Category: Stage

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‘Yellow Face:’ A volley of vitriol

I’m old enough to remember the casting controversy of the Engineer role in “Miss Saigon,” a Cameron Macintosh hit in the 1990s. And this theatrical friction recurs in the current theatrical satire, “Yellow Face,” now at Manoa Valley Theatre.

Jonathon Pryce, a Welsh actor, was cast to play the Engineer in the Broadway launch of “Saigon,” which was an affront to the Asian community.  Playwright David Henry Hwang, best known for scripting “M. Butterfly,”  rightfully cast an Asian, B.D. Wong, to play the leading role.  But Hwang was not silent about the “Miss Saigon” development.

Pryce, Wong and Hwang are smack dab in the middle of the casting conversation and  its implications, in Hwang’s  bold and “Yellow Face”  production, which plays like a mockumentary with a volley of vitriol.

Reyn Afaga is DHH (as Hwang is called) and he leads a small army of Asian and part=Asian performers, who argue, agree, yell, shout and spew out opinions like bullets in this theatrical drama en route to becoming a social and satirical comedy. The players form a vigorous and vital animated ensemble, directed by Reiko Ho, herself a seasoned and savvy director of numerous Asian-content works in her career. “Yellow Face” easily could be the most explosive  and controversial entry in her list of credits.

Reyn Afaga, in yellow shirt, plays David Henry Hwang in “Yellow Face.”

“Yellow Face” is easy to watch as it dismantles real-life drama and repurposes it  into onstage comedy, examining and exploring the elements of farce, racial discrimination,  cultural identity.

Nicholas Gianforti plays Marcus Gee, an actor cast as  “The King” in “The King and I,” and mocked as a fraud, since he is not Asian but trying to legitimize the role popularized by Yul Brynner (who was part Asian).

Other players are Brandon Caban, who is the constant announcer in a wave of informational bursts of headlines and quips from newspapers like the New York Times and the Post; Sam Bui is Henry Yuah Hwang (NYH), the father of DHH who idolizes Frank Sinatra and  “My Way;”  Elizabeth Ung is Leah Ann Cho; Anastacia Narrajos is Jane Krakowski; Angeline Roselani Han is Carla Chang; and David Tang is Stuart Ostrow. All cast members take on numerous smaller roles and also actively move  or remove furniture and set pieces as needed.

MTV’s recent series of in-the-round staging is over, as “Yellow Face” is staged in the more conventional proscenium format, though there’s no proscenium. Before there’s any stage action, the performance space is kind of blank canvas; Willie Sabel’s stage is all black but takes on different hues thanks to lighting; the open space enables romping by the entire cast, with selected props, and Janine Myers’ lighting and Sarah Velasco’s sound direction work their magic. Amber Lehua Baker’s costumes are  suitable and functional and Kelly Belle’s props are comprised mostly of tables, chairs, and stools.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays; a matinee has been added at 3 p.m. May 23; and two performances also have been added at 7:30 p.m. May 30 and 3 p.m.. May 31.

Tickets: $25 to $47, at (808) 988-6131 or www.manoavalleytheatre.com

Around town

Hoku Zuttermeister.

Hoku Zuttermeister has been performing at Roy’s in Hawaii Kai, doing  informal sets on the lawn outside of Roy’s downstairs bar. According to Robbyn Shim, who does p.r. for Roy’s, the entertainment community has been stopping by the catch him in action. Among Zuttermeister’s pals tuning in: Nina Kealiiwahamana, Robert Cazimero, and Manu Boyd. Nothing like attracting celeb listeners…

With the extension of the “Ke Kilo Lani: Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero” exhibit till May 30, another panel discussion has been added to the series at Gallery ‘Iolani at Windward Community College, adjoining Paliku Theatre.

Roland and Robert Cazimero, back in the day…

Zachary Lum, a member of Keauhou and a Gent from Halau Na Kamalei, will moderate.

