Category: Stage

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2 JUDASES TO CLOSE OUT ‘SUPERSTAR’

Here’s an update on the status of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” heading into its final weekend of performances. Just so you know, there will be two Judases!

There’s a logical Plan A, Plan B and Plan C  in place, which sounds like a win-win situation regarding the role of Judas Iscariot. To backtrack: Taj Gutierrez was ill last week and last Friday was his last performance, with show cancellations looming. But Miguel Cadoy III was tapped to substitute, and did so, at last Saturday night’s show as well as last Sunday’s matinee.

So for the finale, a three-pronged schedule exists:

Plan A: “It’s been confirmed that Miguel will go on Friday night and Saturday afternoon,” said musical conductor Roslyn Catracchia, whose idea it was to invite Cadoy to fill the unexpected vacancy.

Plan B: Gutierrez, who has recovered from his voice problems, will resume his performance Saturday night.

Plan C: Gutierrez is scheduled to close out the run at Sunday’s matinee, but if he’s unable to do it, Cadoy is on standby to take his curtain call, if necessary.

Taj Gutierrez: He’ll be back as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The emergency of unexpected illness has fueled cheers for Gutierrez and Cadoy alike. First, Gutierrez was not hospitalized, as earlier reported, but did get ER attention, and has had time to recover and save his voice, so to speak. “Right off the bat, I want to extend a giant thank you to Miguel for stepping in for me,” he said. “It takes an incredibly skilled performer to jump in head first the way he did. Thank you and BRAVO to you, sir,” Gutierrez said in an email to Cadoy.

Miguel Cadoy III

“Over the last few days, I’ve been showered with love and support from the cast, crew and creative team of JCS, and it has healed my voice and soul,” said Gutierrez. “The theater ‘ohana in Hawaii is such a powerful force, and I feel so lucky to be accepted and supported by it.”

Indeed, cast-wide prayers and get-well shout-outs have enabled him to speed up his wellness.

And audiences who experienced Cadoy in his pivotal decision to take on Judas with iPad in hand at the last moment, also have expressed  hoots and hurrahs for jumping in, so it seems prudent that he hangs around Sunday, even if his services are not needed, to share the final curtain call. …

Broadway grosses, week ending. April 17

The leaders of the pack are:  No.1, “The Music Man;” No. 2, “The Lion King;” and  No. 3, “Hamilton.”

The chart, in alphabetical order:

Show NameGrossGrossTotalAttn Capacity%Capacity
A STRANGE LOOP$202,402.502,7563,68874.73%
ALADDIN$1,737,855.4815,04915,54396.82%
AMERICAN BUFFALO$543,713.905,7336,00895.42%
BEETLEJUICE$1,457,718.0010,72911,21495.68%
BIRTHDAY CANDLES$302,958.005,1125,81687.90%
CHICAGO$829,219.428,0338,64092.97%
COME FROM AWAY$588,164.466,6878,36879.91%
COMPANY$691,727.846,3108,36875.41%
DEAR EVAN HANSEN$758,577.606,6627,87284.63%
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF$130,359.343,7716,18460.98%
FUNNY GIRL$1,415,085.509,7609,752100.08%
HADESTOWN$1,044,339.407,3047,34499.46%
HAMILTON$2,453,319.0010,63810,592100.43%
HANGMEN$209,195.103,3544,81269.70%
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD$1,964,665.0012,81812,97698.78%
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE$237,890.004,3025,09684.42%
MACBETH$1,170,012.576,2836,30699.64%
MJ THE MUSICAL$1,462,484.2010,84111,09697.70%
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL$1,468,216.8010,11910,40097.30%
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT$652,920.005,4748,33765.66%
MRS. DOUBTFIRE$528,807.005,8876,20494.89%
PLAZA SUITE$917,819.004,5094,87592.49%
POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE$152,727.003,4675,80459.73%
SIX$1,357,276.008,1568,24898.88%
TAKE ME OUT$397,313.354,2124,68090.00%
THE BOOK OF MORMON$1,134,628.708,3808,52898.26%
THE LION KING$2,560,960.0015,15215,26499.27%
THE LITTLE PRINCE$373,831.006,70411,85656.55%
THE MINUTES$304,074.004,5445,33685.16%
THE MUSIC MAN$3,328,253.0812,12612,20099.39%
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA$1,073,263.2010,00912,84077.95%
THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH$138,610.003,8428,46445.39%
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL$826,820.507,16411,82460.59%
WICKED$2,314,088.0015,94816,26398.06%

