Hawaii’s Auli‘i Cravalho, best known for voicing the titular role in Disney’s “Moana” animated film, will co-star with Adam Lambert, the one-time finalist of “American Idol,” in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” on Broadway.

She will portray Sally Bowles, opposite his Emcee enactment, in the hit musical at the August Wilson Theatre in New York.

They open Sept. 16, succeeding Gayle Rankin and Eddie Redmayne, whose last performances will be on Sept. 14. It will be the Broadway debut for both performers and a real challenge: the show is staged in the round, with a constantly rotating stage.

It’s a bold leap and a huge break for Cravalho, to flex her musical muscles, in a demanding but engaging realm, where she performs seven of eight shows a week. She was a high school teen at Kamehameha Schools, when Disney tapped her in 2016 to voice the Moana character, enabling her to sing the musical’s huge hit song, “How Far I’ll Go.” She since has done a few films, including the recent “Mean Girls: The Musical,” and will return to her Moana roots when she reunites with her co-star Dwayne Johnson as Maui the Demigod in Disney’s animated “Moana 2” Disney  project. A live-action fill also is in the works, but Cravalho will not be in it.

Lambert is the flamboyant rock/blues star, a pop fave in concerts and recordings, with an immense presence. His films include “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Cravalho and Lambert are contracted through March 30.

In recent years, Hawaii actors have proudly performed in Broadway hits. Loretta Ables Sayre portrayed Bloody Mary  in “South Pacific” and earned a Tony nomination in 2008;  Ruthie Ann Miles played Lady Thiang in “The King and I” and was rewarded with a Tony award in 2025 and was nominated for her Beggar Woman role in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” in 2023.

Two other islanders are now in hit Broadway shows: Ezekiel Kekuna is cast as Young Simba in “The Lion King,”  since November, and will wind up his role Aug. 8. Zare Anguay is currently a swing actor in  “Aladdin.”

Further, another islander will be featured on Broadway this fall: Nichole Scherzinger will portray Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” previewing from Sept. 28 and premiering Oct. 20 at the St. James Theatre…

‘Lion King’ retains lead in grosses

All is calm in the Pridelands: “The King” retains its No.1 spot on the chart of grosses, for the week ending July 21.

The Top 10:

1—”Lion King,” $2,355 million.

2—”Wicked,” $2.158 million.

 3—”Hamilton,” $1.987 million.

 4—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.616 million.

 5—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.616 million.

6—” Aladdin,” $1.526 million.

 7—”MJ the Musical,” $1.471 million.

 8—”The Outsiders,” $1.432 million.

 9—”The Wiz,” $1.355 million.

10—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.340 million.

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

Ballet Hawaii will present “Balanchine to Broadway,” an evening of ballet, at 7 p.m. July 26 and 4 p.m. July 27 at Leeward Community College Theatre.

The program will feature George Balanchine’s “Serenade, a Midsummer Night’s Dream;” Pas de Deux, by Toni Pimble and Corps de Ballet by Christine Kaminski, and a Broadway piece entitled “The Groove Is in the Heart,” by award-winning choreographer Lainie Sakakura.

The show is the culmination of Ballet Hawaii’s three-week Summer Intensive starring Megan Fairchild, principal dancer, New York City Ballet; Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet; Courtney Schenberger, principal dancer, Carolina Ballet; Mark Tucker and Danielle Tolmie Tucker, principal dancers, Eugene Ballet; Wyatt McConville-dcCoy, Sacramento Ballet; and Ballet Hawaii’s Summer Intensive Corps de Ballet.

The program is being staged and choreographed by some of the world’s ballet luminaries, including Robert Barnett, Atlanta Ballet artistic director emeritus; Lainie Sakakura, award winning choreographer and Verdon Fosse legacy reconstructor; Maiqui Mañosa, Val Caniparoli stager; and John Selya, Tony-nominated star of “Movin’ Out.”

Ballet Hawaii’s Nataliya Andriyevska and Christine Kaminski and faculty members Claudia Kalikolehuaiukaomanoa Pizzino, kumu kaliko,  and Elisha Roman also participated in the staging.

The program is the first endeavor under the leadership of Richard Vida, new executive director of Ballet Hawaii.

Tickets are $45, available at the Leeward theater box office at https://honoluluboxoffice.com/shows/2024/7/26/balanchine-to-broadway or visit BalletHawaii.ORG/events/Balanchine-to-broadway …

Ukulele Festival  July 27 at Kapiolani Park

The Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii will stage the International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 27 at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.

Pre-festival events are slated the day before, July 26, at different venues. Ukulele and hula will be performed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the lobby of the Hawaii Prince Hotel on Ala Moana Boulevard, and a concert is set from noon to 2 p.m. at the Beach Bar of the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel on Kalakaua Avenue.

