A SPECIAL ‘LES MIZ’ T-SHIRT NOTE CARD

Cleaning up some files today, I came across a small collection of notecards I created, to thank the cast of “Les Miserables,” which was a wowser and rouser at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College in October, 2013.

This production likely to be Hawaii’s most astonishing accomplishment in local theater, directed, of course, by the late and legendary Ron Bright. It was Mr. B’s favorite show, part of a bucket-list of shows he wanted to do; “Phantom of the Opera” and “Miss Saigon,” which he also directed with his impeccable touch, completing his wish list.

The cast of “Les Miserables,” at Paliku Theatre, in October, 2013.

The notecards – in the shape of T-shirts – depict a Cosette-in-Hawaii motif.  The cards were meant to commemorate and thank the cast and crew of this stupendous show; and yes, did enough cards so each performer and techie received one on opening night

See, in many tour stops made by the official touring company of “Les Miz,” the iconic child that is the symbol of this enduring Broadway and London show, takes on the flavor of the city being visited. In Canada, Cosette had a flag with a maple leaf; in France, the French flag gets prime time; in Scotland, she might don a kilt. In Hawaii, it’s a hula skirt. And so on.

I took some liberties, borrowing the Cosette image and adding a local element. For one card, “Lei Miz” was the subtitle, because she was wearing a lei. In another, she is in hula pose, so I labeled it as “Lovely (Hula) Lady,” borrowing a tune from the show. The third card depicts Cosette with a surfboard and donning sunglasses, and an apt title: “Catch the waif.”  This was an official authorized trademarked image the first time the show played here.

Four specimens of the “Les Miz” noted cards gifted to the cast and crew.

I gave the images a splash of color, and each Cosette wears a hibiscus in her hair. Lei color varied, but red and yellow were prevalent, as I recall.

The show – loaded with music that speaks to a generation of theater players – featured a protagonist who delivers one of blockbuster ballads (“Bring Him Home”), neither he nor the song is promoted in the “Les Miz” annals.

So, I thought Jean Valjean’s prisoner number would be a code to his valor and vigor; did a limited number of cards that simply addressed his numbers: 24601

On the back of the T-shirt card, I expressed my appreciation for a job well done. And borrowed that show’s most quoted line: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

This expression of dedication and performance — the core of theatrical life — inspired Mr. B’s family and followers to create the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation to preserve and perpetuate his enduring spirit and inspiration. The journey continues.

CONCERTS BY THE SEA AT AQUARIUM

For the first time since 2019, when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down life and cultural events, “Ke Kani O Ke Kai,” the summertime musical festival at the Waikiki Aquarium will resume this summer.

The schedule:

  • June 30 – Makana, featuring Bobby Moderow Jr., Kawika Kahiapo and George Kuo.
  • July 21 – Kalani Pe‘a, with Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela.
  • Aug. 11 – Streetlight Cadence and Friends.
Makana

The oceanfront concerts will offer special dinners provided by island restaurant partners.

Those attending will also be able to tour the Aquarium galleries that will be open during the event. Guests should plan to bring mats and lawn chairs for seating on the grass, as well as blankets.

Seating will be tiered, with those sitting on mats on the grass lawn closest to the stage, with those with low chairs behind that group, and those will full-sized lawn chairs seated behind that group.

Because of on-site food vendors, outside food and drink will not be allowed.

Season tickets, including all three concerts, are available; individual tickets for one or two shows are available, at the Waikiki Aquarium website. …

Once Upon One Time’

Lisa Matsumoto’s classic pidgin English musical comedy, “Once Upon One Time,
 will be revived by Manoa Valley Theatre, beginning June 30 at the Kaimuki High School Auditorium.

Cast of Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Once Upon One Time,” playing at Kaimuki High Auditorium.

Matsumoto’s comedic take on familiar fairy tale characters is given a pidgin overhaul, so Snow White and Da Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Little Red Hiding Hood appear, singing and spouting da kine pidgin lingo, complete with the appearance of Da Mongoose and funny kine , kinda lolo menehune.

