The 2022 Great Aloha Run will be the 38th and final one.
So says event founder Carole Kai Onouye, in a Facebook posting to the GAR family and friends.
“It will be ‘Aloha’ to the Stadium,” said Kai. “It’ll be fun and sad at the same time.”
For nearly four decades, the fun run, or walk for those who prefer not to run, has raised more than $15 million for 150 non-profit charitable organizations.
So to be part of a historic finale, mark your calendars – for February 2022, frequently a Presidents Day holiday event but a specific date has not yet been announced. …
Life in the fast Zane
Had lunch with Greg Zane, the busy director-choreographer of “A Chorus Line,” earlier today at Zippy’s Kahala and he shared some tidbits about his tenure at Diamond Head Theatre, where the show runs for the last times tonight (Thursday, Aug. 5 through. Sunday Aug. 8 ), which includes the extension dates.
He revealed:
- He’s likely to remain in town, at his family’s Hawaii Kai home, since he’s committed to direct DHT’s holiday show, Dec. 3 to 19. He’s retained his New York apartment for obvious reasons: rent is impossibly high, and you’ve got a pad, you’re mad to vacate it.
- Yes, he owns a gold top hat once worn by Tommy Aguilar, his mentor from way back, who played Paul San Marco in the Broadway production as well as originating that role in the London launch. “I don’t know where she got it, but (actress) Devon Guard gave me the hat,” he said, uncertain how she actually acquired the hat, since it had been auctioned off here earlier. And of course, Zane cherishes the costume piece (kept at the family home here) and is hoping to some day locate a jacket the late Aguilar donned.
- He managed to convince DHT management that his cast warranted an opening night bubbly party on stage and was prepared to pay for the champagne himself, till the theater OK’d the toasting.
- He downloaded the playbill data and assembled the pages (as suggested in this space some weeks back) so his mother would have her own playbill while watching the show. DHT has abolished the customary take-home program during the pandemic; it is the lone keepsake for his cast of singers and dancers once the final curtain is drawn.
- Yes, while the orchestrations sound live and crisp at the performances, the music is pre-recorded which is why you don’t see conductor Melina Lillios and her musicians in the vacant orchestral spot at the right of the stage. …
Up and about
Jeff Peterson, a magician on guitar, gives two concerts at 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 7) at the Manoa Valley Theatre.
Peterson is a beloved Hawaiian music advocate and is a passionate award-winning ki ho‘alu artist, deeply involved with the traditions of the island style strumming. He’s also at home with jazz and classical music.
Tickets are $30, available at www.manoavalley.com, with social distancing protocols in place…
‘Oliver!’ auditions at DHT
Diamond Head Theatre will conduct auditions this weekend for “Oliver!,” its first show of the 2021-2022 season.
Tryouts will be at 7 p.m. Friday (Aug. 6) and 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 7) at the theater. Pre-selected time slots, in five-minute increments, must be obtained to participate; walk-ins are not permitted. To seek a time, visit https://www.cognitoforms.com/CrossMediaHawaii/DHTAuditionAppointmentRequestForm
Those with appointment times should arrive 5 minutes early but wait in vehicles at the back entrance of the theater, to be summoned. Facemasks are required and worn, except when singing.
“Oliver!” will run Sept. 24 through Oct. 10, with a potential extension through Oct. 17.
John Rampage will direct and choreograph, with Phil Hidalgo as musical director.
Key roles are for Oliver, a child 10 to 12, for the title role of an orphan workhouse boy; Fagin, a wily adult who operates a training academy for young pickpockets; the Artful Dodger, a child/teen who is Fagin’s brightest pupil; Bill Sikes, a villainous role; and Nancy, an adult female who also is a Fagin graduate.
The show boasts such hit tunes as “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do. Anything,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” and “Where Is Love.” And “Who Will Buy?” …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
How time flies: We went to see Jeff Peterson’s debut at the Kahala Hilton years ago. I was a good friend of his grandfather. I still play his CD’s.
Not only is he talented, but a sweet, nice guy. And part Hawaiian, as I recall — a true keiki o ka aina.