Category: Stage

Jo Pruden, often regarded as “The First Lady of Hawaii Theater” for her astonishing and admirable stage performances here, died Jan. 10 at her Mililani home following a long illness. She was 84.

She suffered a stroke in 2021 but was well enough to perform – alongside her husband Jip Pruden —  in “Love Letters” in December 2023, at the Brad Powell Theatre at The Actors Group in Iwilei.

It was to be her final appearance in a string of more than 100 shows in a brilliant career spanning 55 years of stagecraft magic.

Jo and husband Jip arrived in Hawaii in October, 1967 and by February, 1968, she was playing the lead in “Send Me No Flowers” at the Little Theatre at Schofield Barracks, a humble beginning of greatness to come.

“I have only praise for Jo’s consummate talent as an actor as many would agree,” said Vanita Rae Smith, a prominent director-producer here and a theatrical colleague of Jo for more than five decades. “She was always in tune with the heart and soul of each character.

“Together, we’ve done over a hundred events, stage productions. Readers Theatre and 30 Schofield Barracks 4^th of July Spectacular.

“We performed in Germany, Belgium, Sacramento, CA and Charlotte, NC. We worked together each day for 13 years at Richardson Theatre (at Fort Shafter) where she managed my Army Community Theatre box office. I celebrate my best friends and ohana, Jo and Jip Pruden for 55 wonderful years.”

Indeed, Jo had a wonderful life, sharing her skills in her beloved theatrical life. Her credits and accomplishments were bountiful, beautiful and broad:

• She amassed 18  Po’okela Awards, for perfomance excellence, from the Hawaii State Theatre Council.
• She was honored in 2007 with HSTC’s Pierre Bowman Lifetime Achievement Award, which spawned a memorable acceptance quote she borrowed a line from “Love Letters,” “If acting is your passion don’t you dare stop doing it for the rest of your life.”
• She was a notable isle talent on filmed-in-Hawaii CBS network television, logging 10 performances on “Hawaii Five-O” and five on “Magnum P.I.,” original versions shot here.
• She inhabited 48 Readers Theatre shows at  Army Community Theatre, and after the ACT terminated stage events,  joined numerous  readings at the Pohai Nani retirement residence in Kaneohe, then four more plays at TAG when the series relocated town side of the Koolaus.
• She did a tour of U.S. Army installations, doing shows in Germany and Belgium.
• She worked for TV Guide here, but retired to manage the ACT box office, where Smith was manager and producer who oversaw a range of entertainment events .With her alliance with the Army theater and a compadre of Smith, Jo also had another gig — narrating 25 ceremonies of the Army’s annual 4^th of July hoopla for 25 years at Schofield.

Jip and Jo Pruden, at her 2023 birthday dinner.

Shari Lynn Acebedo, longtime friend, recalled Jo’s first trip to New York City with her in 2010, with subsequent treks in 2013, 2015 and 2017. “Brad Powell and Brother Gary were there at the same time,” Shari recalled about the first trip, “and we were able to share some great times. “She hadn’t been to NYC until I suggested that we go. Here eyes were as big as saucers as we strolled down Broadway. Unbridled happiness! We loved to shop, see shows and eat. “

Jo was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama, and her hometown name possibly inspired her enterprising acting career. She majored in Theater Arts at the University of Montevllo.

Jo’s tenure as a queen of drama embraced a swirl of community endeavors, at theaters large and small, on stages such as Army Community Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre and its predecessor, Hawaii Performing Arts Company;  Diamond Head Theatre, and its predecessor, Honolulu Community Theatre; Kennedy Theatre, at the University of Hawaii, Windward Theatre Guild, Hawaii Theatre, Hawaii Pacific University Theatre, The Actors Group, Starving Artists Theater Company, Oumansky Magic Ring Theatre, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village; and several more.

A short list of her formidable credits include “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf,” “Agnes of God,” “Picnic,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Wolf,” “King Lear,” “The Trip to Bountiful,” “Doubt,” “August: Osage Country,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The American Dream,” “Nine,” “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” “Music Man,” and “Mame.”Besides her husband of 56 years, Jo is survived by  a sister, Jayne Pleasants, of Clayton, Georgia.