The late Matsumoto did da book and lyrics, and was known for playing Da Wicked Queen, but one new generation of performers will bring new vigor and veneer like you no can imagine. Da music is by Paul Palmore, with Roslyn Catracchio adding extra songs.

Performances going run through July 10 so no fo’get order da tickets at (808) 988-6131 or go visit www.manoavalleytheatre.com and can charge. …

‘Qualities of Starlight’

The Hawaii premiere of Gabriel Jason Dean’s play, “Qualities of Starlight,”
will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday (June 24) at The Actors Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at 650 Iwilei Road at Dole Cannery.

The story is about a couple visiting his aging parents in the Appalachian South, and discover the elders are meth addicts. Science collides with nature, with identity shifts and a cosmos no longer wondrous.

Director Alan Shepard is portraying Junior, Amy K. Sullivan is Rose, Matthew Miller is Theo and Christine Umipeg is Polly.

For tickets, call (808) 722-6941, or visit tagtickets@hawaii.rr.com or www.taghawaii.net

Broadway grosses, week ending June 19

“A Strange Loop,” a Tony-winning Best Musical, is making gains on the Broadway gross roster, but has a way to go; the leading productions have switched places on the weekly compilation, with “Hamilton,” grossing more than $2.2 million, surpassing the former No. 1 ticketing musical, “The Music Man,” which previously scored $3 million tallies, but dropping to $1.7 million and No. 2, with “The Lion King” roaring in at No. 2 with its $1.9 million gross.

The rundown, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz. …

DIVERSITY LOOPS BIG IN TONYS

Looks like the Tony Awards are back in the ballgame, with an uptick in the overnight Nielsen numbers (3.8 million viewers, according to Variety, up 39 per cent from last year). It’s a stunning comeback from those pandemic years, and a healthy comeback for Broadway.

Last night’s diversity of winners – including newbies – means a breath of fresh air. Artistry prevailed over box office grosses, and the bottom line is quite obvious: a new breed of splendid talent will bring a burst of invigorating new headliners in the Great White Way community.

Hosted by former “Hamilton” performer Ariana DeBose, a first-time Oscar winner from this year’s “West Side Story,” the Broadway community welcomed fresh faces and a vigorous new wedge of diversity, particularly these new names among the expanding elite Tony crowd:

1– Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square, ” victorious as the Best Performance by an Actress in a  Leading Role in a Musical. Her performance was hypnotic, deeply emotional, and a show-stopper.

Joaquina Kalukango, from “Paradise Square.”

2— Myles Frost, “MJ”– Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. He recreated the smooth moves of Michael Jackson, from moon-walking to crotch-grabbing, displaying a style  with his own imprint.

3 –Another MJ, Michael A. Jackson, became a new hero in the Broadway milieu, winning his first Tony for “A Strange Loop,” the Best Book of a Musical winner. The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical,  the tale of  of a Broadway usher, whose named is Usher, who is trying to write a musical about a Broadway usher trying to write a musical, has been widely applauded for its unique tale and score. Redundancy paid off, with a schematic involving six performers, who are guises of Usher’s innermost sentiments.

These wins might be loosely termed “upsets,” because the unknown Frost, enacting Michael Jackson, beat universally popular Hugh Jackman as con man Harold Hill, in the evergreen Meredith Willson musical, “Music Man,”

Jaquel Spivey, as the Usher in “A Strange Loop,” Best Musical winner.

the show that has been earning more than $3 million-plus a week, beating the usual “take” of $2 million-plus of “Hamilton,” which has been box office gold since Lin-Manuel Miranda first played Alexander Hamilton well before Covid halted all productions.

The exposure from the Tonys, televised by CBS to mark the 75th anniversary of the award, will be a clear milestone that will be long remembered. Change is happening. Slowly, but assuredly.

For a while, it looked like the old guard was going to make a clean sweep of the Tonys.

Patti Lupone, in “Company,” deserved her laurels; ditto, Phylicia Rashjad, in “Skeleton Crew.” Even the late Stephen Sondheim picked up a trophy, in memoriam, for Best Revival of a Musical,” for the beloved “Company.”

Stephen Sondheim, peers from a photo screen, with Bernadette Peters singing, below.