 And that’s Show Biz. …

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MIGUEL STEPS IN AS JUDAS AT DHT

Since local theater almost never have understudies for key roles in a musical, what do you do if a cast member becomes ill and cannot make the weekend shows?

Miquel Cadoy III, a popular and versatile island actor who also is a Farrington High School educator who directs a student musically annual, helped save the day when Taj Gutierrez, cast as Judas Iscariot in Diamond Head Theatre, became ill and nonetheless completed last Friday night’s performance.

By Saturday morn, however, Gutierrez realized he couldn’t make that day’s matinee and evening shows plus the Easter Sunday matinee, and had to be hospitalized. Director-choreographer John Rampage was informed about the medical crisis, and figured that cancellation of the weekend’s three shows was imminent, relaying that consideration to musical director Roslyn Catracchia.

Miguel Cadoy III

“We gotta cancel,” Rampage told Catracchia but she had other ideas.

Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters, but Mig Cadoy, Roz suggested.

“Yes, I did go on this past weekend as Judas! Crazy!,” said Cadoy, the centrifugal force in saving the day.

“They didn’t have an understudy from the cast, so Roslyn called me at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, to see if I could come in, learn the show and go on that evening,” said Cadoy.

He had a sketchy rehearsal to acclimate himself to the tunes and work on modified blocking, from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, to be primed for the 7:30 p.m. curtain on Saturday, a role of show he’s never done. He also had to be fitted for costumes.

“I used an iPad during the show, with the music lead sheet. Mr. John explained to the audience of the situation and they were very forgiving with me having the tablet in hand. I was supposed to WATCH the show that evening,” Cadoy said with awe.

Roslyn Catracchia


“It was a tall task; he had to feel the story and its emotions,” said Catracchia, who  witnessed the moments of show where Cadoy sings “Jesus Christ Superstar” and a  shortened version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” She said there were tears in his eyes.

Cadoy’s Judas preparation and performance had conflicted with his Easter Sunday preaching role at his church, but he managed to find a replacement, too.

“Thankfully, the cast was very supportive and helped me through the entire process,” he said.

It wasn’t the first time Cadoy has subbed for a fellow actor; he once had to sub for Cliffton Hall , who lost his voice, in a production of “Les Miserables;” but this was an off-stage incidence, requiring vocal work only.

It also wasn’t the first time for Catracchia, who had been part of a cast-member issue in a “JC Superstar” production, with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra; a substitute actor performed with a script in hand (pre iPad era) with her late mom, Beebe Freitas, as musical director.

With two performances under his belt, Cadoy remains on standby in case Gutierrez does not recover from his voice issues, for the final three shows this weekend at DHT.

Miguel Cadoy III, left, with “Superstar” co-stars Aleks Pevec and Bailey Barnes, ‘neath DHT marquee.

Cadoy is happy to respond to the emergency summons. “I couldn’t say no to Roslyn,” he confessed. “Plus I really wanted to audition for the show, but I wanted to finish my final research paper for my master’s (degree). Funny thing is, I turned in my final paper on Thursday, and then this coincidently happened! So thankfully I was able to do the show.”

The canceled Saturday performance has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. this Friday (April 22) with concluding performances at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 23) and 4 p.m. Sunday (April 24).

Truly, Cadoy is to be commended for taking on this emergency call to fill in for a fellow actor in a time of need. For a musical with Biblical implications, with complications happening on an Easter weekend, one can’t help but wonder. The “He Is Risen” comment perfectly suits what transpired over the weekend, when Cadoy rose to the occasion in a the-show-must-go-on unplanned moment. …

And that’s Show Biz. ….

