Most folks know Glenn Medeiros as a singing idol, when he recorded “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You,” which spiraled to the Top 10 on the pop charts. His cover of the George Benson love ballad enabled the Kauai High School student to sing his hit on NBC’s “Tonight Show,” where host Johnny Carson interviewed him.
Glenn Medeiros
The recording enabled Medeiros to tour nationally and internationally, a journey that was just one chapter of his multi-career, as depicted in his inspirational memoir, “From One Stage to Another,” due to be released this fall. With the foundation of a show biz career, Medeiros – still adding accomplishments to his dossier – evolved into a compassionate hyphenate who excels in life, as a son, an athlete, a student, a father, a husband, a teacher, an educational leader, and now, an emerging author.
In the book, Medeiros displays a keen skill in storytelling, with a conversational tone in his text. Clearly, family was important in his formative years, and his earnest desire to succeed is obvious.
The book will explore the many stages of Glenn Medeiros.
FYI, I read a provided manuscript, and it’s obvious that when doors opened, he was ready to mount a few new chapters in his life.
Of course, the book includes chapters of his teaching career, which led to his current position of president of Saint Louis School. Talk about a climb! An enviable achievement.
Confession: As a former journalist covering entertainment, I’ve tracked Medeiros’ early triumphs as an entertainer, reviewed him in Waikiki shows when he co-starred with comedian-singer Frank DeLima in a revue mixing music with comedy. It’s that stage of his career that I know him best.
I have talked stories and shared laughter in frequent lunches with Medeiros and DeLima. Simply put, pocho punch lines were plentiful, when two Portuguese sons of Hawaii – both divine Catholics — convene.
It is with cheerful anticipation that I wish Medeiros blessings and good fortune in his new endeavor as an author. You go, guy!…
Robert Cazimero’s so-called monthly Full Moon Concerts continue to attract loyalists at Chef Chai’s. However, the event no longer adheres to the lunar glow.
Reason: the casual serenades – this month’s show was last night (July 13), though this month’s actual full moon was on July 10 — are scheduled according to the entertainer’s mainstream work and travel agenda. And Sundays appear to be the convenient playdate, even though the August show will be on a Friday.
Hula maiden Sky Perkins Gora dances, while Cazimero sings…
Further, December dates are not yet finalized, but will be staged on several evenings because this slate will comprise his Christmas concert gift to the community. So stay tuned to the announcements and sign up early; the shows will be sold out.
Cazimero’s opening number last night was “Sing Me a Song of the Islands,” and that’s kind of his modus operandi. He programs numerous island tunes, some in Hawaiian, some in English, some from left field. But he homers because of candid control. Nostalgia is a common trait – think stories of his first three years at Hongwanji Mission’s grade school, before he switched to Fern School. “I thought I was Japanese,” he chimes with a mischievous tone, then he quickly shares a verse of a folk song in Nihongo.
…and Bully Keola Makakau also lets his hands do the talking
A lot of elements are predictable, but nonetheless precious. Like hula by Sky Perkins Gora and Bully Keola Makaiau, who share storytelling with hands, in perfect cadence in difficult, crowded walk space between tables.
Aunty April hulas, too,
Cazimero says it like it is; he tossed darts to a noisy audience a month ago. “You guys the best,” he alludes to this evening’s audience.
He recalls Kui Lee visiting Kamehameha Schools when he was a student, capping the stroll down memory lane with “Days of My Youth;” and watching Don Ho at the now-gone Duke Kahanamoku’s at the International Market Place. which punctuates this remembrance via a rendering of sHo’s signature, “I’ll Remember You.”
Sitting behind his grand piano, he sips his favorite bubbly, and as the glass empties, another filled one appears. The Louis Vuitton Veuve Cliquot champagne is his magic potion. (It really works!)
Cazimero’s songbook also includes two Dennis Kamakahi classics, “Wahine Ilikea” and “Pua Hone,” which he renders separately and provides meaningful stories of meanings. And guest performers get brief performance time, like Sistah Robi Kahakalau joining Cazimero at the piano, and his beloved “Aunty April” sharing her classic “Ei Nei,” hula but this time standing (instead of a sit-down hula).
Our grandnephew Sgt. John Rhoades, now stationed at Schofield Barracks, visits his Uncle Robert, flashing shaka and smiles.
Next month’s endeavor, clearly, will be entirely different. And if he sings “Zippity-Doo-Dah,” the Disney evergreen from “Song of the South,” you can count on his mode of informal but incisive fun…
And that’s Show Biz…
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Robert Cazimero concerts Where: Chef Chai, at 1009 Kapiolani \Blvd.
When: Aug. 29, Sept. 14, Sept. 28, Oct. 28; November and December dates to be announced
Schedule: Dinner service, from 5:30 p.m; show at 6:30 p.m.
Cost:$109, includes complete meal, from appetizers, choice of entrée and dessert.
You never know what you’ll find, when you pore through old boxes you’ve neglected for years.
As a journalist, I’m referring to stuff I’ve kept because newspapers were the focus of my career. I often save many articles for future use.
Interestingly, the three tear sheets I discovered brought flashes of joy, because they were very much a part of my life.
