closing date approaches.
Signs posted outside the Hudson confirm the show is being filmed according to Playbill. But no official word on where its future lies, as a commercial theatrical release, as a PBS production airing on TV, as a streaming film on cable, or as a straight-to-DVD collectible.
The bottom line is hooray, this show is being filmed for posterity! If only more productions could do this.
“Merrily” trio, from left: Lindsay Mendez, Johnathan Gross and Daniel Radcliffe .
The filming will be another notch of success for “Merrily,” originally a Broadway failure that ran for only 16 performance and 44 preview shows. Its 2024 comeback is the stuff of legends, notably because of the show collected four Tonys: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Groff, as Franklin Shepherd), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Daniel Radcliffe, as Charley Kringas), and Best Orchestrations (Jonathan Tunick).
The production is directed by Olivier winner Maria Friedman and features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by George Furth.
Before opening on Broadway, “Merrily” had an off-Broadway run in 2022, at the New York Theatre Workshop, where Groff, Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez, who was a Tony nominee (playing Mary Flynn), developed the chemistry that has been on display since opening at production, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the trio, or the entire ensemble, had a desire to continue rolling along, if possible. (The show was extended several times earlier in the run; and no, a further extension is not possible).
The “Merrily” ensemble will be filming with the show’s leading trio.
A company of nearly 20 has been a part of the successful show.
A cast recording was released Jan. 22, and has been a brisk seller at the show’s merch counter. I bought one when I took in the show, along with a T-shirt, and will surely add a DVS to my purchases if and when it’s available…
Broadway grosses, for week ending June
A couple of new shows have entered the Top 10 list of Broadway shows, including a lone play, but musicals – including “The Lion King” – dominate the chart.
To mark the 75th anniversary of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” musical, Lincoln Center will stage a landmark concert version of the beloved production, assembling the original 2008 revival cast that staged the show at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The one-nighter is set for Dec. 9.
The milestone concert presentation, to be directed by Bartlett Sher, will be part of Lincoln Center’s 2024-25 season.
Loretta Ables Sayre
The show, which earned seven Tony Awards—the most for a revival — will include Hawaii’s Loretta Ables Sayre, who made her Broadway debut and earned a Tony nomination for her performance as Bloody Mary. She performs two iconic tunes, “Happy Talk” and “Bali Hai,” in the score.
Besides Ables Sayre, the luminous cast also featured Kelli O’Hara as Nellie Forbush and Paulo Szot as Emile de Becque. Danny Burstein as Luther Billis and Matthew Morrison as Lieutenant Cable.
Sher’s colleague, Christopher Gattelli, choreographed the musical in the pristine Lincoln Center stage, and the show won all four Tonys in the technical categories.
Sher was Best Director, Szot won the Tony for Leading Actor in a Musical and “South Pacific” was the Best Revival of Musical…
‘Newsies’ auditions at Paliku
Auditions for Disney’s “Newsies” musical will be held at 6:30 p.m. today (June 17) and tomorrow at Paliku Theatre, at Windward Community College.
The auditions are open to youths and adults — it’s a community venture, not children’s theater — will be held at 6:30 p.m. today (June 17) and tomorrow (June 18) at Paliku
“The Outsiders” upset the favored “Hell’s Kitchen,” in last night’s Tony Awards telecast from Lincoln Center in New York City. Big time spoiler surprise.
“The Outsiders,” with roots in a 50-year-old novel about teen angst in Tulsa, Oklahoma, became Broadway’s insider favorite musical, earning four Tonys including Best New Musical.
It toppled Alicia Keys’ favored biographical jukebox tune fest, about growing up in creative community on Manhattan, which picked up just two awards from 13 nominations.
The evening’s big victor, however, was “Stereophonic,” voted Best New Play, despite its musical content, which earned the most Tonys, five, from a field of 13 noms.
“Merrily We Roll Along,” the Stephen Sondheim flop with origins four decades ago, collected four wins, in a resurrection mounting, including Best Revival of a Musical, plus first-time Tonys for its two male leads, Johnathan Groff (Best Leading Actor in a Musical) and Daniel Radcliffe (Best Featured Actor in a Musical).
The disappointing outcome of “Kitchen” might have been an indicator, when Danya Taymor won Best Director of a Musical, for “The Outsiders,” early on.
Some reflections:
Too much of a good thing:
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys jump into action, joining the “Hells Kitcheb” cast. However, they are not in the show..