Jennifer Hudson quietly became an EGOT winner, as a co-producer of “A Strange Loop,” which galvanized her as a bonafide GOAT. Greatest of All Time, though her artistic clock’s still ticking. (Surely, you know that EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, the various show biz competitions, and if you win all, you’re an EGOT).

Scroll down the winner’s list, below, and yes, some traditonalists continue to score (think Sam Mendes  for Best Director of a Play, “The Lehman Trilogy”), gender equality is still relevant (think Marianne Elliott, Best Director of a Musical,” for “Company”), and a sweet, blossomimg dance to  fame is reflected in other triumphs in other categories.

Here’s the complete list of Tony nominees and winners (designated in boldface) :

Best Play
“Clyde’s”
“Hangmen”
WINNER: “The Lehman Trilogy”
“The Minutes”
“Skeleton Crew”

Best Musical
“Girl From The North Country”
“MJ”
“Mr. Saturday Night”
“Paradise Square”
“Six: The Musical”
WINNER: “A Strange Loop”

Best Revival of a Play
“American Buffalo”
“for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
“How I Learned to Drive”
WINNER: “Take Me Out”
“Trouble in Mind”

Best Revival of a Musical
“Caroline, or Change”
WINNER: “Company”
“The Music Man”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
WINNER: Simon Russell Beale, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Adam Godley, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Adrian Lester, “The Lehman Trilogy”
David Morse, “How I Learned to Drive”
Sam Rockwell, “American Buffalo”
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “Lackawanna Blues”
David Threlfall, “Hangmen”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabby Beans, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
LaChanze, “Trouble in Mind”
Ruth Negga, “Macbeth”
WINNER: Deirdre O’Connell, “Dana H.”
Mary-Louise Parker, “How I Learned to Drive”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Billy Crystal, “Mr. Saturday Night”
WINNER: Myles Frost, “MJ”
Hugh Jackman, “The Music Man”
Rob McClure, “Mrs. Doubtfire”
Jaquel Spivey, “A Strange Loop”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sharon D Clarke, “Caroline, or Change”
Carmen Cusack, “Flying Over Sunset”
Sutton Foster, “The Music Man”
WINNER: Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”
Mare Winningham, “Girl From The North Country”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Alfie Allen, “Hangmen”
Chuck Cooper, “Trouble in Mind”
WINNER: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Take Me Out”
Ron Cephas Jones, “Clyde’s”
Michael Oberholtzer, “Take Me Out”
Jesse Williams, “Take Me Out”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Uzo Aduba, “Clyde’s”
Rachel Dratch, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”
Kenita R. Miller, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
WINNER: Phylicia Rashad, “Skeleton Crew”
Julie White, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”
Kara Young, “Clyde’s”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
WINNER: Matt Doyle, “Company”
Sidney DuPont, “Paradise Square”
Jared Grimes, “Funny Girl”
John-Andrew Morrison, “A Strange Loop”
A.J. Shively, “Paradise Square”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeannette Bayardelle, “Girl From The North Country”
Shoshana Bean, “Mr. Saturday Night”
Jayne Houdyshell, “The Music Man”
L Morgan Lee, “A Strange Loop”
WINNER: Patti LuPone, “Company”
Jennifer Simard, “Company”

Best Direction of a Play
Lileana Blain-Cruz, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
Camille A. Brown, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
WINNER: Sam Mendes, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Neil Pepe, “American Buffalo”
Les Waters, “Dana H.”

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Brackett, “A Strange Loop”
WINNER: Marianne Elliott, “Company”
Conor McPherson, “Girl From The North Country”
Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, “Six: The Musical”
Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”
Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, “Skeleton Crew”
WINNER: Es Devlin, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Anna Fleischle, “Hangmen”
Scott Pask, “American Buffalo”
Adam Rigg, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, “Flying Over Sunset”
WINNER: Bunny Christie, “Company”
Arnulfo Maldonado, “A Strange Loop”
Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, “MJ”
Allen Moyer, “Paradise Square”

Best Book of a Musical
“Girl From The North Country”
Conor McPherson “MJ”
Lynn Nottage
“Mr. Saturday Night”
Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
“Paradise Square”
Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan
WINNER: “A Strange Loop”
Michael R. Jackson