There will be no funeral service, but a celebration of life event is being planned for the afternoon of Feb. 18, specifics not yet known,  at Manoa Valley Theatre….

Personalities

Iam Tongi, Hawaii’s first “American Idol” winner, is on the ballot for a People’s Choice Award.

He is vying, along with TV competition candidates, several from “RuPaul’s Drag Show,” plus candidates from “Dancing With the Stars,” “The Bachelorettes,” “The Golden Bachelor” and “That’s My Jam.”

Winners will be revealed on an NBC special, at 8 p.m. ET Feb. 18…

Vocalist Shari Lynn and keyboarder Jim Howard return to the Paradise Lounge of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, from 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 13 and Jan. 27, part of her twice-a-month arrangement with the jazz club…

Broadway grosses, week ending jan. 7

All hail the king. Disney’s “The Lion King” roared to the top of the Broadway list, one of only two other shows on the elite $2 Million club.

The week’s Top 10 shows:

1 – “The Lion King,” $2,444 million.

2—“ Wicked,” “2,124 million.

3 – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $2,037 million.

4 – “ Hamilton,” $1,968 million.

5 – “Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,785 million.

6 – “ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” 1,708 million.

7 – “ Aladdin,” $1,617 million.

8 – “MJ The Musical,”$1,569 million.”

9 – “Back To The Future: The Musical,”$1,374 million.

10 – “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,335 million.

The complete list, courtesy The Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz. …

Hawaii actor Marc delaCruz was performing as Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway hit, “Hamilton,” nearly two weeks ago. But he only did Act 1 – with reason.

It’s the leading role, originated by the author, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and delaCruz had been understudying the part and even played the role a few times since he joined the company more than four years ago at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway.

On Dec. 19, however, after completing Act 1 as Hamilton, delaCruz  became an unsung hero. Cast member Kyle Scatliffe, normally enacting the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, became ill midway in the show and had to exit the production by Act 2.

Enter, delaCruz. Because he had also understudied Lafayette and Jefferson, plus King George, he was the go-to-guy that evening, winding up playing three different lead roles, saving the day since he was the only one able to take over the dual roles assigned to Scatliffe.

Standbys don’t often have such short notice to live up to the show biz adage, “the show must go on.” Turns out that another ensemble performer, Alexander Ferguson, was the only available actor ready to step into the shoes of Hamilton, normally portrayed by Miguel Cervantes, who was off that evening. And Adam Ali Perez had to cover Ferguson’s ensemble slots.

Such is the dynamics of standbys and swings, who learn different roles just in case of these unexpected switcheroos. It’s not common for such abrupt changes, between acts, but it happens. I experienced similar change of actors this past summer, when the leading actress in “Some Like It Hot,” apparently took ill by intermission, and her standby answered the call. An announcement was made prior to the start of Act 2 that a sub was filling in for the leading lady to complete the show.

DelaCruz earlier made history when he was the first Pinoy from the Big Island to play the “Hamilton” lead as a standby in the original Broadway company.

Another island actor, Joseph Morales, has been the only other Hawaii actor doing the titular role, first as an understudy in the Chicago company, then as a touring Hamilton crisscrossing the nation.

BroadwayWorld spoke with delaCruz  about the nature and impromptu inner-workings of being a standby on Broadway. 

DelaCruz usually receives adequate notice if he’d have to take on a role other than the ones he portrays.  So, he checks his email and phone but, in the past, commonly with a half-hour notice to prep for a fill-in.

“The most challenging part is not always knowing when you’ll be on, but still needing to be ready,” said delaCruz. “Sometimes we know in advance if the onstage actor has a personal day or vacation scheduled, but most of the time we don’t know we’re on until the day of the show. I’ve gone on with less than half hour notice and jumped in mid show a few times.”
He monitors his cell phone and wakes up daily, wondering  “Will I be going on this intense emotional journey today?”

A standby has to stay active, exercise and vocally warm up and sing every day. “I review music on a regular basis and stay up to date with notes given from the show, ” he said, and he must report to work daily, whether he’ll be on or not. “Swings can watch the show and keep up with what’s going on onstage, or I’ll watch parts of the show from the house.”

