‘TIS THE BEWITCHING SEASON…
DHT REVIVES THE PLAYBILL. HOORAY!
The playbill is back! Hooray! Cheers! Finally!
Diamond Head Theatre’s rescheduled “Oliver!,” which opened Oct. 22 minus fanfare, has an actual print stage program for the first time in these pandemic days.
About time!
I’ve yet to see the Lionel Bart musical, since the show was “sold out” because of social distancing concerns. When an extra week was added, I was able to secure tickets for Nov. 3.
The playbill is part of the theater-going community; it is an informational and instructive tool for show-goers, because it properly gives credit and identity to those on stage and off who helped mount the production. With the coronavirus restrictions, the invaluable keepsake – not just for the actors and musicians, but anyone involved in designing and mounting sets and props –was not available as a take-home memorabilia for patrons.
As I’ve advocated in the recent past, the lack of a playbill for the earlier “A Chorus Line” was kind of an affront for the performing and techie teams – a missed opportunity to salute the singing and dancing soldiers, in a time that we all needed that escape from the health crisis. Betcha you still don’t know all the troupers in that marvelous mounting of a beloved favorite.
So, to DHT — redemption! Onward, in this slow and tedious road to the normality of the past. …
Over at Manoa Valley Theatre, where “Be More Chill” suffered the same lack of a playbill, there was no physical program to take home . The sad news: MVT doesn’t expect to resurrect the playbill for its upcoming “The Joy Luck Club,” running Nov. 26 through Dec. 12. If plans change, we’ll let you know.
But the good news: all seats will be sold with the loosening of COVID restrictions.
Bravo! …
Show biz at sea
In a Facebook posting, Honolulu’s Tricia Marciel states, “We are just a couple of weeks away from officially launching the inaugural voyage of the Enchanted Princess and dress runs are in full swing.” Not certain where this cruise is destined but it’s truly a busy-happy time for the entertainer. “It’s hard not to feel emotional when I see the hard work, commitment and love on display every day from my castmates. You are superstars and the time to shine is sooo close!” …
Marciel, a familiar face and voice in Broadway shows, was last seen locally in Diamond Head Theatre’s “Shout! The Musical,” I believe. …
Itemizations
Robert Cazimero’s November “Full Moon” concert will be Nov. 11 at Chef Chai’s. The $95 tariff includes dinner and the show, with a pair of hula dancers joining Cazimero. …
“”Coyote Creek Christmas,” a Hallmark Channel Christmas feature, will be a nice birthday gift for actress Janell Parrish of Honolulu. The rom-com premieres today (Oct. 30), which happens to be Parrish’s birthday. …
And that’s Show Biz …
SMOKEY FORECAST FOR WAIKIKI SHELL
Smokey Robinson will return to the Waikiki Shell next year, bringing along a cache of his hit songs
Robinson, former lead voice of The Miracles, will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 29.
Tickets already are on sale online, but be warned – it won’t be on the cheap.
Reserved seats will be $150, $99.50 and $89.50, the higher the cost, the better the location. General admission lawn tickets are $69.50, but lawn chairs are not allowed.
Robinson is the legendary sweet-voiced Motown Records fave from the past, still a big draw today.
You’ll likely be singing along, when he unpacks that stash of signature tunes, including “Cruisin’,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”
Online data lists this as a BAMP Project-sponsored event.
For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or https://moremusic.at/smokeyrobinson012922
…
Mars in orbit
Bruno Mars, our homegrown superstar, has added two more concerts – Dec. 17 and 18 – at the Dolby Live Theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas. This is an addition to his earlier-announced Dec. 30 and 31 New Year’s Eve gala at the same site.
Regular tickets start at $215 and range up to $815, but these are scarce, since most seats have tremendous resale prices into the thousands, depending on the location. Tariffs are even higher for the end-of-the-year gigs, which – if you can find them and if you can afford them – include packages with hotel rooms and other perks. …
‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ No. 1 among TV newbies
It may not be the best show of the fall TV season, but the island-based-and-filmed “NCIS: Hawai‘i” has been deemed the No. 1 newbie on the tube so far this year.
The ranking comes from The Wrap, an online entertainment site, that put our local CBS “NCIS” atop the survey, with a conclusion: “When your show starts with ‘NCIS,’ the (older) viewers will come.”
The rest of the top 10: “FBI International,” No. 2; “Ghost,” No. 3; “La Brea,” No. 4; “CSI: Vegas,” No. 5; “Ordinary Joe,” No. 6; “The Wonder Years,” No. 7; “Alter Ego,” No. 8; “Queens,” No. 9; and “Our Kind of People,” No. 10. …
And that’s Show Biz. …
SHARI LYNN SETS MEDICI’S YULE DATE
Note: this column has been updated with a correction.
It’s a bit earlier than usual, but a few Christmas events are already being promoted.