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)
“Flying Over Sunset”
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie
“Mr. Saturday Night”
Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green
“Paradise Square”
Music: Jason Howland
Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Masi Asare
WINNER: “Six: The Musical”
Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
“A Strange Loop”
Music & Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson

Best Costume Design of a Play
WINNER: Montana Levi Blanco, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
Sarafina Bush, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
Emilio Sosa, “Trouble in Mind”
Jane Greenwood, “Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite”
Jennifer Moeller, “Clyde’s”

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Fly Davis, “Caroline, or Change”

Toni-Leslie James, “Paradise Square”

William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical

Santo Loquasto, “The Music Man”

WINNER: Gabriella Slade, “SIX: The Musical”

Paul Tazewell, “MJ”

Best Lighting Design of a Play
WINNER: Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy
Jane Cox, “Macbeth”
Yi Zhao, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
Joshua Carr, “Hangmen”
Jiyoun Chang, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Neil Austin, “Company”
Tim Deiling, “Six: The Musical”
Donald Holder, “Paradise Square”
WINNER:Natasha Katz, “MJ”
Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset Jen Schriever, “A Strange Loop”

Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
WINNER: Mikhail Fiksel, “Dana H.”
Palmer Hefferan, “The Skin of Our Teeth”
Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, “The Lehman Trilogy”
Mikaal Sulaiman, “Macbeth”

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Simon Baker, “Girl From The North Country”
Paul Gatehouse, “Six: The Musical”
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, “Company”
Drew Levy, “A Strange Loop”
WINNER: Gareth Owen, “MJ”

Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”
Warren Carlyle, “The Music Man”
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, “Six: The Musical”
Bill T. Jones, “Paradise Square”
WINNER: Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Orchestrations
David Cullen, “Company”
Tom Curran, “Six: The Musical”
WINNER: Simon Hale, “Girl From The North Country”
Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, “MJ”
Charlie Rosen, “A Strange Loop”

And that’s Show Biz. …

WHO’S WHO ON SUNDAY’S TONYS

The Tony Awards, when Broadway honors its best, will be held this Sunday, in a two-part programming sked, the first on the Paramount network at 1 p.m. Hawaii time, the second in prime time at 2 p.m. via CBS and originating from Radio City Music Hall.

Unlike the Oscars, when audiences and voters can watch movies live or streamed, the Tonys are a notable New York tradition. You can’t see a new or revived musical or play, unless you see ‘em in a Broadway theater. And since the pandemic has altered the going-out-to-be-entertained element, one wonders how many voters actually attended a show to cast their votes.

For non-theatergoers, the Broadway A-list may not be familiar. So stars as presenters or luminaries as performers may not be familiar to the stay-at-homers. Heck, I’ve not been to Broadway since the summer of 2019, and haven’t been able to give my regards to Broadway, to coin the familiar phase. Hope to go soon, but it likely will be later.

The galaxy this year will include the known, the unknown, and the on-the-way-uppers.

The Tony Award

Glimpse at this rundown of bold face names, and see if you recognize the talents. Some are movie stars or recording acts, so your memory bell might jingle. One island star, who has earned a Tony, will be aboard, as a presenter; see if you can pick her out. A former Islander who now is a producer, has a nominated production, but an actor, not the musical , is a contender. Know who the local dude is and which production is his?

The lineup of “names” this year, in alphabetical order: Utkarsh Ambudkar, Skylar Astin, Zach Braff, Danielle Brooks, Danny Burstein, Len Cariou, RuPaul Charles, Jessica Chastain, Lilli Cooper, Bryan Cranston, Wilson Cruz.

Also, Colman Domingo, Anthony Edwards, Cynthia Erivo, Raúl Esparza, Laurence Fishburne, Andrew Garfield, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tony Goldwyn, David Alan Grier, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Hudson, Paris Jackson, Prince Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L Jackson, Nathan Lane, Telly Leung, Judith Light, Josh Lucas.


Further, Gaten Matarazzo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Patina Miller, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelli O’Hara, Sarah Paulson, Bernadette Peters, Jeremy Pope, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, Tony Shalhoub, Phillipa Soo, Sarah Silverman, George Takei, Aaron Tveit, Adrienne Warren, Patrick Wilson, and Bowen Yang.