He has admiration for his fellow cast members and appreciates the opportunities he’s had to learn the intricacies and complexities of the show.

“This job has stretched me further as a performer than I ever thought I could go,” he said.

“Hamilton” has multiple swings and standbys who are ready to roll when needed, so “any one of these covers would have done what happened (on Dec. 19) beautifully. “I just happened to be the one in the hot seat that night,” said delaCruz…

All about Eve

In years or decades past, Waikiki would have had scores of New Year’s Eve attractions, large or small.

This year, the countdown shows are few.

Kimie Miner (pictured) headlines a show 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night (Dec. 31), at the Hilton Hawaiian Village lawn. Mana Music Strings provide the accompaniment.

The Green headlines two performances at 8 and 11 p.m. tomorrow night (Dec. 31)at Blue Note Hawaii, at the Outrigger Waikiki resort. The group also performed last night (Dec. 29) and will be onstage again at 6:30 and 9 p.m. today (Dec. 30). The gig is mostly sold out, so check with Blue Note for availability of loge and bar area seating. …

And that’s Show Biz…

I had no clue about “Clue,” a black comedy based on a Hasbro-Parker Bros. board game, now at Manoa Valley Theatre. Missed the 1985 movie, too, so this was a wholly mysterious endeavor for me.

It’s a whodunnit, set at the Tudor Mansion, on a stormy, dark night, where six mysterious guests are invited to a dinner party.

The arrivals are a motley crew with outrageous names and eccentricities who are greeted by an equally suspicious butler, Wadsworth (played by a woman, Emily Steward, superb with a British accent), and served by French maid Yvette (Presley A. Wheeler, convivial and agile).

Rob Duval, director, smartly maintains a brisk tempo, to keep the uncertainties bouncing like a ping pong ball.

Discomfort and suspicion rule, as the guests arrive, one by one, clueless about what will be in store. Their queasiness keeps the momentum going:

Professor Plum (Lee Nebe, a perfect off-kilter shrink).

Mr. Green (Malachi McSherry, a harried gay Republican).

Miss Scarlett (Shannon Winpenny, appropriately glorious and sexy).

Mrs. Peacock (Suzanne Green, hilarious as an alcoholic).

Mrs. White (Therese Olival, a multi-time divorcee).

Colonel Mustard (Mike Poblete, hilarious and somewhat of a dimwit).

Their host, Mr. Boddy (Ryan Phillips), is found dead when the lights go out.

Welcome to the quest to find out who the killer is. The ensemble of diners don’t bring appetites; they arrive with questions and doubts, seeking answers to bona fide questions. Are their Washington ties a clue to their unlikely invites?

Amid the fear and farcical mood, the cast consistently display skillful comedics, too. Antoinette Lilley as the cook shines and also turns in a memorable “Singing Telegram” delivery.

Since this is a farce, anything and everything can happen. Possible murder weapons appear (rope, pipe, candlestick), and the body count rises (hidden beneath a blanket on a couch, farcically become “props” in brisk living room poses).

Willie Sabel’s marvelous set gives breadth and breathing space—and allows many moments for manic running – with a full corridor on the second-tier wall of the theater — and lower pockets for communal chatter, races to and from secret and known doors. Notice the overhead chandelier, too, since it will have its moment of glory, too.

In a play with a blackout or two, Chris Gouveia’s lighting is spot-on bright, and coupled with Sarah Velaso’s sound design, the tech work shines, too.

Costumes by Maile Speetjens and hair and makeup by Lisa Ponce de Leon define the characters in the era of the Red Scare.

Paranoia prevails in the ranks; and perhaps in the audience, too. And even the clueless can enjoy the fun in “Clue.” I did.

Apparently, a few earlier productions of this work applied the “Edwin
Drood” element where the audiences help resolve the murderer. Not in this one, however.

—————————————

“Clue”

What: A whodunnit farce, inspired by the board game “Clue,” adapted by Sandy Rustin from Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price.

Where: Manoa Valley Theatre.

When:  Opened Nov. 16; continues through Dec. 3; shows are at 7:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturday Dec. 2 and  3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; includes extended playdates.

Tickets: $25 to $48, at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35307/production/1151704 or (808) 988-6131.