Category: Show Biz

It’s somewhat “Desperate” times at Manoa Valley Theatre again. Its much-delayed “Desperate Measures” comedy has been moved back again, now premiering – hopefully – Jan. 27 instead of this Thursday (Jan. 13).

And you guessed right: COVID-19 has menaced MVT’s staging for three calendar years along with the surge of the Omicron variant this year, prompting MVT to once again push back

“Desperate Measures” is an Old West sendup of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” in its Hawaii premiere.

Playdates are now from Jan. 27 through Feb. 6, and season ticket holders are asked to contact MVT via phone  (808-988-6131) or email  (boxoffice@manoavalleytheatre.com) to adjust performance dates. Shows are staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 3 p.m.  Saturdays and Sundays.

“Just days before the opening of ‘Desperate Measures,’ we were forced to close our doors due to health and safety concerns,” said Kip Wilborn, MVT managing director, on an online post.  He added, “(MVT) has proven resilient and nimble in many ways, rescheduling an entire season, pivoting to hybrid (live and streaming) programming, postponing and rescheduling the beginning of the current season. This path has been anything but a straight line.”

Indeed, the theater has taken curves and turnarounds and traveled a bumpy road since the pandemic started in 2019, and Wilborn said the latest surge of new (Omicron)
case numbers has elevated safety concerns not just of viewers/patrons, but theater’s staff, cast and volunteers, prodding the latest detour.

Despite the pandemic cloud, normal seating – with all seats filled – will prevail. …

Weight and see

Charles Degala, a veteran community actor and singer absent from the limelight for a spell, is back in the spotlight as host of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s upscale “Aha ‘Aina” luau show, easily the best revue of its kind, blending Hawaiian culture and history and told with exquisite mele and hula. It’s staged on the front lawn of the Pink Palace, with vistas of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head.

Perhaps the latest gig prompted him to lose weight, as he posted a photo and quotable on his Facebook page, saying “Excited that I was able to finally tuck in my shirt! Here’s to the new me! 40 lbs. gone.” …

New date for Nievera, Paulo

Singer Martin Nievera and saxophonist Michael Paulo have rescheduled their collaboration concert, from Jan. 15 to March 3. Yes, it’s a Thursday, because weekends at the Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra’s Hibiscus Ballroom are filled and a substitute date suitable for both entertainers was key in the decision.

Further, because it’s a week night, so the event will start earlier, at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. A full contingent of earlier named back-up singers and musicians remains unchanged.

Both headliners are audience faves, Nievera for his smooth vocals (they call him “the concert king of the Philippines”), Paulo for his savvy saxophone jazz performances. For adjustments and reservations, go to TIX.com …

On the radio

Following its recent housecleaning, SummitMedia Honolulu has named Kona Chang program director of ethnic stations FM 100 The Legend KCCN and Hawaiian 105.1 KINE, and Micah Banks as p.d. of Krater 96 KTRT and Power 104.3 KPHW.

“The promotion of these two Hawaii radio legends … affirm our commitment to continuing the tradition of Hawaiian music,” said Patti Ponimoi, newly installed president. Chang and Banks assume roles previously held by Wayne Maria, who was part of the mass firings last week. Clearly, Summit needs to rebuild and restore listenership with the hiring of new on-air personalities, not yet named. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

That Martin Nievera-Michael Paulo concert, slated for Saturday (Jan.15) at the Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra, has been postponed because of the COVID-19 and the Omicron variant threatening the health and welfare of patrons.

In a statement to ticket buyers, Paulo – producer of the event – said “Because of the serious covid challenges and recent surge in Hawaii that became overwhelming, I have decided to postpone the concert until a later date.”

A rescheduled date has not yet been set, but Paulo, the noted jazz saxophonist,  indicated that singer Nievera “is in agreement with us.”

If a suitable makeup date can’t be confirmed, Paulo said that refunds in full will be made.

He added, “I pray that all of you will continue to remain safe and healthy.” …

If you’re going out…

So this is a good time as any, to repeat a sensible advisory:

If you plan a night out, at a show at large venues such as  Blaisdell Center and the Hawaii Theatre, or smaller venues like Blue Note Hawaii, Diamond Head Theatre or Manoa Valley Theatre, you should check with the sites and/or presenters. Protocols may be heightened.

With fluid policies that might change, today’s guidelines may be tightened two days ahead.

What’s still relevant: facemasks are required, while watching a performance of any kind; proof of vaccinations/boosters is mandatory; a valid photo ID also will be required. Be prepared; don’t try to enter a venue without a mask or that vaxx documentation.

Arguing or pleading is not acceptable. So be responsible. Follow the rules. Be safe. Be prepared.

