Arts | Entertainment | Crafts | Life
To friends, followers and family:
Let the Christmas cheer begin.
The 2024 Christmas pins have been mailed out the past few days, so be on the lookout. Many of you already have received pins.
As always, it was fun and joyful to create these pins.
So an early wish for the merriest of all Christmas ahead.
A sampling of the pins I did this year is shared above..
Kaipo Dudoit stars as the titular character in “Kimo the Waiter,” opening Thursday (Nov. 7) at Kumu Kahua Theatre.
The script, by Lee Cataluna, spotlights Kimo as a frustrated actor who waits tables while pursuing his dream of acting professionally in the Hawaii of the 1980s, when Hollywood “discovered” the islands by filming TV procedurals here.
Kimo is challenged to break free from stereotypical mindset of Hollywood directors to land a role beyond local commercials.
Jason Kanda is director.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 7. There is no show on Thanksgiving Nov. 28, but there is a 2 p.m. matinee in its place, on Saturday Nov. 30.
Tickets are $8 to $28, available at www.kumukahua.org or at (808)536-4441…
Elliman sings on Princess Cruises
Honolulan Yvonne Elliman reunited with Teddy Neeley and performed together during a Princess Cruises Mexican Riviera cruise last month. She was Mary Magdalene and he was Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” back in the day.
They sang Neeley’s composition, “Love Is All There Is.”
She also shared “If I Can’t Have You,” her No. 1 hit from the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, on the final night of their journey.
Elliman, 72, on the cruise with her husband Allen Alexander, was a global sensation when she performed in “Jesus Christ Superstar” on stage and in the film version, and her voice also was highly prominent in the “Fever” soundtrack along with the riches from the Bee Gees.
Despite her reliance of a walking cane for support (visible on the “If I Can’t Have You” video), Elliman managed to provide movement and a bit of dancing on the track.
You go, girl! …
‘Sunset Blvd.’ rising on Broadway charts
“Sunset Blvd.,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest revival on Broadway, has risen to third place in the weekly round-up of grosses. It stars Hawaii girl Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond.
The Top 10:
1—”Wicked,” $2.279 million
2–“The Lion King,” $1.961 million
3—”Sunset Blvd.,”$1.723 million
4—”Hamilton,” $1.717 million
5—“MJ The Musical,” $1.500 million
6—”McNeal,” $1.375 million
7—”The Outsiders,” $1.331 million
8—” Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.275 million
9—”Aladdin,” $1.207 million
10—“Oh, Mary!,” $1.176 million
The full list:
And that’s Show Biz…
‘Tis the season for making yuletide cards.
OK, Christmas still is several weeks away, but I spent a few hours in October to create a couple of different holiday cards I use for Christmas note-writing and /or inclusion with a gift.
Start early, avoid the rush,
It’s a merry time to get immersed in the holiday spirit. This is in addition to my annual pin-making and simultaneous project of creating tabletop Christmas décor, which works, too, as a holiday-type desk decoration.
One card design, conceived perhaps three decades ago, still is one of my favorites. The look of this card never goes out of style, so yes, it’s a classic.
The concept has been to form a Christmas tree, utilizing holiday wrapping paper with bright island images – of flowers, Santas, snowflakes, ukulele, lei and more – rescued from Christmas wrapping paper. I hand-cut cut three segments for a small top, a graduating middle size and a larger bottom. When put together, you get a representation of a tree. Top it with a sticker of a star and include old wallpaper for a simple base.
For a bit of a twinkle, I use a string of holiday ties to ensure brightness separating the tree segments, to simulate trim on the tree. If you prefer, you can utilize springs of a tree instead of a bright trim, for an island mood. These greens are available on a spool at craft stores.
My two other designs are simple, if you can locate the right elements. I bought a box of commercial blank notecards with suitable designs and hues.
For one card, I discovered an artsy ribbon, on a spool, with repeating HO-HO-HO. Three hos are rather large to utilize side-by-side, so I cut two and then one, and arranged on a note card, accentuated by a Christmas tree sticker.
The other cards fit my needs; one had a series of triangular image that looked like trees; the other featured a series of triangular shapes. In the middle of the tree-looking card, I used two stickers of mini-Christmas trees, with a small square wedge of ribbon and attached on it a silver sticker of a snowflake.
Voila, a professional looking card. On the other card, I simply used three stickers of three trees, with a cut-out of a perfect slogan, “Merry & Bright,” found on a blue ribbon on a spool, so I have lot more of this wording for next year.
There are no rules in creating your own design, even if you cut out images of last year’s Christmas card. Your imagination has no boundaries.
Give it a try…
Carole Kai turns 80 on Monday (Oct. 28), but family and friends will celebrate her birthday this Saturday (Oct. 26) at Oahu Country Club.
Kal, born Carole Shimizu and now Mrs. Eddie Onouye, is one of Honolulu’s most active philanthropist and charity enthusiast, with a remarkable list of performing and producing credits.
Let me count some of the ways: singer-pianist, piano bar; Carole Kai Bed Race, in Waikiki; Great Aloha Run, from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium, the Local Divas with Melveen Leed, Loyal Garner and Nohelani Cypriano; co-host of “Hawaii Stars,” with Kimo Kahoano, on local TV.
She’s an entertainer in spirit, who certainly does a lot of charity work, which is her top mission in life. Hauoli la hanau, Carole…
DHT sets cast for ‘White Christmas’
Diamond Head Theatre has announced its cast for the holiday musical, “White Christmas,” which opens Nov. 22 and runs through Dec. 15.
