Arts | Entertainment | Crafts | Life
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Just asking…
How would you describe yourself, in three to five words?
Would you tell it like it is?
Like: Happy, fun, overweight? ? Have to workout more frequently?
Would you lie, make up something?
Like: Getting married soon, need to lose 30 pounds?
Would you embellish, to put out a positive vibe?
Like: Will soon vaccinate? Banning Spam musubi my diet?
Looks like talks have resumed, among the minds and creators of “Hawaiian Goddess,” on an ambitious new Hawaiian musical embracing the lore and drama between Hi‘iaka and Pele. The saga has been previously shared in existing hula and chants; this retelling, with powerful new music, could become a cultural icon for its creators and a mystical and magical experience for potential audiences outside of Hawaii.
So Michael Jackowitz, a New York producer who spends time on Maui, convened with his artistic team to revive work on this alluring project with Hawaiian mele, chants and hula, according to online chats. Locals Keali‘i Reichel, Maui’s award-winning composer, singer, recording artist and kumu hula; Roslyn Catracchia, composer; Patrick Makuakane, kumu hula, dancer and choreographer, now based in San Francisco, gathered with Stephen Schwartz, award-winning Broadway hit-maker of “Wicked,” “Pippin” and “Godspell,” to continue shaping the new show, which is pretty much bubbling under the radar.
Producer Jackowitz’ credits include “Tuck Everlasting,” “The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman,” and “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” With a passion for things Hawaiian, he’d love to score a new hit, with Hawaiiana at its core, and has tapped an artistic team with credible portfolios committed to authenticity, to bolster the Pele and Hi‘iaka saga with homegrown behind-the-scenes experts. Before the pandemic, Jackowitz shared excerpts of the show in a preview with a cast of stellar island singers and dancers, with some possibly making the trial-run cast as the artistic journey continues. I was there to witness this work-in-progress then; it was stunning and beautiful.
The creative minds met at Mill House in Wailuku, to continue shaping and tweaking the Broadway musical with island storylines and music, initially planned to launch on a cruise ship, an unconventional but novel “out-of-town opening” trial run which was stalled when the pandemic lockdown halted everything. Don’t know if these ideas have changed.
Historically, this wouldn’t be the first Broadway musical with a Hawaiian arc. The first vehicle made its debut in March 1961, when Eaton Bob Magoon Jr. launched “13 Daughters” in New York, with disastrous results after 28 performances. Perhaps it was way ahead of time for an all-Hawaii show to grace a Broadway stage.
The intention for “Goddess” surely includes a possible run on Broadway, which also is in the midst of shaping a new kind of normalcy in New York, where new shows are being groomed and old hits restored to return on the Great White Way this fall, amid rigid protocols for safety including vaccination proof for theater-goers and vaxxing for actors, backstagers, and theater personnel. All a good thing, to raise the bar to combat and control the latest delta variant. …
TAG ready to welcome ‘Kimberly’
The Actors Group (TAG) will launch its new season Aug. 27 when “Kimberly Akimbo” debuts at the Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery. Performances run through Sept. 12.
Swaine Kaui is directing David Lindsey-Abaire’s play, set in suburban New Jersey, about a teenager with a rare condition causing her body to age faster than normal. Her family flees Secaucus under dubious conditions, and Kimberly is forced to reevaluate her life, including the possibility of first love and her own mortality. The challenges include a hypochondriac mom, a seldom sober father, and an aunt who is a scam artist.
The cast includes Lisa Konove as Kimberly , the daughter with a complicated life; Aiko Chinen as Debra, the aunt; Tom Smith as Buddy, the dad; and Clarisse Lee as Pattie, the mom., One of the characters is Jeff, a nerdy friend, played by Kainoa Kelly, the son of Lee Cataluna and Jim Kelly. So there’s intrigue within the show and its players.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 military and students.
Tribute shows at Blue Note
A fan of tribute shows? Two are coming to Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki resort:
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Just asking …
Are you old enough to remember Saturday “movie clubs” at your neighbor film theaters?
Back in the day Consolidated Theatres had matinee “clubs” – named for the likes of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Popeye, etc. – where kids signed on and family fare screened for youths.
Admission was, if you can believe it, 10 cents.
So the Palama Theatre, the Kalihi Theatre, the Liliha Theatre, the Kailua Theatre, the Pawaa Theatre, the Kaimuki Theatre, the Kapahulu, the Kapahulu Theatre and the Liberty Theatre had a retinue of clubsters showing up for morning movies on Saturdays.
Some sites had pre-screening talent shows with island keiki performing for prizes.
All screenings had cartoon reels and “news” recaps – part of the ritual of movie-going then – along with coming attractions.
These elements ended when the community theaters started shutting down, triggered by the redevelopment of larger halls of viewing, like the Hawaii, the Kuhio, the Waikiki #3, the Waikiki #1 and #2, and the Cinerama. And yeah – those stand-alone screening halls eventually were replaced by regional multi-plexes, the smaller ones now shutdown because of the pandemic.
For memory’s sake, were you a Saturday matinee clubber? Where? Share…
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:
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.” …
To bid you best wishes, as “A Chorus Line” closes this weekend at Diamond Head Theatre, I created a limited number of these “A Chorus Feline” cards to wish you a mahalo and aloha. Wish I had enough cards for each one of you.
