Category: Updates

Manoa Valley Theatre boasts a bonanza of fun and thrills during its 2025-26 season, just announced and beginning this fall.

The slate and playdates:

• “Da Mayah,” Lee Cataluna’s political, local-style comedy involving a Hilo mayor with a secret, Sept. 11 to 28.
• “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical,”  an Australian tale of two drag queens and a trans woman traveling on a bus to perform at resort in Alice Springs; it’s a collaboration of Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on a movie, Nov. 13 to Dec. 7.

• “Dial M for Murder,” a traditional crime drama, about a husband contemplating the murder of his wife, based on a film and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Frederick Knott, Jan. 22 to Feb. 8, 2025.
• “Spring Awakening,” a coming-of-age rock musical including brief, partial nudity, with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater inspired by an 1891 German play, March 19 to April 9, 2025.
• “Yellow Face,” a semi-autobiographical satirical comedy about casting white actors in Asian roles, by David Henry Hwang, May 14 to 31 ,2025.
• “Clyde’s,” a whimsical comedy about a small-town diner, by Lynn Nottage, July16 through 25, 2025.

MVT’s traditional add-on family fare, outside of the six-show season, will feature “Shrek: The Musical,” about the green ogre, with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film, June 25 to July 12, 2025, at the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center.

Other pertinent data:

• Renewals for current season-ticket holders will continue through April 16, 2024, to retain their seats.
• New subscriptions open April 1, 2024.
• Single ticket sales start July 1, 2024.

Details: www.manoavalleytheatre.com/new-2025-2026-season

Broadway grosses, for the week ending Feb. 26

“Wicked” remains No. 1, the lone show pulling in more than $2 million, but the big change is the disappearance of “Gypsy” from the Top 10. The reason for the slump? Audra McDonald, in the lead as Mama Rose, skipped two performances because of a death in her family, so ticket sales dropped.

 The Top 10:

1—”Wicked,” $2.561 million

2—” The Lion King,” $1.143 million

3- “Hamilton,” $1.900 million

4—”The Outsiders,” $1.443 million

5—”Aladdin,” $1.299 million

6—”MJ The Musical,” $1.270 million

7—” Sunset Blvd.,” $1.160 million

8—“The Great Gatsby,” $1.141 million

9— “Death Becomes Her,” $1.119 million

10—”& Juliet,” $1.076 million 

The full roster, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…

As Tom Selleck attempts to get a write-in movement to restore his cancelled CBS series, “Blue Bloods,” the network has announced instead a spinoff series dubbed “Boston Blue,” which will star Donnie Wahlberg.

“Boston Blue” has been given a straight-to-series order — in other words,  minus a pilot — and will feature Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan character from the original “Blue Bloods” show fighting crime in a new territory.

Wahlberg was an instrumental figure in “Blue Bloods,”  during its 14-season run, in which he partnered with Marisa Ramirez, who played Maria Baez.  It’s probably uncertain but unlikely that this new procedural will reach out and throw out the net to other players from the original hit show to portray Reagan family characters in the new universe.

Sellelck has not yet commented on the new CBS venture — without him…

Something wicked this way comes?

It’s been announced that “Wicked”  star Cynthia Erivo, who portrays the green-faced Elphaba in the hit film musical, will play Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” this summer. Huh?

Erivo will headline a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Superstar,” at the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 1 to 3.

Certainly,  this is uncommon casting. Makes you wonder who’ll play Mary Magdalene. “Superstar” has not yet announced other participating cast members.

Erivo is a versatile performer and a previous Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winner; she has been nominated three times for an Oscar, and again is a Best Actress contender this year, for playing Elphaba in “Wicked.”

“Superstar” marks the return of Broadway musicals at the Hollywood Bowl since the Covid pandemic.

Erivo, who enjoys being busy, also will host this year’s Tony Awards, set for 8 p.m. ET on June 8, broadcasted on CBS from the Radio City Music Hall in New York…

Broadway grosses, for the week ending Feb. 16

“Wicked” remains invincible, in the tally of Broadway grosses. It’s still grossing more than $2 million weekly, leading the pack of contenders,. In a switcheroo, “Hamilton” moved up to No. 2, sending “The Lion King” to No. 3.