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ANALYZING THE BROADWAY SERIES

Planning on attending the four-show series of Broadway in Hawaii musicals, starting next Tuesday (April 19)?

I’ve heard a wave of eagerness from many who have signed up for all four shows, now through next year. A few are baffled at ticket prices

So, let’s discuss the situation.

A four-show season for us in Hawaii is new, so perhaps that’s where the wariness factor enters. Local theaters like Diamond Head Theatre and Manoa Valley Theatre commonly boast six-show seasons, and that’s the norm for touring shows on the Mainland.

We’ve never had such an agenda;  four could eventually become six, but there’s a lot to do to get to that level. One underlying factor might be the facility; our Blasidell Concert Hall is the go-to space for visiting shows; it’s showing its age and some day will require renovation crews to amp up the facility, so construction would halt bookings.

And no other facility in the state – the Hawaii Theatre in Chinatown and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Wailuku are too small or perhaps lack backstage and fly space to accommodate sets and backdrops. The new DHT facility is strictly for community theater and will have updated technology and space when it opens next fall, but will have the same seating capacity like now, still too small for traveling shows. And no one would book a theatrical production at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, an outdoor facility.

If you’re undecided about the ensuing Broadway attractions at Blaisdell, perhaps some  background data might be helpful.

 Ticket costs here are on par with other markets. Those online handling fee are rampant for any kind of e-ticketing, so it’s part of the norm, if you purchase New York Broadway tickets or any mainland musical or sporting event. (Note: A special $30 ticket, for balcony seating at the Tuesday April 1 opening night show, has just been announced. To order, see the bottom of this column).

Season purchases offer some discount vs. individual shows, and generally speaking, subscribers have options to exchange tickets if conflicts occur.

Key considerations:

  • This is the first time ever, that a multi-show-season with legit touring Broadway shows, is happening. We’ve had isolated productions, or a mere two, staged months apart.
  • Three of the productions are Hawaii premieres: “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” playing April 19-24 2022;  “Jersey Boys,” running Sept. 13-25 2022; “Hamilton,”getting in its shot for three weeks, Dec. 7, 2022 through Jan. 29, 2023; and “Cats,” launching June 13-18, 2023.
  • In Mainland communities boasting six-show templates for years, Hawaii needs to catch up; our four shows are a good starting point for season-buyers. The issue is clear: Honolulans need to show commitment for the package of four, and then build on the six as a goal. Producers will deliver only if you do your part.

  • More thoughts on the show appeal, if you’re only selecting one or two titles:  The No. 1 show is “Hamilton,” even if you’re seen that splendid Disney+ theatrical gem on TV. Even if Lin Manuel Miranda has exited the cast; this is his legacy to the stage; a hip-hop/rap musical based on the Founding Fathers of this country. Your second choice logically would be either “Beautiful” or “Jersey Boys,” though you might have seen the latter but not the former. Both bio musicals – one on the life and ascent of Carole King, the other the triumphs and tragedies rarely known about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The soundtrack of your lives will resonate with the chartbusting tunes by King and her collaborators and the street smart charms of Valli and his harmonic partners.
  • “Cats” is the obvious filler in the package; if you loved it, see it again. If your kids have not seen it, introduce and educate them to his curiosity, an Andrew Lloyd Webber creation based on a poem, where population are cats, not people.
  • Some advice: order tickets from an authorized source; Broadway in Hawaii utilizes Ticketmaster as its official site, or purchases can be made at the Blaisdell Center box office. Prices depend on date, seat site; the website can provide the range and seating chart.  My season tickets, ordered earlier, have been mailed to me by choice; however, “Hamilton” tickets will be sent approximately 60 days prior to your scheduled performance date. Avoid third party ticketers, who sell tickets with inflated prices; some sits may be fraudulent.

