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MASKS STILL REQUIRED ON BROADWAY

The Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera” isn’t the only one donning masks on Broadway.

The Broadway League has just extended the facemask requirement, through June 30, because New York’s COVID-19 alert level has escalated to “high,”despite New York Eric Adams, mayor of New York, just saying that “we are not at the point of mandating masks,” a few days ago.

The cautionary adjustment for mask-wearing applies to indoor settings, which, of course, includes play-going on Broadway.

Ben Crawford

Among the Broadway community, the mask requirement will be monitored in the weeks ahead, but the possibility of extending the rule till July, or even later,  could happen, depending on the pandemic temperature.

Masks on Broadway have been required since theaters reopened last year; the protocol on proof of vaccination has been removed, like in most communities.

So if you’re heading to Broadway, masks still matter, so bring and wear your masks that cover your noses and mouths. Unlike the Phantom’s, which covers half his face. Oh, the latest actor playing the Phantom is Ben Crawford. …

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Here, there, everywhere…

Ryan Tedder

Ryan Tedder, lead singer  of OneRepublic, was spotted at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The group has been in town for a private concert at the Four Seasons resort at Ko Olina.. The band’s “I Ain’t Worried” tune is in the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise “Top Gun: Maverick” blockbuster, which certainly must be a career boost. …

Brother Noland and Tavana will share the spotlight in a show at 4 p.m. June 25 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on the Big Island. Tickets: $35 general, $60VIP, at www.hawaiistars.com …

Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals,  formerly The Young Rascals, will give  six performances at 6:30 and 9 p.m. June 10, 11 and 12 at Blue Note Hawaii. Presume the repertoire will be loaded with flashback Rascals hit, including “My Hawaii,” a fave back in the day that originally featured the voice of Eddie Brigati.  Other hits: “Groovin’,” “Good Lovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “It’s a Beautiful Mornin’,” and  “People Got to be Free.” Tickets: $45, loge and bar area; $55, premium seating;  at www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890…

And that’s Show Biz. …

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WANNA BE ONE PIDGIN PLAYWRIGHT?

Lissen up, folks. Lee A. Tonouchi, aka Da Pidgin Guerilla, goin offa one course in pidgin English, one language you kno if you local.

It’s free, and will be online, so gotta get up early and tune in.

If you get experience, good for you. You can learn how fo write one play, you know da kine script stuff for one theata.

Even if you dunno, you can sign up and learn.

As bruddah Tonouchi wen say in hiz online instructions:

Lee Tonouchi

“No mo’ limit on class size.

“Can be any age. Although I probably recommend da person be at least high school, but if one younger person like chance ’em, das cool too.

“Knowing how for write Pidgin stay optional.

“You no need be from Hawai’i for sign up.”

So mebbe you dunno Pidgin and feel lef out. Now’s your chance to try learn. Might not happen overnight, but dis can be one good summer project to learn Guerilla style. Not to be confused with Gorilla, but Guerilla. Means some rules might be broken, in case you dunno how fo write with propah technique. As long as you have hidden talent to tell one story, Pidg goin try help you shape ‘um into one play, or maybe jus’ one skit if you little bit slower.  But no pressure, you can join and try write, but you gotta share what you write and read aloud.  Goin get feedback, from the Pidg and udda fellas tuning in, but no need be shame of make A. The point is, dis can be da starting point.

Or, as Pidg sez, dis goin’ be Miyagi-style, da way  Pat Morita wen teach karate, by inventing wax-on, wax-off teaching, where main ting you try, and no give up.-

The Pidgin Guerilla is da real deal. He stay win awards for his Pidgin plays, which wuz performed in theaters like Kumu Kahua and Honolulu Theatre for Youth, where dey staged da kine funny Pidgin stuff.

Da class will be presented via six consecutive Sunday mornings, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.  June  5, 12, 19, 26, July 3 and 10 — via Zoom.

Remembah, dis is freebie, so if you sign up, make sure you show up. If you like take one chance, no waste time, cuz you snooz, you lose… so fill out dis  FORM.

And that’s Show Biz. …

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IS THE STRING GAME STILL PLAYED?

Just asking…

Wondering if today’s kids play the string-based game called Cat’s Cradle anymore?

When I was growing up time – back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth – everyone engaged in this simple but complex game, where a long, knotted string – we used to use those slightly thicker cords, in lieu of weaker thread-like strings for crocheting – is placed on both bands, and different motifs are formed.

More girls than boys played this string game.

The task can involve four hands, and even six, at a higher level of complication.

The string can be placed from one hand to another, with fingers taking over, leading up to somewhat tricky configurations.

Online books and video – not a visual tool, back in the day – now demonstrate what and how the cradle can stimulate fun and competition, without actual toys or action figures or iPads.

The string’s the thing.

Remember?

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‘TOP GUN’ CRUISES TO NO. 1

It’s official: Summer officially has begun, with all the right elements: a stellar story, hypnotic air flights and fights, and the key ingredient named Tom Cruise.

The fact that “Top Gun: Maverick” is a sequel of a film from 30 years ago, when Cruise first took on Pete “Maverick” Mitchell … somewhat astonishing. And then the pandemic stalled the release of “Maverick” for nearly three years … something frustrating.

But the delay heightened anticipation and expanded expectation and the Memorial Day weekend turned out to be the perfect moment to welcome “Top Gun,” which raked in a $100 million three-day gross, which, if international box office is added, meant a $248 million global tally. With today’s Memorial Day (May 30) holiday, another $50 million could be added to the explosive total.

Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick”

The alignment of the delay, the performance of Cruise as the cocky but dependable fighter pilot-turned-mentor, and the public’s eagerness to see the aerial dynamics in movie theaters (which has struggled to fill seats till now) meant the stars were aligned in filmland.

Wow.
The plot was somewhat predictable, but there are surprises: generals make mistakes, mavericks take chances, a few original characters return, old wounds are resolved, a romantic bond is sealed, and Lady Gaga seals the deal with her end-titles ballad, “Hold My Hand,”
uplifting the soundtrack as folks exit the theaters. Gage’s composing collaborators are  Harold Faltermeyer and Hans Zimmer. Clearly, it’s headed to No. 1 and will be an Oscar song contender next year.

It’s fun to know and hear the “handles” of the military mights: Maverick, Iceman, Rooster, Cyclone, Fanboy, Hangman, Coyote, etc.

And here’s a rarity just might increase: Cruise welcomes fans prior to the film, in a tack-on video akin to a handshake (Benedict Cumberbatch did a similar clip prior to his “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness “sequel earlier). Could more actors and films adopt this policy? …

Elton John doc due on Disney+

A documentary on superstar Elton John is due from Disney Original Documentary and Disney+.

Deadline reports that the doc, entitled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years. That Made His Legend.”

Elton John will be featured in a new documentary with a mouthful of a title.

Yes, it’s a mouthful. But John has been a musical figure not wholly represented in films. The thrust of the doc will be John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” when he spent months on tour, culminating in a November gig at Dodger Stadium that will cap his final North American show.

Unseen footage of his 50-year global success will provide essential videos of John earlier in his career, when his shows included lavish costumes and spectacles that reflected his charismatic flamboyancy.

“Rocketman,” the 2019 biography with Taron Egerton as John, explored his life but lacked theatrical vigor since the performance factor fell short; there was no soaring climactic fervor like the “We Will Rock You” finale with Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in the Queen biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” …

And that’s Show Biz. …