Shari Lynn is doing her annual Christmas sing-out on Dec. 10 at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace. Her holiday show will be laden with traditional standards and familiar carols, with a bit of a cultural jolt. She’s Jewish, but nonetheless observes Christmas complete with decorated trees in her Kailua home, so she’ll serve a darling Jewish number (or two) to mark her faith. Tickets: $59, includes dinner. …
We also mentioned, a few weeks back, that Robert Cazimero will do a five-night Christmas residency, starting Dec. 15, at Chef Chai’s, where he normally stages his once-a month Full Moon concert. Well, ho-ho-ho, there will 2021 yuletide serenades, too. …
The producer report
Retired producer-director Phil Arnone is recovering from a double hernia operation at Queen’s Medical Center, one of the health issues plaguing him in recent months. Send get-well wishes and prayers, so he can be up and running again. Well, walking – he stopped running years ago! (Note: an earlier posting misstated the hospital where Arnone had his surgery) …
Rick Quan, KITV news anchor, has produced and directed a new documentary on show entrepreneur Jack Cione. Alas, Cione will be out of town when the doc premieres at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Consolidated’s Kahala Theatre, as part of the fall Hawaii International Film Festival, and again at 7 p.m. Nov 17 at Maui’s Kaahumanu Center’s Consolidated Theatre. No airdate yet, however, on KITV. ..
Televiews
Recurring characters, longtime favorites on ongoing procedurals, are slowy vanishig from TV landscape.
Take Mark Harmon, playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs for 18 years on CBS’ “NCIS,” who made his exit recently, in this mothership NCIS show’s 19th season. It’s possible, but not likely, that Harmon will make infrequent appearances; he’s wanted out for several years, and finally had his wish granted, leaving a huge gap on the show and threatening its popularity among diehard followers. One possible solution to galvanize the show is to hire Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo, to return as lead agent, but that’s highly unlikely, since he departed to star in CBS’s “Bull,” and it’s logical that he wouldn’t now want to return to a sinking ship. …
And speaking of a void: NBC’s “Chicago Fire” drama has lost a valuable asset, Jesse Spencer, who portrayed Capt. Mathew Casey. He exited the show to keep his promise to care for and watch over the sons of a deceased firefighter colleague. Thus, Casey will relocate to another city to become a protective “dad,” upholding his commitment and sidetracking his personal goals for now, as reflected in a recent episode leading to this development. A loss for Firehouse 51 and its franchise viewers. …
And that’s Show Biz …
‘CHILL’ TIME AT MANOA VALLEY THEATRE
“Be More Chill,” finally out of the lockdown freezer and live and chilling on the Manoa Valley Theatre stage, reflects the flavor of the Broadway musical genre that is evolving with regularity, if not consistency.
As directed and choreographed by Andrew Sakaguchi, “Chill” is hip, loud, ludicrous at times, and now. Meaning it has youth appeal, its intended audience, not so much for graying oldsters; it’s a bit like “Dear Evan Hansen,” with its focus on technology and social media, and “The Prom,” with its high school momentum involving kids in their own weird whirl (like in most musicals about high schoolers).
So there exists a great divide: parents and adults are not exactly tuned in on the same sci-fi electronic waves as the youths.
In this one, Jeremy (Darian Keanu Ruis Aquino) is an outsider trying to be an insider, who lacks confidence while yearning to be the beau of Chistine (Alanna Poelzing), his fellow drama student united by a production, and her lack of focus is emblematic of many kids today. He’s mighty likeable and mobile, with a voice that is as powerful as his dance moves; she’s the stand-offish picture of sweet indecision, trying to find her heart.
The musical, written by Joe Iconis (music and lyrics) and Joe Tracz (book), is set in a suburban New Jersey high school, where Halloween looms and a costumed song and bewitching tune makes this a timely arrival. So tricks and treats loom in the playout.
The key characters in Jeremy’s ‘hood include the Squip (Brandon Caban), an avatar in black costume festooned with neon green lights, an invasive alien supposedly a Keanu Reeves look-alike (not!) with powers to guide Jeremy in life and girlfriend issues; and Jeremy’s best buddy Michael (Moku Durant), who also is a geek with loyalty who gets locked in a bathroom; and Jeremy’s dad (Devon Nekoba), who hasn’t worn pants his wife left home.
Thus, the score includes such weirdo tunes as “Michael in the Bathroom” and “The Pants Song,” not relevant outside of the show but expressive and essential in defining some of the issues in the storytelling.
And among the ensemble, Bailey Barnes as Jenna is a multi-threat, as singer and dancer who projects and delivers on cue, and Melani Carrie as Chloe, whose seductive vocal and moves provide precise tension at the right moment.
The tale is based on Ned Vizzini’s novel with the same title, and the show began as an off-Broadway hit that transferred to the Broadway stage. It suits the MVT space well, thanks to Michelle Bisbee’s lean, clean and inventive set that includes numerous stairways and playing platforms, plus turntable wall panels that spin and display backstage mirror and sink, a small cluster of lockers, and even a pair of urinals … all smartly illuminated by Janine Myers’ precise lighting design.
Ticketing advisory: Your preordered reserved seats might have changed since you placed your order (mine did), so it’s advisable to arrive early and resolve seating issues, if any. MVT had to modify seating for social distancing, since protocols changed the rules after sales had started.
Details: www.manoavalleytheatre.com or call 988-6131.