Former islander Janel Parrish, whose show biz career began when she played Little Cosette here and in Broadway’s “Les Miserables,” will co-star with Ryan Paevy in a Hallmark Christmas movie this coming holiday season.
But she’s not a Hallmark newbie; she previously starred in the rom-com channel’s flicks in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Of course, you remember her from “Pretty Little Liars” and “To All the Boys,” among other projects. …
A galactic Cinderella
Cinderella goes galactic in “Interstellar Cinderella,” a University of Hawaii Department of
Theatre and Dance and Kennedy Theatre production next month.
The show, a Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) presentation, is based on an award-winning children’s book by the same name, authored by Deborah Underwood. In its Hawaii incarnation, the project will be directed by MFA candidate Taylor Bogan, who also will portray the reimagined heroine in a space adventure incorporating themes of science, courage, kindness and storytelling dreams.
It also will have a streaming element – staged virtually, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 2 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24 – because of the prevailing pandemic.
Cinderella takes viewers into the 31st century; she is a space engineer seeking to revolutionize space travel with a new invention. Her prince stages a space parade and she sees it as an opportunity to demonstrate a hyper-warp speed engine. Of course, there is an evil stepmother in the mix.
Tickets: $15 adults, $10 seniors, military, UH faculty-staff, and non-UHM students; $5 students with valid UHM ID; visit showtix4u.com/events/kennedytheatre.
Information: manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/ella.
A Jane Powell memory
I was saddened by the death Sept. 16 of Jane Powell, legendary star of stage and screen and one of the giants of the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals. Sure, she was from another era, when film actors also were marvelous singers and dancers. She was 92.
I recall going to see Elizabeth Taylor in the leading role in “The Little Foxes” on Broadway, and I was able to buy house seats, meaning res in prime orchestra locations.
While my wife and I were seated, who should come in the same row, but Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, who settled to the left of us. Then another Hollywood couple showed up and sat next to us to the right, Jane Powell and her hubby. The four of ‘em headed backstage after the performance, to wish Liz well. I introduced myself to the celebs, before we simply exited the theater in awe of the stars onstage and surrounding us. … and surprise! Wagner and Wood were on the same home-bound United flight, en route to an appearance at a Waikiki hotel, which, coincidentally I covered for the Honolulu Advertiser. …
And that’s Show Biz. …
Thank you Wayne. Coyote Creek Christmas starts on the Hallmark Channel beginning October 30 which coincidentally is Janel’s Birthday.
Thanks, Joanne. Didn’t have a date but will remind locals when Janel’s film airs. What a nice birthday present! Hope you all are well.
Please give Janel a hug for me, if hugs are still applicable in these worrisome times.
A few years ago, Kris Kristofferson performed in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. At the end of the concert, Al Harrington came on stage and the two had a joyous reunion. Kris told a story about meeting Al. When he was a teenager, he worked for Hawaiian Dredging one summer on Wake Island. To pass the time, the crew held fight matches and Al was just so strong, Kris couldn’t win. He thanked Al, because by the end of the summer, Kris had toughed up enough to play first string on his football team in California!