Show directory
One treasure, which reflected the pulse of Broadway, was a compilation of all of the shows in New York, which helped me select shows. The New York Times maintained the tradition of collating small advertisements which – at a glance – reflected the pulse on the Great White Way. This list was dated March 15, 2020, well before the COVID 19 pandemic halted and buried Broadway a few months later.
The prevailing hits included “Phantom of the Opera,” “Come From Away,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Frozen,” “The Lion King,” “Book of Mormon,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Ain’t Too Proud,” ”West Side Story” and “Six.”
I saw all of these shows – over a couple of visits – before the lights went out. And with the shutdown, The Times and shows stopped the listings…which never were restored even when the lights were turned on again.
Yeah, I know, the data is available via your iPhone or your laptop. But the at-a-glance peek at what’s playing became history…
Indexing fun
So did the TGIF – The Great Index to Fun – which was a tradition at the Honolulu Advertiser, a Friday tabloid in the morning paper. Disclosure: I wrote features and/or reviews in TGIF, which was a handy-dandy resource to see where or what was happening for the weekend and beyond.
My colleagues on TGIF – reporters, copy editors, page designers and chief editor (plus staff photographers) – dutifully produced the section week after week, from earlier years when entertainment ruled Waikiki and name acts brought their shows to Aloha Stadium, Blaisdell Arena and/or Concert Hall, and Waikiki Shell.
TGIF didn’t survive the merger of the morning Honolulu Advertiser and the evening Star-Bulletin, and a feature section eventually disappeared. The Star-Advertiser became a two-section endeavor – main and local news, and sports. Instead of a feature section on Sundays, a Travel section prevails – with a key New York Times story with art, week after week.
The paper truly has a content issue, or perhaps it doesn’t give a damn…
Bright beginnings
Then I came across a feature article I wrote, published Aug. 3, 2016, in the Star-Advertiser, sharing news that survivors, supporters and former actors in a Ron Bright musical, were launching the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation, to perpetuate the legacy of Mr. B, as he was called.
Ron Bright
The revue, entitled “Brighter Still,” was to feature a roster of Bright Kids in a production July 13 at the Hawaii Theatre, the first IABK show organized by Ligaya Stice, executive director. The show corraled everyone who was a someone singing and dancing for the late director-educator at Castle High School, whose auditorium bears the Bright name, and at Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College, where an IABK show usually sets anchor.
Former Bright-directed talent traditionally participate in a Bright show, coming from near and far. Mo Bright, widow of the director, said “A little bit of Ron lives in each one of them/”
IABK’s annual musical production, “Gypsy,” opens Aug. 8, with a three-weekend run at Paliku through Aug.24. For tickets, visit Www.iabk.org
‘Wicked” defying gravity; remains No. 1
“Wicked” retains its No. 1 on the Broadway grosses tally, for the week ending July 6.
However, “Hamilton” has jumped into the game, again, moving up a few notches to No. 2.
The Top 10:
1—“Wicked,” $2.257 million.
2—“Hamilton,” $2.110 million.
3—”The Lion King, $2.054 million.
4—” Sunset Blvd.,” $1.940 million.
5—” Aladdin,” $1.378 million.
6—” Maybe Happy Ending,” $1.331 million.
7—”MJ,” $1.232 million.
8-“Just In Time,” $1.231 million.
9—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.167 million.
Disney’s blue alien from outer space, initially a cartoon figure but now a live-action feature star, is a red-hot commodity among film-goers.
“Lilo and Stitch,” the live-action film shot in Hawaii last year, looms to become the first Hollywood title of 2025 to join the $1 billion box office club. The feat could be accomplished over the Fourth of July weekend.
Maia Kealoha
And the film is enjoying enormous success without the benefit of a big-name Hollywood star. Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo, is the discovery playing opposite the dog-like Stitch character, the alien who needs no introduction.
In its sixth week at the cinema, the film has already logged $401 million taking kids to see it, and in some situations, a second outing to watch the movie. R-rated features are customarily one and done.
Disney’s “Frozen” was able to break the billion-dollar mark, accumulating just shy of $1.3 billion globally. Currently, “Lilo & Stitch” has earned $948 million worldwide, with every likelihood to pass the billion-dollar count.
The blue alien Stitch: Aiming for $1 billion at the box office.
The live-action picture already has out-grossed the entire $273.1 million global of run of 2002’s animated “Lilo & Stitch” and the tally has not been adjusted for inflation.
Tom Cruise smartly did not anticipate his “Mission: Impossibe,” which opened the same day opposite “Lilo & Stitch,” would exceed his action film, and he certainly didn’t anticipate the little girl named Lilo and her blue pet named Stitch would unseat his 2022 feature adventure “Top Gun: Maverick” ($160.5 million) as the biggest Memorial Day opener of all time.
Oh, the power and prowess of the Hawaii-groomed flick…
Whee, the people
Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Manoa Marquee” event, at 7:30 p.m. July 23 at MVT, will feature Jerry Santos, the legendary island entertainer.
Jerry Santos
Henry Kapono is hosting the program, also featuring Kailua Moon, as part of an ongoing Kapono/MVT series of a variety of shows.