The primary attraction, at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, will feature  Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Kalaʻe Camarillo, Mika Kane, Jody Kamisato, Crossing Rain, Craig & Sarah, Cynthia Lin, Corey Fujimoto, Benny Chong, Byron Yasui, Honokaa, Kalei Gamiao, Sho Humphries & Tyler Donkoh-Halm, 1933 Ukulele All Stars, Tomoki Suzuki, Dr. Trey and Flatnine Ukulele Jazz Orchestra.

A secondary stage, nearby in the park, will assemble keiki strummers from the Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, Ukulele Hale, and Kapālama Elementary School.

There also will be ukulele display at booths by uke makers from Hawaii and a special collection of vintage ukes from the Hawaii State Archives.

“On behalf of Ukulele Festival Hawaii, we congratulate Kazuyuki and the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii on celebrating 15 years of sharing their love and passion for the ‘ukulele with Hawaii and the world,” said Roy and Kathy Sakuma in a joint statement. The Sakumas, founders of the uke fest, presented the event for 52 years. The Ukulele Foundation, current sponsor for the past 15 years, previously called the attraction the Ukulele Picnic.

Admission is free.

And that’s Show Biz…

What are the odds of an actress singing all 20 tunes in a stage musical, 13 in Act 1 and seven in Act 2?

It happens in Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Tenderly, the Rosemary Clooney Musical,” playing now through July 28.

The show, by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, stars Jennifer Cleve Sojot, who is the indefatigable trouper portraying and singing the tunes popularized by Clooney, a veteran of recordings, radio, TV, films and nightclub over a 50-span. At least in the recording realm, Clooney was sort of the Taylor Swift of her time, with oodles of hits minus an eras tour.

The production, which co-stars Lance Rae in a multitude of roles but principally as Clooney’s shrink, performs on seven selections.

The musical is modest in scope, staged on a splendid, functional set with a gorgeous circular stage with footlights (alas, no mention of the set designer in the playbill) and plenty of room for the vocal dynamics which embrace a bit of dance, too, with a dressing room in the rear. There’s also a nook that serves as Rae’s doctor office on one side of the stage, and a musical trio stationed in a pit on the opposite side.

The production has never played on Broadway, for reasons that become apparent. While the jukebox is loaded with hits, all voiced with precision and some with intensive emotions, the staging is formulaic – part “This Is Your Life” dialogue and conversation, uttered by Rae, who plays Clooney’s psychiatrist and go-to comforting shoulder, mixed with song after song after song.

The show explores Clooney’s journey, from Maysville, Kentucky, to Hollywood, in a career that had as many highs as lows. But with only two actors, director Stephanie Conching’s resources are limited, and she’s challenged to make the dialogue as fetching as the cavalcade of tunes.

But the songs are on her side — the score will bring back memories for most folks – well, the seasoned elderly crowd who grew up listening to Clooney in her prime — when everything was rosy for Clooney, who logged hit after hit after hit, some heard on radio, others featured in prime musicals in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and still others enriching the cinema of her time.

“Hey There,” “Count Your Blessings,” “Tenderly,” “Come on-a My House,” “This Ole House” and “Mamo Italiano” were Top 10 hits and Sojot does justice to ‘em all. For trivia buffs, the flipside of “Hey There” –“This Ole House” — became a hit, too, just the way Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” trademark earned seasonal attention with “Mele Kalikimaka” on the flipside.

For his part, Rae is a workhorse, too, doing shtick of sorts and literally wearing many hats, as Clooney’s sister Betty and mother. He also has quickie appearances as Bing Crosby (the crooner), Jose Ferrer (film director and divorced hubby) and Dante dePaolo (her husband).

Rae dons an apron to play mom, puts on a hat and smokes a pipe as Crosby, and wears a scarf as Ferrer, quickie visuals to portray key figures in Clooney life. He is hilarious and puts on a zany face, when he co-sings “Botch-a-Me” as Dante and is quite a smooth tango dancer as Ferrer when he joins Clooney on “Sway.” Further, he’s a name-dropper, chatting about Frank Sinatra a couple of times, for instance.

Clooney’s troubled life – depression, addiction, frustration – is depicted between tunes. And she turns to her doctor whenever there’s a crisis.

Of course, the show ends on a happy note.

Miki Yamamto is music director and  keyboarder in a three-musician ork, joined by Peter Meyer (bass) and Darin Ujimori (drums), providing orchestral support for every tune heard. Take a bow, guys.

Technically, lighting (by Bri Fuller) and sound (by Mattea Mazzella) are spot-on; hair and makeup by Lisa Ponce de Leon reflect styes of the decades, and James Wright’s choreography embraces nimble turns and twists, easy on the pair of actors. Devin Walter’s costuming includes a basic tweed vest and skirt for Clooney throughout most of the show, plus a slinky gown for the finale. His task for Rae was to provide several basic jackets and a couple of hats, for swift on-stage changes. Willie Sabel is credited as the show’s technical director, and no certainty if the wonderful, attractive stage set was his doing. If so, bravo!..