The final panel discussion will be from 6 to 7 p.m. May 21, and the panelists will be members of Cazimero’s halau, the Gentlemen of Hālau Nā Kamalei o Lililehua, who will discuss their learnings and perspectives of the exhibition.

For tickets, register at https://www.waheafoundation.org/

Gail Mack, Lance Luke, Keith Hiraoka and Bobby Nishida will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. today (May 17) at Mango Street Grilll in Wahiawa. For reservations, call Daryl at (808) 627-5451. Same number, to preorder a prime rib dinner…

The musicians also perform from 6 to 8 p.m. May 29, at The Edge, at 31 N. Pauahi St. Reservations: (808) 888-3228; $5 cover prevails.

And that’s Show Biz…

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Theater fire shuts down ‘Mormon’

A three-alarm fire on the roof of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Monday  (May 4) night will force the Tony-winning Broadway hit, “The Book of Mormon,” to shut down indefinitely, beginning  tonight (May 5) and tomorrow night (May 6).

Apparently, the building’s fourth floor received substantial damage including a room that is home to lighting equipment and hanging chandeliers.

The blaze, whtich began in an electrical room, caused “substantial damage” to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, according to David Simms, New York  fire department assistant chief. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

There were a lot of catwalks and rigging in the theater, making access difficult, but no one was injured. The cause of the blaze still is under investigation and it’s too soon to set a reopening date.

The marquee of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, home of “The Book of Mormon.”

The Eugene O’Neill Theatre seats 1,108 patrons and “’The Book of Mormon” has been a popular production since its opening in 2011. It has logged more than 5,000 performances so far.

The show had announced a “Magical Mormon Mystery Week,” marking its 15th anniversary with a myriad of returning cast members the week of June 9 to 14.

Promotional marquee, heralding the 15th anniversary of “Mormon.”

There was no immediate word if the celebration will go on as planned, if theater repairs can be done, or whether the special will be canceled.

The theater, at 230 W. 49th St. in Manhattan, opened in 1925 under a different name, and has had a storied past, with such popular shows as “Sweeney Todd,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Sound of Music,” “Grease,” and “Spring Awakening.” At one point, Neil Simon was the theater owner and staged such hits as “The Odd Couple” and “California Suite.”

Ticket holders will be notified by point of purchase, for refunds or exchanges.

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‘Funny Girl’ at Diamond Head

“Funny Girl” — the acclaimed Broadway musical and hit film that made Barbra Streisand a superstar – opens May 22 at the Diamond Head Theatre, for a run through June 6.

Already, many playdates are sold out, so it’s prudent to secure tickets sooner than later, if you intend to go.

“Funny Girl” is the biographical musical about the feisty, determined wanna-be performer Fanny Brice, who is from New York’s Lower East Side, and her inspired journey to become a stage star as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies in the era when vaudeville was king.

It’s a tale of big dreams, challenging goals and immense hurdles, fueled by tuneful staples from the Bob Merrill and Jule Styne musical score, including such evergreens as “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.”  The show — with book and original story by Isobel Lennart –has become a star-maker; two years ago, Lea Michele famously resuscitated the Brice role on Broadway and turned a so-so interpretation into a magical blockbuster.

John Rampage, veteran artistic director of Diamond Head Theatre, is charged with directing and choreographing “Funny Girl.”

 Becca Brake will portray the effervescent and Indefatigable Fanny Brice; Mark Sanders will enact Nick Arnstein, her financially unstable gambler-husband; Shari Lynn will be Mrs. Rosie Brice, Fanny’s mom not immediately convinced about Fanny’s quest; and Joe Martyak will play Florenz Ziegfeld Jr, who gives Fanny the nod to put her stamp on his famous Ziegfeld Follies show.