Expectations were high for “Kitchen,” which received a somewhat over-hefty airtime of nearly 20 minutes, when three selections from the score were staged as the first of the salutes to the musical contenders. In the final moments, performers Alicia Keys and Jay-Z – who are not in the cast – took to the stage, then traipsed into the audience to compete the number to roaring applause. When the Best New Musical category, the evening’s nightcap, was to be announced, Keys appeared ready to return to the stage. Ouch!
My favorite fling:
Disclosure: After being in New York for a week, watching five of the nominated shows, I assumed “Kitchen” would be the victor, and didn’t book tickets to see it, so I was rooting for “Merrily We Roll Along,” for the camaraderie of the trio of leads, the unexpected humor and gentle charm of the Sondheim score, and the easy-flowing, easy-going melodics. The show also won a Tony for Best Orchestrations (Johnathan Tunick). For all the CD soundtracks available for sale, I opted for one such purchase: “Merrily.” And have been listening to the music since returning home.
Fast talker
Daniel Radcliffe won his first Tony, for “Merrily We Roll Along.”
Daniel Radcliffe was totally incredible as Charley Krigas, playing a lyricist in the show. He was hysterical in his acceptance comments, for his first Tony win as a featured actor in a musical, opining, I’m going to talk fast and try not to cry…I don’t even have to act in this show…I will never have it this good again.”
Cry, baby, cry
Johnathon Groff also picked up his first Tony for”Merrily We Roll Along.”
Jonathan Groff, 39, wept, went he started reading his prepared comments, triggering teary eyes for viewers. He won his first Tony as Best Leading Actor in a Musical, in which he played composer Franklin Shepherd in “Merrily We Roll Along.”
“Thank you for letting me dress up like Mary Poppins when I was 3,” Groff said, addressing his parents. “Thank you for letting me act out scenes from ‘I ‘Love Lucy’ on my 10th birthday. Thank you for always allowing my freak flag to fly without ever making me feel weird about it.”
“Even if they didn’t always understand me, my family knew the lifesaving power of fanning the flame of a young person’s passions without judgment,
“I walk through life with an open heart because you let me know that I could,” he added.
VIP producers
Angelina Jolie
Two notables, one from the big screen, the other from the pollical realm, were key producers for shows that picked up trophies. Angelina Jolie, one of the producers of “The Producers,” introduced a production number. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced “Suffs,” a musical based on women suffragettes, which earned a Tony for Best Book of a Musical. Wisely, she reminded everyone this is an election year, and encouraged all go out to vote, without political bias.
Hillary Clinton
Empty handed
To say that being nominated is ample reward, l let’s cut the bull. No one loves losing, but someone – or some shows, this case – go home empty handed.
These productions had zero results in the voting, though a few truly were denied recognition:
“Water for Elephants,” “Back to the Future: The Musical,” “Lempicka,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Here Lies Love,” “Grey House,” “The Notebook,” “Gutenberg! The Musical, and “The Who’s Tommy.”
The local angle
Hawaii’s Nicole Scherzinger delivered an emotional and fitting version of “What I Did for Love,” an official show biz anthem from “A Chorus Line,” in a In Memoriam segment. She likely will be a musical contender in next year’s Tonys, as she is starring as Norma Desmond, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” opening Oct. 20 on Broadway. It’s an import from the West End, where sh”e earned an Olivier Award.
Amazing artistry
One thing about the Tony show is how stage designers and stagehands can swiftly and handily replicate the original environments of the key nominees. The rainstorm from “The Outsiders” is a more complicated task, than the office-like setting for “Merrily We Roll Along.” The circus-inspired template of “Water for Elephants” opted for outdoor gym like space, with a later view of a circus tent, compared to the intricate rotating in-the-round set for “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” enabling the closeups of the Kit Kats and EddieRedmayne’s Emcee’s “Wilkommen” opening number, with the best zoom-in shots of the revival.
Do we need a host?
Ariana DeBose completed her third gig as Tony host. The Oscar winner was fine when she brought diversity to the spotlight – the first Afro-Latino queer actor to earn an Academy Award for Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”
She also was the first host to work without a script, when she fronted the Tony audience, when the pandemic was in full swing two years ago.
Her opening dance number lacked Broadway excitement and power, though her participation in the Chita Rivera tribute was stellar, with the kind of pizzazz with an emotional kick.