The first show, hosted by Darren Criss and Julianne Hough, starts at 1 p.m., with coverage streamed on Paramount Plus, sister station of CBS.

The parade of musical and drama actors, both in leading and featured roles from nominated shows such as “Music Man,” “Plaza Suite,” “Take Me Out,” “A Strange Loop,” “How I Learned to Drive,” “Funny Girl,” “MJ: The Musical,” “Company,” “Six” and “POTUS,” will be highlights in a three-hour presentation starting at 2 p.m. on CBS. Ariana DeBose, an Oscar winning actress from “West Side Story,” will host the main spectacle.

Ruthie Ann Miles

The Hawaii presence.: The previous Hawaii Tony winner is Ruthie Ann Miles, who earned her statuette as a featured musical actress in “The King and I” in 2015; she is a presenter. The producer whose “Mrs. Doubtfire” is a nominee this year, is Kevin McCollum, who also is a previous multi-Tony winner for such shows as “Rent” and “Avenue Q.” …

And the nominees are…

The complete list of the 2022 Tony nominees might be helpful, if you’re tuning in the show:

Best New Musical

“Girl From the North Country”

“MJ”

“Mr. Saturday Night”

“Paradise Square”

“Six: The Musical”

“A Strange Loop”

Best Musical Revival

“Caroline, or Change”

“Company”

“The Music Man”

Best New Play

“Clyde’s”

“Hangmen”

“The Lehman Trilogy”

“The Minutes”

“Skeleton Crew”

Best Play Revival

“American Buffalo”

“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

“How I Learned to Drive”

“Take Me Out”

“Trouble in Mind”

Best Book of a Musical

Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan, “Paradise Square”

Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, “Mr. Saturday Night”

Michael R. Jackson, “A Strange Loop”

Conor McPherson, “Girl From the North Country”

Lynn Nottage, “MJ”

Best Original Score

“Flying Over Sunset,” music by Tom Kitt; lyrics by Michael Korie

“Mr. Saturday Night,” music by Jason Robert Brown; lyrics by Amanda Green

“Paradise Square,” music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan; lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare

“Six: The Musical,” music and lyrics: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss

“A Strange Loop,” music and lyrics: Michael R. Jackson

Best Direction of a Play

Lileana Blain-Cruz, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Camille A. Brown, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Sam Mendes, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Neil Pepe, “American Buffalo”

Les Waters, “Dana H.”

Best Direction of a Musical

Stephen Brackett, “A Strange Loop”

Marianne Elliott, “Company”

Conor McPherson, “Girl From the North Country”

Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, “Six: The Musical”

Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Leading Actor in a Play

Simon Russell Beale, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Adam Godley, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Adrian Lester, “The Lehman Trilogy”

David Morse, “How I Learned to Drive”

Sam Rockwell, “American Buffalo”

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “Lackawanna Blues”

David Threlfall, “Hangmen”

Best Leading Actress in a Play

Gabby Beans, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

LaChanze, “Trouble in Mind”

Ruth Negga, “Macbeth”

Deirdre O’Connell, “Dana. H”

Mary-Louise Parker, “How I Learned to Drive”

Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Billy Crystal, “Mr. Saturday Night”

Myles Frost, “MJ”

Hugh Jackman, “The Music Man”

Rob McClure, “Mrs. Doubtfire”

Jaquel Spivey, “A Strange Loop”

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Sharon D Clarke, “Caroline, or Change”

Carmen Cusack, “Flying Over Sunset”

Sutton Foster, “The Music Man”

Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”

Mare Winningham, “Girl From the North Country”

Best Featured Actor in a Play

Alfie Allen, “Hangmen”

Chuck Cooper, “Trouble in Mind”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Take Me Out”

Ron Cephas Jones, “Clyde’s”

Michael Oberholtzer, “Take Me Out”

Jesse Williams, “Take Me Out”

Best Featured Actress in a Play

Uzo Aduba, “Clyde’s”

Rachel Dratch, “POTUS”

