I was able to secure a bunch of Lilo and Stitch decals a few weeks ago, just prior to the launch of the summer’s live-action blockbuster film, “Lilo & Stitch.”
The images were all over the map – dark, funny, illusional, whimsical – and I wasn’t certain how best to utilize these images as lapel pins. Each pin tells a story, but you have to create and shape the tale; the collection had attitude, if you know what I mean; Stitch and his cohorts reflect a range of emotion.
Not a Disney product, I surmised. Some pins had Japanese katakana words, perhaps embracing and reflecting anime motifs.
So, what to do?
Decided to mount each image to create a pin. But who should be the recipients?
There are slogans like “‘Ohana Means Family,” “Alien Encounter,” and “Out of This World..” Hmmm, sounded like fodder for T-shirts.
I had nearly 50 images and decided to save several for a friend with two sons, and saved a couple for myself. I wound up packageing a gift bag with the bulk of the pins, destined to the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus, whose voices are heard – lovely and reflecting pride — in Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” film. There aren’t enough pins for all the keiki, but choir director Linell Bright will find a way to distribute these pins.
Turns out there were two Tony Award winners with Hawaii roots in Sunday’s telecast from Radio City Music Hall in New York.
We knew and applauded one, Nicole Scherzinger, who picked up the trophy for Leading Actress in a Musical, for her powerful portrayal of Norma Desmond in “Sunset Blvd.,” which also was the coveted winner of the Best Revival of a Musical.
Nicole Schwerzinger
Scherzinger, of Hawaiian, Ukrainian and Filipino ancestry, also earned the unofficial Tony for being the first bare-footed singer to perform her featured tune, “As If We’ve Never Said Goodbye.”
What we didn’t know, until this morning, that Hawaii can claim another Tony winner in Darren Criss, who earned Tony as Leading Male in a Musical, for his role of Oliver in “Maybe Happy Ending.” He claims Filipino roots, since his family lived here when he was young.
The media in the Philippine have been pouring out the hurrahs for Schwerzinger and Criss.
Call this response Pinoy Pride.
Darren Criss
Schwerzinger has long mentioned her multi-racial roots while being the leader of the Pussycat Dolls. She mentioned her mixed- blood extractions when excepting her Tony, revealing that the win made “a little girl from Hawaiian, Ukrainian and Filipino roots see her dream come true.”
She added, “Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home, at last.”
Criss credits his Filipino heritage in shaping his foundation. Criss is Filipino on his mother’s side; his mom, Cerina Bru, was born in Cebu, in the Philippines, and is of Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish descent. Although Criss was born and raised in the U.S., he has embraced his multicultural background and is proud of his connection to his Filipino roots, especially through family and food. His family resided in Honolulu from 1988 to 1992, and colleagues recall he attended St. Clement’s School for pre-school/kindergarten, but his primary education was in schools in the San Francisco area.
Criss also is the first islander to pick up two trophies the same night – one for Leading Actor and a second for being a producer of “Maybe Happy Ending,” voted Best Musical. which was judged 2025’s Best New Musical. No ifs or maybes here, since the show was the evening’s big winner of six awards, including best director (Michael Arden), Best Score (Will Aronson and Hue Park), Best Book (Aronson and Park) and Best Scenic Design (Dane Laffrey and George Reeve)…
The scoop on Clooney play
George Clooney’s’ “Good Night, and Good Luck” closed Sunday, with two performances – a matinee and evening show – prior to the Tony Awards June 8. The finale was that taped performance
Some factoids:
Clooney was paid $1 each for writing, directing, and acting in ‘”Good Night, and Good Luck.”
He took a pay cut; originally, his fee was $3 each for writing, directing and acting.
It cost $7.5 million to make.
George Clooney
Due to a spinal injury he received on the set of his film “Syriana” a few months earlier, Clooney could not pass the tests to be insured. So he mortgaged his own house in Los Angeles to make the film.
The play recouped its $9.5 million capitalization in just over seven weeks.
The play broke Broadway gross records, posting $4 million-plus figures each week.
It played to 100 per cent capacity, at the Winter Garden Theatre, which has a capacity of 1,508 seats— 1,001 orchestra seats and 507 mezzanine seats.. .
Average ticket price was $339.
A CNN telecast of the play had viewership of 7.34 million – and setting a record in the process, of being the first live performance of a play on TV.
Clooney was nominated in the Best Actor category, but did not win…
The Top 10, for the week ending June 8:
1—”Good Night, And Good Luck,” $4.331 million
2—“Othello,” $3.807million
3—“Wicked,” $2.413 million
4—“Glengarry Glen Ross,” $2.358 million
5—”The Lion King,” $2.002 million
6—“Hamilton,” $$1.983 million
7—”The Picture of Dorian Gray,” $1.367 million
8—“Death Becomes Her”, $1.347 million
9—“Aladdin,” $1.286 million
10—“Sunset Blvd.,” $1.261 million
The complete list of the grosses, for the week ending June 8:
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…
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-upto 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.
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 KekaniokalaniBright 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.