It also might be prudent to repeat that early suggestion at the beginning of the pandemic. Wash your hands thoroughly…by singing Happy Birthday two times. …

Name-dropping

Jacob Batalon, the Hawaii native who has become a breakout film star in the “Spider-Man” films, can add his name to the list of celebs appearing in national commercials.

Batalon plays best friend Ned Leeds opposite crimefighter Tom Holland as the titular webbed warrior; both appear in a new Hyundai car commercial, in which Batalon is in the driver’s seat.

The pair of stars in the Marvel cinematic universe still rule the box office with their “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” with $1.5 billion in global grosses so far. They are real-life best friends, too.
It’s likely yet another “Spider-Man” film is forthcoming, but there’s no word whether Holland and Batalon will be repeaters again. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Not surprisingly, there’s turmoil on island radio as broadcast figures were abruptly released earlier this week with scanty warning. This kind of bleep happens often, so Summit Media’s decision to erase the blackboard and start anew is part of the heartbeat of radio.

Tweaking the programming seems to be one of the reasons, though staff reduction and cutbacks can be logically linked to the pandemic, which has businesses trying to balance the book.

And yes, listeners comfortable to tuning in to the voices they hear while breezing along the freeways get huhu about change. It might be rude to say it, but bosses and businesses have little respect and mana’o for valued and dedicated employees. This wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

That’s why there’s a mounting number of Facebook postings about the release of a handful of staff, without the customary two-weeks notice. One day you’re in, next day you’re out. Call it what it is: mass firings.

Billy V, a broadcast voice and face since 1990, whose lone Saturday afternoon slot has been abolished on Hawaiian 105 KINE, was informed by phone of his termination. He previously was an on-air personality on KCCN FM 100 and Hawaiian 105 for nearly 30 years, but longevity didn’t matter.

“I was privileged to work with Hawaii’s best, many of whom have become my radio family,” said Billy V. “As this transition takes place, I am hopeful that the value of Hawaiian 105 KINE and KCCN FM 100 are known to the current owners. The music of our islands, contemporary and traditional, is second to none.”

Perhaps more critically, Danielle Tucker, the voice of island traffic, has been wiped out of Summit’s stations, leaving a void of key and informative public service during morning and afternoon commuter. She provides quick, accurate reports of traffic movement, including accidents, a role she will continue on Hawaii News Now (KGMB and KHON) during afternoon drive.  But radio is key for traffic scrutiny because it happens in real time, not TV. I mean, do you rely on radio at home, unless there’s a hurricane coming or a tidal wave alert?

In island radio, morning drive is key to a station’s popularity and advertising power. Most people tune in to radio en route to work or school, so that is why Michael W. Perry  reigns in the ratings, a “trend” that started in the KGMB/KSSK era when J. Akuhead Pupule (Hal Lewis) built a following inherited when Perry teamed up with Larry Price to continue the KSSK dominance.

Since no one prints or monitors radio ratings anymore, Perry cruises at the perch. Truly, is KSSK the No. 1 station? Where are the Arbitron numbers of the past? Does it matter, since you listen to what you like?

Perry is not part of the Summit lineup – Hawaiian 105, KCCN FM 100, Power 1043 and Krater 95 – but he competes with other announcers to retain the crown. Radio, like TV (think Hawaii News Now, aka KGMB and KHON), has become a “group” commodity, where multi stations function under one owner. That’s why when there’s a sweep of talent, more than one are shown the exit door.

Billy V is a TV journalist now, so his reactionary blogs are informative, not argumentative.

In one posting, he said Patti Ponimoi will be general manager, and Micah Banks will be programming director, adding a comment from Randy Chase, executive vice president of Summit Media, who said the stations are “committed to Hawaii and serving the Honolulu community. While we recently made some difficult business decisions, I can assure our listeners and advertisers that we are not changing the format of any station in our cluster. More so than ever, we will continue the tradition of Hawaiian music and celebrate the culture on FM100 KCCN and Hawaiian 105 KINE.”

The question is, why fix it if it’s not broken? We’ll have to wait and see what evolves.

The portals of Hawaiian radio have featured a host of dedicated announcers, including Krash Kealoha, Kimo Kahoano, Skylark Rossetti, Iaukea Bright, Randy Hudnall, Donovan Solto, Mele Apana, and Harry  B. Soria Jr.

Tucker, who has been doing traffic reports two decades, said in her post: “I won’t be able to communicate traffic conditions to you over the radio. I’m no longer employed by the radio station group I’d been with for 20 years. I’m not the only one released, and that takes some sting out of it, but the suddenness is jarring.”