Kenita R. Miller, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Phylicia Rashad, “Skeleton Crew”

Julie White, “POTUS”

Kara Young, “Clyde’s”

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Matt Doyle, “Company”

Sidney DuPont, “Paradise Square”

Jared Grimes, “Funny Girl”

John-Andrew Morrison, “A Strange Loop”

A.J. Shively, “Paradise Square”

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Jeannette Bayardelle, “Girl From the North Country”

Shoshana Bean, “Mr. Saturday Night”

Jayne Houdyshell, “The Music Man”

L Morgan Lee, “A Strange Loop”

Patti LuPone, “Company”

Jennifer Simard, “Company”

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, “POTUS”

Es Devlin, “The Lehman Trilogy”

\Anna Fleischle, “Hangmen”

Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, “Skeleton Crew”

Adam Rigg, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, “Flying Over Sunset”

Bunny Christie, “Company”

Arnulfo Maldonado, “A Strange Loop”

Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, “MJ”

Allen Moyer, “Paradise Square”

Best Costume Design of a Play

Montana Levi Blanco, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Sarafina Bush, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Jane Greenwood, “Plaza Suite”

Jennifer Moeller, “Clyde’s”

Emilio Sosa, “Skeleton Crew”

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Fly Davis, “Caroline, or Change”

Toni-Leslie James, “Paradise Square”

William Ivey Long, “Diana, the Musical”

Santo Loquasto, “The Music Man”

Gabriella Slade, “Six: The Musical”

Paul Tazewell, “MJ”

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Joshua Carr, “Hangmen”

Jiyoun Chang, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Jon Clark, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Jane Cox, “Macbeth”

Yi Zhao, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Neil Austin, “Company”

Tim Deiling, “Six: The Musical”

Donald Holder, “Paradise Square”

Natasha Katz, “MJ”

Bradley King, “Flying Over Sunset”

Jen Schriever, “A Strange Loop”

Best Sound Design of a Play

Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Justin Ellington, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Mikhail Fiksel, “Dana H.”

Palmer Hefferan, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Mikaal Sulaiman, “Macbeth”

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Simon Baker, “Girl From the North Country”

Ian Dickinson for Autograph, “Company”

Paul Gatehouse, “Six: The Musical”

Drew Levy, “A Strange Loop”

Gareth Owen, “MJ”

Best Choreography

Camille A. Brown, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow Is Enuf”

Warren Carlyle, “The Music Man”

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, “Six: The Musical”

Bill T. Jones, “Paradise Square”

Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Orchestrations

David Cullen, “Company”

Tom Curran, “Six: The Musical”

Simon Hale, “Girl From the North Country”

Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, “MJ”

Charlie Rosen, “A Strange Loop”

And that’s Show Biz…

KUMU LOOKS BACK, SPRINTS AHEAD

Kumu Kahua, the island theater group dedicated to stage plays by  playwrights who focus on works and themes reflecting the island lifestyle or history, has set its 2022-2023 season with flashbacks to its heritage.

Throughout the new season, Kumu Kahua will acknowledge and address the legacy of its founder, the late Dennis Carroll, a pioneering playwright and professor emeritus of the University of Hawaii’s Department of Theatre and Dance. He died in 2021, but set the foundation for Kumu to seek scripts by playwrights who express and explore island themes and local stories, reflecting the Hawaiian culture in comedies and dramas.  

“It’s particularly fitting that as we look ahead with excitement to the new, that we’re also celebrating old friends,” said Donna Blanchard, Kumu Kahua Theatre managing director. “Community has always been at the heart of the theater, and we are humbled by the enthusiasm of our audiences and the passion of our advocates in helping us to sustain our mission.”