Somewhat surprisingly, “Romeo + Juliet” came out of nowhere to wind up  at No. 6, sending “Gypsy”to an elevator ride down to No. 7. “The Outsiders” is an insider in an upward move at No. 4, but “Hell’s Kitchen” is off the Top 10, certainly a hellish fate.

The Top 10:

1—”Wicked,” $2.626 million.

2—”Hamilton,” $1.921 million.

3—”The Lion King,” $1.892 million.

4—”The Outsiders,” $1.526 million

5—’All In: Comedy About Love,”

6–“Romeo + Juliet,” $1.477 million.

7—”Gypsy,” $1,476 million.

8—”MJ The Musical,” $1.351 million.

9—”The Great Gatsby,” $1.324 million.

10—”Death Becomes Her,” $1.304 million.

The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

 

Brother Noland will make his Blue Note Hawaii debut in a two-night four-show booking March 6 and 7. And whoa, it looms like a biggie of a gig.

Showtimes will be at 6:30 and 9 p.m. both days, with doors opening at 5 and 8:30 p.m. for beverage and food service.

Noland, a prolific singer, composer and guitarist, is known for his local hits, “Pua Lane,” “Coconut Girl” and “Big Ship.” However, to date, his live performances — in clubs or at larger performance venues — have been rare.

For this engagement, he will be supported by The Island Incredibles, a band comprising a stellar corps of musicians, and the operative word is “incredible.” The Incredibles roster includes Gaylord Holomalia, keyboards; David Garibaldi, drums; Kata Maduli, bass; Michael Ruff, keyboards; Olivia Ruff, vocals; Tavana, guitars; Fred Schreuders, guitars; and Lila Chris, vocals.

The musicianship crosses multiple genres and generations, and consequently, the concert will be multi-dimensional with global implications. This Hawaii-based supergroup boasts individual and ensemble power, and the partnership will evolve into a hybrid of creative mastery, “alter-native” rhythms, funky grooves, and – yes! – vocal fireworks.

You’d think that a gathering of this magnitude should also include a recording session to capitalize on the bounty of charismatic chemistry.

Tickets: $35 and $45, available at www.bluenotehawaii.com and (808) 777-4890. …

‘Dolly,’ ‘Alice’ at Hawaii Theatre

Hawaii Theatre will feature two student productions in the weeks ahead:

• “Hello, Dolly!” plays Feb. 28 to March 2, produced by Iolani School Performing Arts. Curtain times: 7 p.m. Feb 28 and March 1, 3 p.m. March 2. Tickets: $15 to $25, at (808) 528-0506.
• “Alice in Wonderland” runs March 12 to 15, produced by the Pacific Academy of Performing Arts. Curtain times for student shows: 9:30 a.m. March 12, 13 and 14; for public shows, 6 p.m. March 14 and 15, 1 p.m. March 15 and 16. Tickets: $5 for keiki for student shows, $19 for public shows, at (808) 528-0506.

FYI, there are restoration fees of $4.50 or $5  for all Hawaii Theatre ticketing; folks not acclimated to this policy might be alarmed for this charge, added to each ticket purchase

Show breezes

Shari Lynn Acebedo returns to Medici’s, the supper club at Manoa Marketplace, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 15), to share her trademark cabaret show.  Doors open at 6 p.m. for the dinner service preceding her performance.

Shari unites with her longtime musicians – pianist Jim Howard and bassist John Kolivas – to share her incomparable slate of jazz and Great American Songbook treasures, along with her savvy sampling of Broadway music.

Haven’t seen her for a spell now, but her serenades always include romantic favorites flavored with her fetching storytelling skills. Her legendary musicians – Howard’s sweet keyboard work and Koliva’s expected jazz rhythms — provide the warm blanket for the night.

Cost: $69, includes dinner and show. Reservations: (808) 351-0901…

Gail Mack has assembled her musician buddies again for another gig from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 16) at Mango Street Grill, 139 Mango St., in Wahiawa.

Joining her in concert: Lance Luke, Keith Hiraoka and Bobby Nishida.

For reservations, call Daryl at (808) 627-5451…

And that’s Show Biz…