Others in the cast are David Weaver (Eddie Ryan), Brianna Johnson (Emma), Tracey Villiger (Mrs. Strakosh),  Betty Bolton (Mrs. Meeker) Lee Nebe (Tom Keeney),  Jody Bill (Keeney Girl, Showgirl, Fanny Brice understudy), Landon Ballesteros (John the Stage Manager), Mary Rydell (Mrs. O’Malley), Federico Biven (Heckie),  Brandon Yim (Workman), Presley Wheeler (Workman, Ziegfeld Production Tenor), Christina Sutrov (Keeney Girl, Showgirl), Anastasia Chrysler (Keeney Girl, Showgirl), Alexandra Langley (Keeney Girl/Showgirl), Salote Vaha’i (Mimsey, Showgirl), Timmy “Tino” Nozaki (Paul), Bob Calvert (Mr. Renaldi), James Lauer (Coronet Man, Jody) and Suzanne Green (understudy for Mrs. Brice, Mrs. Strakosh, Mrs. Meeker, and Mrs. O’Malley)..

Ensemble members are Casey Kekoa Lauti,  Jaiyu-Li,  Brittany Lewis,  Ani O’Hanlon, Emily Lane, and Teagan Staskawicz.

Performance days are at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. DHT’s website may not list certain sellout dates. Tickets range in price from $43 to $70, available at www.diamondheadtheatre.com and (808) 733-0274…

And that’s Show Biz…



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ROBERT: BIRTHDAY, WALLET, SELL-0UT

Robert Cazimero, the accomplished do-all island entertainer, turns 77 today (March 20). Happy da kine.

He celebrated his birthday last night (March 19), in one of his usual gigs at Chef Chai’s. But he’s been celebrating throughout the month of March, which is the timetable he advocates.

It’s been a banner month for him, and he works (hard) for his money, like the Donna Summer mantra song from yesteryear Consider:

Robert Cazimeero and his “water.”
  • He’s been rehearsing like crazy, for a two-show gig at 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday (March 22) at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community Theatre. It’s a fund-raiser for his Na Kamalei O Lililehua hula halau. The first show is sold out, and the finale likely will follow suit.
  • He’s had a bit of a setback last week, followed by a good luck streak last week. He dined at the Kam Bowl Restaurant in Kalihi, and his wallet – with driver’s license, credit cards, and cash – slipped out of his rain jacket and unknowingly fell under a table. He discovered the loss only when he was at a Safeway, unable to pay for his purchase, so headed home, when he noticed his phone was a-buzz with messages. His friends saw a Facebook post  by the restaurant, and they were trying to alert him. He ultimately secured his belongings, with contents intact, but he was a bit concerned that his driver’s license was exposed on Facebook. However, he was able to retrieve all his stuff, without the need to replace all the valuable cards in his wallet. Honesty was on his side, for which he was thankful. Perhaps his birthday angel was monitoring his fate.
Kuana Torres Kahalem , on electric bass.
  • His birthday show at Chai’s was afloat, so to speak, thanks to the continuous flow of “water,” in actuality his favorite champagne. The performance ran nearly two hours, underscored by the vast support of entertainment pals and hula colleagues.  Kuana Torres Kahale, his Hawaiiana buddy, flew in from Hilo, to join Cazimero in concert, playing electric bass, singing harmony and frequently lead, in a stunning demonstration of developing brotherhood, in a sense replacing the void and loss of bro Roland Cazimero.

Kumu Vicky Holt Takamine, doing a hula.

Hula dancers Sky Perkins Gora and Keola “Buddy” Makaiau did perhaps two solo dances, because of the volley of  peer stylists tapped to share periodic hula in the aisles.  These included impressive halau dancers, male and female, including legendary kumu Vicky Holt Takamine who rendered several lead dances.  Singer Marlene Sai was a  notable spectator. The bottom line: there was much love and loyalty and artistry in the ranks…

Manoa Valley’s ‘Spring Awakening’ opens

 Mānoa Valley Theatre “Spring Awakening” opened last night (March 19) for a run through April 5..