‘Tenderly,’ the Rosemary Clooney Musical

What: a musical biography of Rosemary Clooney, by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, about the star of recordings, radio, nightclubs, TV and movies, and her struggles with addiction, depression and frustrations

Where: Manoa Valley Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, July 11 to 21. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, with a 3 p.m. matinee on July 21; additional performances July 27 and 28

Tickets: $25 to $47, available at www.manoavalleytheatre.com and (808) 988-6131

‘Lion King’ reclaims No. 1 spot on Broadway

“The Lion King”  is back atop the Broadway gross mountain, with the departure last week of “Merrily We Roll Along.”

So only two musicals now are $2 million clubbers in the Top 10, for the week ending July 14:

1—”The Lion King,” $2.483 million.

 2—”Wicked,” $2.103 million

 3—”Hamilton,” $1.922 million

 4—”Hell’s Kitchen”, $1.687 million

5—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1,609 million.

 6—”Aladdin,” $1.517 million.

7—”The Outsiders,” $1.390 million.

8—”MJ the Musical,” $1.368 million.

 9—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.307 million

10—”The Wiz,” $1,240 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

Beginning this fall, a Broadway star will be enrolled as an official Kamehameha School Warrior.

He is Ezekiel “Zeke”  Kekuna of Kaneohe, who has been portraying Young Simba, in Disney’s “The Lion King,” since last fall.

He winds up his gig at the Minskoff Theatre in August, and will be attending Kamehameha, where he will be in the seventh grade and a member of the future Class of 2030. I mua, Kamehameha.

Zeke joins Kamehameha grad Auli‘I Cravalho, who became a certified film star, when she still was a student, voicing the animated titular seafaring character in Disney’s “Moana.” She’s still visible in new films, including the recent “Mean Girls.” And she provides the voice again, as Moana, in the sequel “Moana 2.”

Zeke, of course, is a show biz notable. He was home briefly a few weeks ago, catching up with family and friends, enjoying Zippy’s meals and Leonard’s malasadas.

Two things are quite apparent: Hawaii has a stable of stellar hidden talent, and Disney has demonstrated a commitment to seek youthful unknowns and making ‘em bona fide stars when opportunity knocks. Like, Maia Kealoha, with Big Island roots, will appear as Lilo in Disney’s live-action “Lilo and Stich” film…

‘Merrily’ rolls out with a record $2.766 million

“Merrily We Roll Along,” which has wound up its incredible run July 7, topped the Broadway grosses in its final appearance on the list. It beat the unbeatable, “The Lion King,” in its final ranking on the Top 10.

The show, featuring songs by Stephen  Sondheim, is his most successful musical ever. If you recall, it opened 40 years ago and  was a flop…until it was remounted last October and nurtured a devoted audience; for the closing, the average ticket price was a record high, $357.94, with 100 per cent capacity, and $2,766 million gross for the finale.

The Top 10:

1—“Merrily We Roll Along,” $2.766 million.

2—” The Lion King,” $2.4463 million.

3—” Wicked,” $2.187 million.

4—” Hamilton,” $1.926 million.

5— “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.566 million.

6—” Aladdin,” $1.557 million.

7—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.526 million.

8—“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.403 million.

9—” The Outsiders,” $1.376 million.

10—”MJ the Musical,” $1.292 million.

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

Hawaii’s top stand-up comedians – Frank DeLima, Augie T, and Andy Bumatai – continue to unite in periodic shows across the state.

Hawaii Theatre will be the trio’s Honolulu stop for their “Hawaii Comedian Legends Tour,”
 at 7 p.m. Sept. 14.

There’s strength – and drawing power – when the three take the stage together. They all have their pidgin gags, though DeLima usually puts on occasional costumes for visual frivolity. Augie and Andy uncork their hilarity without the costumery. The gags flow easily.

Tickets —  $33 to $49 —  are now on sale at the box office; visit hawaiitheatre.com or (808) 528-0506.

It’s been a while since I’ve ordered tickets for a Hawaii Theatre event – and I noted, in securing seats for the comedic bros, how the add-on charges have mounted per ticket: $3 for a service fee, $5 for a theater restoration free, and $4.50 for a ticketing free. So don’t be surprised…

Kevin I still merrily rolling along

Kevin Iwamoto, aka Kevin I, who’s enjoying a secondary recording “career” with downloading and screaming his remastered music from the 1970s-1980s the past two years, finally has growing support from island fans. “I wanted to share with you the power of your reach,” he said of a recent column about his ongoing popularity without singing a single note “live.”

“My latest data shows in Spotify that Honolulu has the top spot for listeners this week, and also on the top 50 cities list were Mililani and Kailua-Kona,” he said of the latest online activity he’s generating here. “Also, in Apple music and Pandora, a big spike in Hawaii listeners – that’s the power of your audience reach and influence. You don’t need a newspaper; you have the power of the pen no matter where you scribe from.”

Appreciate his kind words, but seriously, it’s all about his sound and his universal appeal, because globally, Kevin has developed a following from folks who never heard of him…till they listened to his romantic power ballads…

And that’s Show Biz…