Thus, Kumu is looking to the past as it sprints forward to its 52nd season, which will feature these five productions:

* “Aloha Las Vegas,” by Edward Sakamoto, Aug. 25 to Sept. 25, 2022. About a retired widower, Wally Fukuda, living comfortably in Liliha, till his pal Harry visits from Las Vegas, who proposes Wally does the same, where he can live for a fraction of the Hawaii cost. Family dynamics put a damper on his decision.  
* “Lucky Come Hawaii,” by Jon Shirota, Nov. 3 to Dec. 4. An adaptation of Shirota’s 1965 novel, a comedy set in wartime 1941, where a precarious balance exists between American GIs, local Japanese and West Maui Okinawans. But when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, martial law is imposed and the world goes topsy-turvy when a new normal prevails.
* “Gone Feeshing,” by Lee A.Tonouchi, Jan. 19 to Feb. 19  2023. Da Pidgin Guerrila’s father’s friend is the inspiration of this true-life heroism journey exploring love, communication and forgiveness. Two brothers go fishing; the older bro comes to terms with his relationship to their dad and his tragic death. With the pidgin guru’s orientation, expect a lot of local lingo.
* “Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers,” adapted to the stage by Keith Kashiwada and John H.Y. Wat, inspired by Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s groundbreaking novel. It’s a 1970s, coming of age tale set in Hilo, where Lovey Nariyoshi endures middle school with the support of her bestie, Jerry. A sense of identity is forged, shaped by white American pop culture and media, that makes her ashamed of her upbringing, laced with the beautiful and the brutal realities of growing up local.
* “Folks You Meet at Longs,” by Lee Cataluna, May 25 through June 25. The denizens, who make Longs a part of their days, are the focus of these raucous monologues, tapping a creepy uncle, a hickey-necked teen, a pickled-mango-craving hapai mom and more.. The play evolved in an award-winning book for Cataluna.

Tickets: $80, returning season subscribers; $90, new season subscribers; $25, student season subscribers; $170, Viewer’s Choice Pass ($10 tickets per pass); $70, scholarship subscription (a season ticket order given away by Kumu Kahua).
Where: (808) 536-4441; email officemanager@kumukahua.org; at box office, 46 Merchant Street, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. …

Broadway’s weekly grosses

No change in the leaders, who continue to lead: No. 1, “The Music Man;” No. 2, “Hamilton;” No. 3, “The Lion King.”

Grosses for the week ending May 15, 2022, courtesy the Broadway League:

Show NameGrossTotalAttn Capacity%Capacity
A STRANGE LOOP$690,667.956,5897,37689.33%
ALADDIN$998,162.7912,77713,81692.48%
AMERICAN BUFFALO$536,163.904,8686,00881.03%
BEETLEJUICE$886,771.508,06712,81662.94%
BIRTHDAY CANDLES$266,797.003,7375,81664.25%
CHICAGO$667,945.656,9448,64080.37%
COME FROM AWAY$468,509.245,0488,36860.33%
COMPANY$719,968.097,0248,36883.94%
DEAR EVAN HANSEN$522,763.895,8347,87274.11%
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF$249,353.604,0616,18465.67%
FUNNY GIRL$1,316,457.009,6249,75298.69%
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY$289,305.003,9416,38461.73%
HADESTOWN$943,568.757,3147,34499.59%
HAMILTON$2,053,252.0010,22810,59296.56%
HANGMEN$288,436.083,0626,41647.72%
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD$1,163,099.1010,22812,97678.82%
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE$364,925.004,3415,09685.18%
MACBETH$1,233,487.427,2267,35798.22%
MJ THE MUSICAL$1,352,143.2010,46811,09694.34%
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL$537,705.404,7505,20091.35%
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT$858,847.006,5198,33778.19%
MRS. DOUBTFIRE$395,679.005,2228,27263.13%
PARADISE SQUARE$235,604.005,4887,85669.86%
PLAZA SUITE$1,619,810.907,7207,80098.97%
POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE$461,864.256,32611,60854.50%
SIX$1,190,681.008,1498,24898.80%
TAKE ME OUT$474,951.234,2114,64890.60%
THE BOOK OF MORMON$941,030.657,6798,52890.04%
THE LION KING$1,636,928.0012,65913,56893.30%
THE MINUTES$386,898.003,8905,33672.90%
THE MUSIC MAN$3,377,554.0412,26812,200100.56%
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA$728,082.267,70412,84060.00%
THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH$115,745.002,3715,29044.82%
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL$1,015,122.008,62611,82472.95%
WICKED$1,361,373.0011,04014,45676.37%
And that’s Show Biz. …