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…