Tickets: online at https://www.broadwayinhawaii.com/bih/seasontickets.html or phone (808) 776-7469. …

$30 special deal

Bruce Granath, Salt Lake City-based executive of Magic Space Entertainment (which is Hawaii’s link to the Broadway series), says that a very special $30 ticket (plus fees) will be available for balcony seating only for the opening night (Tuesday April 19) show. The intent is to get a full house for the launch.

Here’s how to score these seats:

Visit this link: :  https://www.ticketmaster.com/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-touring/event/0A005C53C9F51A0F?refArtist=K8vZ917KhfV

Click on ”Unlock,” then enter the promo code FRIENDS. This should get you to the $30 one-night-deal.

It’s OK to share with friends and family, says Granath…

And that’s Show Biz. …

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THESE ACTORS WAVE THE ISLE FLAG

It’s always  ‘swonderful news when our Hawaii-reared actors on Broadway and beyond take part in a range of spin-off activities like awards shows and regional theatrical productions.

We applaud these ex-patriots, who carry perhaps an invisible island flag, when they participate in craft-related activities.

Like, Marc delaCruz, the Big Island singer-actor-dancer in the mega-hit “Hamilton” on Broadway, will be one of the performers  in the New York Theatre Barn’s New Works festivities at 7 p.m. ET Monday (April 11) at Theaterlab on W. 36th St.  Because “Hamilton” is dark on Mondays, he is able to join other projects.

Marc delaCruz

Excerpts from off-Broadway endeavors “With(out) Her” and “Black-Eyed Susan” will be performed by an array of troupers from the stage, film and ballet whirlpool of talent from shows ranging from “Spider-Man: Turn Off the. Dark” to the musical “Moulin Rouge,” from the American Ballet Theatre to “Spamilton.” …

Then there’s Keala Settle, formerly of Laie, and best known for her supporting roles in the original “Waitress” Broadyway cast and performer of the global hit, “This Is Me,” from the soundtrack and movie of “The Greatest Show,” which starred Hugh Jackman.

Keala Settle

She’ll be a presenter at the Olivier Awards Sunday (April 10) at Royal Albert Hall in London, revived after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An array of notables  from Britain and Europe such as Tom Felton, Jonathan Pryce and Kit Harington will also be involved, and surely, her aloha will be one of the pluses.

The Olivier nominees include such shows as “Back to the Future – the Musical,” “The Drifters Girl,” “Frozen,” “The Bob Marley Musical,’ “Moulin Rouge,” new to the UK, and revivals like “Anything Goes,” “Cabaret” and “Spring Awakening.”…

The aforementioned Settle, by the way, has been tapped to join the cast of the summer London revival of “Sister Act,” but is making her London debut in the award-winning “& Juliet,” joining Tom Francis as Romeo and Miriam-Teak Lee as Juliet. Settle plays the nurse, through June 18 at the at the Shaftesbury Theatre, in “& Juliet.” The work is described as a jukebox comedy about Shakespeare’s star-crossed lover reclaiming control of her fate.” …

If you’re Broadway bound…

So Broadway is bouncing back nicely, with Hugh Jackman’s “The Music Man,” raking in more than $3 million a week, making the revival the box office king.

This weekly list of Broadway grosses (for week ending April 4) might be handy in planning your show plans (Courtesy the Broadway League):