The gritty rock musical, set in late 19th century Germany, explores the turbulent journey of adolescent sexuality and self-discovery. The adult themes suggest this is not for young audiences,

A group of teenagers navigate their inherent desires amid strict social pressures and a lack of adult guidance,  resulting in powerful, often dark, coming-of-age themes. Mature subject matter prevails, including depictions of suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, abortion, and sexuality.

A contemporary rock score features music by Duncan Sheik, and the show is based on the play by Frank Wedekind, with book and lyrics by Steven Sater.

The MVT cast features isaiah Gunderman Graham (Melchior), Amy K. Sullivan (Adult Woman), Mathias Maas (Adult Man), Ainsley Shearer (Wendla), Nikki Bagaw (Martha), Marie Chiyo Staples (Thea), Gina Miyazaki (Anna), Myla Pellegrini (Ilse), Casey Lauti (Ernst), Maya Joyce (Georg,) Chad Navarro (Otto/Rupert) Andrew Cheng  (ensemble/Bobby/Reinhold), Kevin Molina (ensemble/Ulbrecht), Victoria Chang (ensemble/Marianna), Juliette Moody (ensemble/Frieda), and Cayden Park (ensemble/Liesel). I

The production team includes Lurana Donnels O’Malley (director),Jenny Shiroma (music director), Jonathan Clarke Sypert (choregrapher/inimacy coordinator), Stacey Pulmano (assistant director), Erich Sableinwandt-Gudoy ( stage manager), Aly Sutton (assistant stage manager),  Teia O’Malley (set designer),  Willie Sabel (technical director/scenic artist),  Janine Myers (lighting designer/master electrician),  Tim Manamtam and Sarah Velasco (sound designers),  Ka‘iukapu Baker (costume designer),   Lisa Ponce de Leon (hair and makeup designer)r (Kelley Belle (props designer), Rehearsal Assistant – Denise-Aiko Chinen (rehearsal assistant), and– Amber Lehua Baker (costume shop supervisor).

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at 3 p.m. Sundays, with a special 3 p.m. matinee on March 28.

Tickets are $25 to $47, available via phone at (808) 988-6131, or online at manoavalleytheatre.com.

And that’s Show Biz…

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ONLY MUSICALS AT DHT ’26-’27

Diamond Head Theatre’s 2026-27 season will be an all-musical affair, featuring four favorite classics and two Hawaii premieres of recent titles.

Thus, the shows will provide a spectrum of astonishing and satisfying theatrical experiences, which should pique the interest of the old and the young alike, beginning with the compelling soul-tugging “Fiddler on the Roof” and winding up with the outrageously funny “Hairspray.”

The season also will be a stellar opportunity for skilled singers and dancers to strut their stuff by auditioning for the varied roles.

The rundown:

  • “Fiddler on the Roof,”  Sept. 25 to Oct. 11 2026 – One of the most beloved classics of the Broadway repertoire, this is the treasured tale of Tevye, a poor milkman and his wife and five daughters, who reside in the Russian village of Anateva.  The opening number, “Tradition,” says and shows it all – a cornerstone of musical comedy theater, with book by Jerry Bock, music by Joseph Stein, and lyrics by Sheldon Harvey. Tevye and his wife, the sharp-tongued Golde, lead lives that are as precarious as the perch of a fiddler on a roof, which give the show its title. The score boasts a wealth of hit songs that reflect the love, faith and life challenges of the family: “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “To Life,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “Do You Love Me.”
  • “How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical,” Nov. 20 to Dec. 6 2026 – This holiday classic, from the stories of Dr. Seuss, was a children’s book and animated movie before segueing into a stage favorite for the Christmas season. The mean and green Grinch is the keen figure in an outing for both children, teens and adult audiences, and features its celebratory hit song, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and a world full of the Whos. The playwright is  Timothy Mason.
  • “Into the Woods,” Jan. 22 to Feb. 7 2027 – This Tony-winning musical, with storybook characters, is timeless and  tuneful, with wishes galore: Cinderella wishes to go to the ball, Prince Charming wishes to find the maiden who lost her shoe at the ball, the Baker and his Wife wish for a baby,  Little Red Riding Hood  wishes to visit her grandma, and  Jack of the beanstalk fame wishes to return home. The show was written by James Lapine with words and lyrics composed byStephen Sondheim. The audience might wish for one singular sensation of a song in the score, but there’s a bonanza of choices: “No One Is Alone,” “Stay With Me,” “Children Will Listen,” and “Last Midnight.” In the forested woods, however, happily ever after isn’t always so.
  • “Suffs,” March 12 to 28 2027 – “Suffs,” short for “suffragists,” is an award-winning show by Shaina Taub, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, and even starred in the original Broadway production. It Is a tale of the struggle for equality, the power of protest, and the relevance of the fight today. The original production featured an all-female cast, with women playing all roles, including the male characters, providing a unique and compelling perspective to the story; there’s no indication that DHT will go down this avenue. 
  • “Pirates! The Penzance Musical,” May 21 to June 6 2027 – This reimagining of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic operetta,  was a 2025 hit on Broadway. The razzle-dazzle of G&S’s Penzance have been transported to New Orleans’s French Quarters, and the operetta flavor has been seasoned with Caribbean rhythms and jazz. The book and lyrics are by Rupert Holmes. The plot follows Frederic, who is mistakenly apprenticed to a band of tender-hearted pirates until his 21st birthday. But due to a leap year technicality, his apprenticeship is extended, complicating his love for Mabel. The Pirate King and the tongue-twisting Major-General are aboard ship, along with new young lovers, fleet-footed police, and footloose pirates.
  • “Hairspray,” July 23 to Aug. 8 2027 – First there was a movie by John Waters, then a Broadway show, and “Hairspray” thus became an iconic legend of 1960s Baltimore. Plus-size teenager Tracy Tumblad has one mission in life – to gain fame on the “Corny Collins Show,” the “American Bandstand”/Dick Clark sound-alike. Edna Tumblad, Tracy’s mom, is part of the legendary folks here – cuz she’s portrayed by a dude, who’ll become a notable sort in the process. The book is by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas McKeehan, based on the Waters film, with music byMarc Shaman and Scott Wittman. Themes include racial prejudice and integration, and size-hate and social change. The anthem, “You Can’t Stop the Beat” rules here, but other danceable and singable hits include “Good Morning Baltimore” and “I Can Hear the Bells.”

DHT advisories:

Season ticket sales are now underway and current subscribers must sign up by May 8. By phone: box office at (808) 733-0274. By mail: DHT, 520 Makapuu Ave., Honolulu HI 96826. Box office hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

To change current subscriptions, call or visit the box office.

Important operational changes:

  • All Thursday performances will begin at 7 p.m.
  • All Sunday shows will start at 3 p.m.
  • A new Thursday subscription show will be added; thus, the first Thursday option will become a second Thursday choice, the second Thursday will become the third.
  • The current first Saturday matinee will become the second.
  • The current second Saturday matinee will become the third.
  • The Friday opening night will not be changed, so the planned new Thursday performance will precede the usual opening night.
  • Shows prior to the opening night week could be added; they constitute extensions before the openings. (This option already has happened; the current show, “West Side Story,” had been slated prior to its March 20 debut, though at least two shows last week had to be canceled due to last week’s Kona low storms).

‘Harry Potter’ spell rules on Broadway

“Harry Potter” continues to have box office magic on Broadway, grossing $2.5 million for the week ending March 15. Only one other show – “Hamilton”—is in the $2 million club.

The Top 10:

1—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $2.507 million

2—“Hamilton,” $2.117 million

3—“Wicked,” $1.723 million

4—“The Lion King,” $1.718 milion

5—“Just in Time,” $1.680 million

6—“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” $1.430 million

7—“Chess,” $1.331 million

8—“The Outsiders,” $1.296 million

9—“MJ the Musical,” $1.180 million

10—“Every Brilliant Thing,” $1.107 million

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…