The stage production is based on a 1954 Paramount film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The stage version features a book by David Ives and Paul Blake, and capitalizes on the classic Berlin tunes, including the iconic title song, plus hits such as “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano,” and “How Deep Is the Ocean.”
The plot involves war veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who have a popular song-and-dance act following World War II. With love in their mind, the pair follow two singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at Vermont Lodge, owned by the soldiers’ former army commander.
DHT’s cast features Adam Allison as Bob Wallace, David Sheftell as Phil Davis, Lainey Hicks as Betty Haynes, Alexandria Zinov as Judy Haynes, Joe Martyak as General Wavery, Mary Chesnut Hicks as Martha Watson, Charlotte Miyahara/Anna Johnson as Susan Waverly, Ralph Sheldrake as Mo Radke, Chandler Converse as Rita/Betty understudy, Amanda Ross as Rhoda, Fedrico Biven as Ezekiel Foster, and Ken Roberts as Mike/Jimmy.
Quintet players are Samantha Allen, Sofia Garcia, Camille Michel, Reilly Choo, and Shane Nishimura.
The ensemble includes Samantha Allen, Kirra Baughn, Victoria Chang, Celia Chun, Reilly Choo, Chandler Converse, Sofia Garcia, Amanda Giang, Grace Gilbertson, Eriq James, Tyson Jao, Caris Leong, Brittany Lewis, Pono Lundell, Tai Malalis, Camille Michel, Shane Nishimura, Ken Roberts, Amanda Ross, and Brandon Yim.
Other credits: Marisa Capalbo is a swing actor,
Celia Chun is assistant to the choreographer, and
Victoria Chang is assistant to the tap choreographer.
John Rampage is director and co-choreographer with Caryn Yee, and Phil Hidalgo is musical director.
Playdates are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and also on select Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 3 p.m. select Saturdays and at 4 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $41 to $68, available at www.diamondheadtheatre.com and (808) 773-0274…
HJQ in last gig at Honolulu Beerworks
John Kolivias’ Honolulu Jazz Quartet will be giving its final performance at Honolulu Beerworks from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (Oct. 28).
The venue, at 328 Cooke St., is shutting down soon and is seeking a new location.
HJQ normally features Kolivas on bass, Tim Tsukiyama on saxophones, Dan Del Negro on piano and Noel Okimoto on drums.
However, guest musicians will perform Monday, including Jimmy Funai on guitar, Corey Funai on harmonica and vocals, Stacy Tanongan on drums and Kainalu Kolivis, John’s son, on vocals…
Broadway grosses for week ending Oct. 20
The reigning top three on the chart of Broadway shows –“Wicked,” “The Lion King,” and “Hamilton” — still are leaders of the pack, but “Hell’s Kitchen” is perched at fourth place, the highest it’s been since it opened.
The Top 10:
1—”Wicked,” $2.231 million
2—”The Lion King,”$2.006 million
3—”Hamilton,”$1.868 million
4—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.554 million
5—”MJ The Musical,” $1.471 million
6–“The Outsiders,” $1.468 milion
7—” McNeal,” $1.347 million
8—”The Great Gatsby,” $1.266 million
9—”Aladdin,” $1.233 million
10—”Sunset Blvd.,” $1.211 million
The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League: :
And that’s Show Biz…
Manoa Valley Theatre has announced the cast for its second production of the 2024-25 season, “Once On This Island,” opening Nov. 14.
Single ticket sales have begun, and those holding season seats may want to check where their seats are located, since the production will be staged in-the-round, so the usual arrangement of seats have been reimagined.
Rehearsals also are under way.
The show features a book by Lynn Ahrens, who also is the lyricist, and Stephen Flaherty is the composer.
The story, magical and mystical, is set on a Caribbean island, where a little girl is rescued from a disastrous storm by four gods, Asaka, Mother of the Earth; Agwé, the god of water; Erzulie, the goddess of Love, and Papa Ge, the Demon of Death.
The tone is mythical, the execution bountiful with breathtaking themes of opposites, like joy and sorrow and pain and hope, amid exotic and exciting tempos fueling infectious dancing.
The cast features Lelea‘e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong as Asaka, Jarren Amian as Agwé, Jorin Young as Erzulie, Kimo Kaona as Papa Ge, La Masae Faamausili-Siliato as Mama Euralie, Keanu Roe as Tonton Julian, Alexis Bugarin as Ti Moune, Darian Aquino as Daniel Beauxhomme, Nicole Villejo as Andria Deveraux, and Jared Duldulao as Armand Beauxhomme.
Ensemble members are Pono Cummings, Landon Ballesteros, Marnita Nychelle Billups, Caitlin Bright, Drew Bright, Journey Glasgow, Alexandria Holloway and Presley A. Wheeler.
Ahnya Chang is director and choreographer and Jenny Shiroma is musical director.
The production will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays (plus a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday Nov. 23), through Dec. 8. Tickets are $25 through $48, available at the box office at (808) 988-6131, at www.manoavalleytheatre.com and at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35307/production/1195089 …
Broadway grosses, for week ending Oct. 13
Only two shows, “Wicked” and “The Lion King,” are in the lofty $2 million club, meaning their box office grosses top $2 million,
The Top 10:
1—”Wicked,“ $2.486 million
2—”The Lion King,” $2.198 milllion
3—” Hamilton,” $1.965 million
4—” Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1.642 million
5—” The Outsiders,” $1.502 million
6—” MJ The Musical,” $1.472 million
7—” Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.427 million
8—” Aladdin, “ $1.353 million
9—”Sunset Boulevard,” $1.291 million
10– “The Great Gatsby,” $1.271 million
The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…