Week EndShowTypeTheatre#Prev#PerfGrossesGrosses
Prev Week		AttendAttend
Prev Week		% Cap
04/03/2022ALADDINMusicalNew Amsterdam08$1,012,610$1,088,06912,43812,83290%
04/03/2022AMERICAN BUFFALO 2022PlayCircle In The Square80$592,422$683,5475,1425,61286%
04/03/2022AMERICAN UTOPIA 2021SpecialSt. James06$1,314,017$1,166,58310,10210,03298%
04/03/2022BIRTHDAY CANDLESPlayAmerican Airlines80$303,513$296,5145,2774,79791%
04/03/2022CHICAGOMusicalAmbassador08$456,692$513,0255,3855,92162%
04/03/2022COME FROM AWAYMusicalSchoenfeld08$529,314$623,2075,7196,59368%
04/03/2022COMPANY 2021MusicalJacobs08$757,062$887,7466,8357,25882%
04/03/2022DEAR EVAN HANSENMusicalMusic Box08$637,474$749,1755,6866,39972%
04/03/2022FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUFPlayBooth30$101,052$1,71074%
04/03/2022FUNNY GIRL 2022MusicalAugust Wilson70$1,263,178$200,7938,5461,224100%
04/03/2022HADESTOWNMusicalWalter Kerr08$1,050,687$1,108,1827,3347,385100%
04/03/2022HAMILTONMusicalRichard Rodgers08$2,285,159$2,235,87910,59510,559100%
04/03/2022HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILDPlayLyric08$1,394,380$1,513,89410,93711,19184%
04/03/2022HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVEPlayFriedman60$221,439$3,02179%
04/03/2022MACBETH 2022PlayLongacre30$527,244$3,139100%
04/03/2022MJ THE MUSICALMusicalNeil Simon08$1,185,483$1,250,0779,1609,75483%
04/03/2022MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICALMusicalAl Hirschfeld08$1,336,959$1,406,4989,5199,90892%

04/03/2022MR. SATURDAY NIGHTMusicalNederlander60$805,619$6,21087%
04/03/2022PARADISE SQUAREMusicalEthel Barrymore71$296,350$346,6517,1657,28791%
04/03/2022PLAZA SUITE 2022PlayHudson08$1,383,563$1,567,4937,7407,79199%
04/03/2022SIXMusicalBrooks Atkinson08$1,288,716$1,241,7048,1078,15098%
04/03/2022TAKE ME OUT 2022PlayHelen Hayes80$311,997$365,1404,0643,83087%
04/03/2022THE BOOK OF MORMONMusicalEugene O’Neill08$996,401$1,058,3848,1708,41296%
04/03/2022THE LION KINGMusicalMinskoff08$1,642,666$1,709,63012,97913,20896%
04/03/2022THE LITTLE PRINCEMusicalBroadway60$359,264$5,77155%
04/03/2022THE MINUTESPlayStudio 5420$140,970$1,59980%
04/03/2022THE MUSIC MAN 2022MusicalWinter Garden08$3,335,201$3,292,95112,13312,09299%
04/03/2022THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERAMusicalMajestic08$738,574$841,4268,0278,96663%
04/03/2022THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH 2022PlayVivian Beaumont30$59,908$1,45646%
04/03/2022TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICALMusicalLunt-Fontanne08$751,186$812,6816,1386,89052%
04/03/2022WICKEDMusicalGershwin08$1,739,736$1,855,21913,94914,64096%

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And that’s Show Biz. …

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KAPONO AND JERRY HIT BULLSEYE

Henry Kapono’s “Artist 2 Artist” series, wherein he invites a notable peer from the Waikiki mainstream to partner with him in chit-chat and vocalizing, scored an unexpected  bullseye with Jerry Santos.

Kapono, onetime collaborator with Cecilio Rodriguez (Cecilio and Kapono, remember?), and Santos, leader of the beloved Olomana group, shared a measure of personal reflection and astounding artistry, in an unforgettable 2:15 concert last night (March 31) at Blue Note Hawaii.

The nightclub, at the Waikiki Outrigger resort, has been attracting sellout houses as the pandemic protocols are diminishing. For a Thursday night, the gathering was an emphatic indicator that islanders and visitors are weary from mask-wearing and nestling at home. When a marquee show anticipating a roster of signature tunes from both acts is the lure, a sellout was inevitable.

Henry Kapono

But this outing was somewhat of a new adventure for both Kapono and Jerry. While each have signature tunes in their respective credits, the evening was a reaffirming evidence that this pair of seasoned singers-composers, who helped shaped the Hawaiian Renaissance of island music from the 60s to the 80s,  needn’t have to rely on the best-of-the-best to earn applause. Risky perhaps, but this was an informative exploration of hidden gems in both C&K’s and Olomana’s history.

