wayneharada.com

Moses Goods, the respected and versatile performer and writer, has had good fortunes in recent week, with productions “on location” in Hawaii.

His visibility and accolades were tantamount, when he appeared in CBS’ “NCIS: Hawai‘i”as Wally Holman, the Waimanolo-based father of Kai Holman, the secondary agent character  portrayed by Alex Tallant supposedly with  island roots but dubious loyalty of becoming a “local” again. For the record, Tallant is part Maori and Samoan, and would pass for a Hawaii lad, but lacks the aura and credibility of Goods, formerly of Maui and now of Oahu.  Surely, you’re familiar with Goods, a native Hawaiian-black actor-playwright who wrote and starred in a one-man show, “Duke,” about the legendary surfer and Olympian Duke Kahanamoku. The producers wanted to make his at-home scenes credible, so Goods brought in some real vintage photos that are now plopped on a table, providing realistic set accoutrements to the household.

But here’s where the good fortune comes in. Goods recently auditioned for a recurring role in the HBO Max lifeguard drama, “Ke Nui Road,” the pilot for which begins filming on the North Shore shortly. His character is Jeremy and what he does has not yet been revealed.

“Ke Nui Road” aims to be a lifestyle portrait of the grittiness and grandeur of North Shore lifeguards, in that monster-wave setting that instantly attracts athletes and spectators. No, don’t expect a reboot of “Baywatch;” the “Ke Nui” team should deliver a drama as huge as the waves, at best.

Maybe his “NCIS” performance was a factor, maybe not, but Goods got word that he will be seen as Jeremy, and clearly, he impressed the executive producers, John Wells, Matt Kester and Erin Jontow, who had a note of congrats attached to an orchid plant in a basket, delivered  to his doorsteps. Naturally, Goods was blown by the kindness and  hospitality of the Wells-led team. If you’re up on TV honchos, Wells was the showrunner of “The West Wing” and “Shameless,” Kester is an “”Animal Kingdom” writer, and Jontow is president of Television at John Wells Productions.

Perhaps Wells and team should enlist North Shore resident  Jack Johnson to create authentic original island-style music for the score? Just thinking, if the team hasn’t thought of this yet. …

Manoa DNA has Blue Note gig

Manoa DNA will take stage at Blue Note Hawaii at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13, not focusing on its melodies but doing tributes to legendary pop acts.

The trio now is a duo, with dad Lloyd Kawakami  (the D) and son Alx Kawakami (the A) still in the act. Nick Kawakami (the N), son of Lloyd and bro of Alx, now is involved full-time in real estate.

The group – with skills in harmonic vocals — will feature the tunes of Crosby, Stills & Nash and Simon & Garfunkel. It earlier presented a slate of  songs by The Eagles.

Reservations: www.bluenotehawaii.com or phone 777-4890. …

Tito’s schedules

Tito Berinobis will perform solo from 6 to 9 p.m.  Fridays and Saturdays, at Chart House Waikiki, with a tweaked schedule due to coronavirus restrictions. Chart House is launching a weekend brunch, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning today (Oct.2) and Sunday (Oct. 3). Call 941-6669.

Berinobis continues to entertain at the Ilikai Courtyard from 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays and at the Elks Club Waikiki from 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays,  schedules unchanged. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

Say you’re getting married, have a lot of money or a source to get the moolah, and want Bruno Mars to sing “Marry You” as your headliner.

It’s not impossible, and it did happen earlier in September, according to The New York Post, when Troy Brown got hitched to Kristin Ryan at the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, MA.

The deep pockets to pay the tab was the groom’s father, who is CEO of Motorola Solutions. His name is Greg Brown, who reportedly had a salary of $20.3 million last year.

The Post reported that following dinner, a marching band led guests to a “secret speakeasy,” where guests had to utter the secret password, “Magic,” to receive keys that said “Join us in room 24.”

The clues might have been obvious: “24K Magic” was a monster hit for Hawaii-born Mars.

How long Mars entertained, or what he sang, is not known. How much he was paid is unknown, too, though Scarlet Events, a luxe party planner, indicated that Mars’ standard fee for an event like a wedding starts at $3 million … so the sky’s the limit, budget willing …

New Ballet Hawaii exec director

Kimi Takazawa is the new executive director of Ballet Hawaii, effective today (Oct. 1). She succeeds John Parkinson, who served the organization for the past 14 years.

Takazawa, most recently the chief operating officer at ‘Olelo Hawaii, has vast leadership and experience with non-profit organizations such as the Boy Scouts and After-School All-Stars.

And that’s Show Biz. …

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 31^st 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. …