Indeed, but she functioned in her own sphere, reliably reporting the doings on the road, but when a station does housekeeping, it sweeps out some valuables. Tucker is one of those media gems…

And that’s Show Biz. …

‘Tis been a good season for family newsletters that normally flourish during the holidays. I don’t do these recaps of my life and experiences, mainly because I do ongoing Facebooks postings or columns throughout the year.

This past Christmas, I pored through some of newsletters that came with either a family portrait or a Christmas card, and wowie — some tidbits of joy and milestones provided appealing revelations of achievements. Some do terrific reportage of the past 12 months; others try but are not particularly precise in reportage. Not that it matters, but you need to have the smarts to make your chats appealing.

One of the best do-ers of these recaps is Mo Bright, widow of Ron Bright, mostly because her family is so active, there’s never a lack of news.  Back in the day, birthday celebrations were highlights of the chats. They still are, and if you want to send a shout-out to Mo, who admitted turning 80 this past year, and her eldest son, Clarke Bright, celebrated his 60^th, do so, belatedly.

But clearly, her ‘ohana accomplishments are something to shout about; show biz run through the family DNA, making the profiles involving. FYI, Clarke is maestro of the Royal Hawaiian Band and wife Lynell grooms and teaches chorus kids at Kamehameha. Their children, Chris and Candace Bright, have moved back to Hawaii, settling into a family rental in Waipahu. He continues to write film scripts and is a photography hobbyist, and occasionally performs on stage. She completed her final year of residency at a Sacramento hospital. Younger brother Timbo resides in New York and will be watching for Broadway auditions.

Jodi and Lee Stein (she’s the only Bright daughter) are formally retired now; their eldest daughter, Lauren, has a new beau in Jared Rish, a Naval officer. Their daughter Mio, Mo’s youngest grandchild at 10, is an outdoors sort who finds joy in swimming and ju-jitsu.

Michael and Jade Bright continue life as educators; he, as a math teacher at Kamehameha, and she, as a kindergarten teacher at Ahuimanu. Their eldest, Caity, is a university student and Target employee. Brother Drew, a freshman at Castle High School, is a theater enthusiast who played the role of Dmitri in the Castle Performing Arts Center’s “Anastasia” last month at the Bright theater named after his grandfather Ron. Other brother Colton is in middle school at Kamehameha, and he delivered an oli at Disney Aulani this past summer.

Of course, a roster of Bright-ers were part of a virtual performance of the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation’s summer special, “Brighter Still.”  That tag could be applied to the heartbeat of the Bright ‘ohana, brightening the casts whenever feasible. …

The Tanaka camp

Nanci Tanaka, widow of singer Teddy Tanaka (formal surname, Chinen) devotes much of her time as a River of Life Mission volunteer, but their children have show biz and education-related jobs.

Daughter Harmoni and her husband Dan Cruz reside in Manhattan Beach, Calif., where she is an attorney for Amazon Films International and he is vice president at Disney for marketing and partnershiup for Marvel Studios. Their son Cameron Takashi and daughter Caia Kiyoko are Loyola Elementary students, too young for show biz yet.

Son Nate Chinen and wife Ashley, along with daughters Athena and Rosalie, moved from New York to Philadelphia. He previously was a jazz critic for the New York Times, and now writes a blog and is associated with WGBO/National Public Radio, enabling the NPR station a digital footprint in jazz.

Another daughter Sheri, and hubby John Gizis, are professors at Rowan and Delaware Universities, respectively…

Words worth sharing

Frances Kakugawa, a poet from Kapoho and a former school teacher who now is a noted and published poet as well as motivational speaker on Alzheimer’s and caregiving,  completed her fifth Wordsworth book (awaiting a publisher’s green light). She says a musical based on the first two volumes of her Wordsworth mouse character’s adventures, has been further delayed till next spring, when the University of Hawaii at Hilo will stage “Wordsworth the Musical.” A Hawaiian language version will be taped for a future Hawaiian festival event.

The pandemic, nearing its third anniversary, has turned Kakugawa, a very active senior citizen, into an online shopper – and briefly transformed her into what she calls “a dysfunctional alien, 10 on the Embarrassment Scale.”

She used to do in-store buying at Trader Joe’s and Raley’s in Sacramento, where she now lives.

She hustles her carts through the check-out counters, but on one occasion, she walked off unknowingly not paying till she was stopped with a shameful “Ma’am, you need to pay for your purchases.” Her retort later: “This is what online purchases will do.”

Her newsletter didn’t include  a chuckle but she shared an incident on Facebook.  An Amazon order was shipped to her home; anticipating delivery, she left her front gate open so the delivery person could place it close to the home. But a thief stole the wrapped box, forcing her to report the misdemeanor to Amazon, who promptly agreed to resend the order. And then the errant box returned, opened with a book sticking out. “Not a reader,” said Kakugawa. …

And that’s Show Biz. …