Further, Kapono has been test-driving this format of sharing tales and tunes for many months now, and has hit paydirt as he seems a lot more confident, assured, relaxed and conversational with his guests. There’s no script, only camaraderie to set the mood and manner, beginning with an exchange of alma matter digs, Kapono being of Punahou upbringing, Jerry of Kamehameha stock. (On an unrelated comparison, Kapono donned shoes, Jerry was barefooted, for this event For what it’s worth).

Jerry Santos

The agenda began with Kapono, clad in informal black top and grey jeans with a backward-worn baseball cap, making the first pitch – a new tune, “Sweetheart of Mine,” with a pop/country-western demeanor. He segued into a hip new arrangement of “Home in the Islands” (always fund to tweak an oldie and give it new sass) and revealed that he composed the tune late one night while in San Francisco back in the day.

He assumed the role of a troubadour, with one of his staples, “Friends,” telling one and all, “always keep your friends,” and yes, the audience knew this classic musical hand-shaking of sorts. Sing, and they sing-along, too.

Soon thereafter, the evening’s format focused on guest Jerry’s growing up days, and there was a consensus on who inspired them in composing music; an ensuing duet on Kui Lee’s “Days of My Youth” was part of the trek down memory lane. Turned out that both gents adored and admired the prolific Lee, whose compositions put Don Ho on the map.

We also learned that Kapono once played at the New Frontier and Toppe Ada Shoppe

Henry Kapono and Jerry Santos in an Artist 2 Artist outing at Blue Note Hawaii.

in Waikiki, Jerry at Gauguin and Black Angus in Waikiki , when they were not yet part of the glittery galaxy of island stars.

Jerry was asked how he came to create his best-known tune, “E Ku’u Home O Kahaluu,” and it also turned out that he wrote this one in San Francisco while he was homesick for his island home.

Kamuela Kimokeo

The song then was performed, with audience members invited to chime in, with trusty support for Jerry from Kamuela Kimokeo, his longtime partner in gigs outside of the Olomana umbrella. Not only has he learned all of the Olomana repertoire, he is a master of ki ho alu, Hawaiian slack key guitar.

Jerry and Kamuela provided the bulk of the evening’s riches, showcasing titles not commonly dusted off from the Olomana lifespan of the late Robert Beaumont, which included recollections of that song about rainy Hilo and how the sound of rain made it into the recording, along with a bountiful medley of Olomana treasures including “Seabird” and “E Ku‘u Sweet Lei  Poina Ole,” the composition by Emma DeFries, which was a must-perform title during Beaumont’s tenure with Olomana, and for many years after his passing – 40 years ago. Clearly, this also was an homage to the late entertainer.

Indeed, because Jerry has not been so visible during the pandemic, these oldies dusted off for this gig, provided stirring memories from the group’s discography. Jerry seemed to get misty-eyed, too, reviving Henry Mitchell’s anthem for Kahoolawe, when Hawaiian activists were pushing for the island to be returned to the populace here after years of being a military target practice island.

To break up the solemnity of Kahoolawe, Jerry and Kamuela ventured into the double-entendre song “Tewe Tewe, about fishing, with also implications of a sexual nature, depending on how much you understand about this Hawaiian classic.

As the show neared its end, Kapono returned to the stage to render “Teach Your Children Well,” as well as a new composition, “Sailors of Fortune,” a lovely entry advocating the validity of dreams to make things happen, with Jerry doing counterpoint backup vocals.

What the world needs is not only dreamers, but lovers, so “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” was a handy sing-along, too.

And because the audience hollered “hana hou,” Kapono came back to share one more for the road, one of his C&K classics, “Sailing,” written for his dad who was not a sailor.

So, yes, there were little nuggets of information throughout the serenades right down to the final blackout.

Kapono has another Artist 2 Artist show featuring the Makaha Sons, set for April 28. …

And that’s Show Biz. …