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Former president Donald Trump has been calling Joe Biden “the worst president ever,” but a Sunday New York Times story yesterday on fact-checking — headlined “Don’t Take Trump’s Word for It. Check the Data” –is a revelation.
Check the article. End of the debate.
Imagination is the operative word of “Imagine,” the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation’s three-day limited run special, which opened last night (July 26) to a full house and continues today (July 27) through Sunday (July 28) at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.
Belief is the fuel that keeps the cast going.
Go see it. You’ll adore and applaud the happy faces as they go through their snappy paces. There’s no other inspirational show like this on the planet.
“Imagine” is the culmination of a five-week IABK summer musical theater program where these 40-plus island youngsters learned the skills of acting, dancing, and teamwork, in the spirit and template of the late Ron Bright, a seasoned director and educator, who has inspired scores of Hawaii actors to take this brand of imagination to Broadway and beyond.
Led by savvy directors and mentors, the youngsters – divided into teams bearing floral names (Lehua Group, Maile Group, Pikake Group) – sing and dance their hearts out in a productive hour of 12 segments that ultimately advance their souls to an imaginary Orchid Group.
The horticultural theme works, in that seeds are planted when the girls and boys enroll in the summer showcase program, where they are nurtured and fertilized so they sprout and bloom into bona-fide flowers in this garden of creativity.
The entire corps participate in the opening number, “Pure Imagination,” and also in the finale, “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” and in-between, they strut their stuff in a variety of schemes. Hip-hop, pop-rock, vocalizing while dancing in circles or lines. Perpetual motion and energy.
Particularly effective:
No show can exist without the vision and creativity of its director, so David James Boyd, who is artistic director of “Imagine,” brings New York creds to the program. He is a Teaching Artist at Lincoln Center and also is associated with Queens Theatre. A long-time ally of the late Jade Stice, he admits his IABK role is an extension and expansion of her dreams and belief in IABK because she started her theatrical roots as a student of Mr. B. They’ve been buds for years.
Similarly, Allan Lau, IABK president, began his journey in theater with Bright, and Stice was his collaborator in the summer showcase until her unexpected death in June. Lau also serves as IABK program director, a summer project beyond his normal teaching job.
Clearly, Stice has been an angel overlooking the production from afar and above. You can imagine and discover her fingerprints throughout the show.
A long list of other creators was involved in “Imagine,” as vocal and music directors, choreographers, guest teachers and speakers, and other tech folks, from lights, sound, set design and more. Some are paid for their services, others are volunteers.
They all subscribe to Mr. B’s mantra: believe…
And that’s Show Biz…
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‘Imagine’
What: An original musical by the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation, featuring a student cast from a summertime program on musical theater
Where: Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
When: 2 and 7 p.m. today (July 27) and 2 p.m. tomorrow (July 28).
Tickets: $24 for adults, $19 for seniors over 65, youths 12-17, military with ID; $14, youths 6 to 11, at www.imabrightkid.org, (802) 395-1695 or https://cur8.com/schedule/item/24380/226586?event=85196&date=226586
The chilly, magical world of Arendelle comes to life at Diamond Head Theatre, beginning tonight (July 26), when Disney’s “Frozen” opens with all its glory.
The musical, playing through Aug. 25, already has sold out on certain dates, so to avoid disappointment, secure your tickets soon.
The tale of love and acceptance between sisters Elsa and Anna – including, of course, the mega-hit song “Let It Go” and whimsical characters as Olaf– have origins in the Academy Award-winning animated film which was transferred to the Broadway stage.
Charlie Williams is director-choreographer of the family spectacle and Jenny Shiroma is musical director.
The cast features Alanna Poelzing (Anna), Alana Clayson (Elsa), Kimo Kaona (Hans), Legrand Tolo Lawrence (Kristoff) and Kyle Malis (Olaf).
Sam Budd and Jill Jackson will alternate as Sven,
Natalie Coleman and Hayden Lau will alternate as Young Anna and
Kirra Baughn and Katie Walthall will alternate as Young Elsa.
Others in the cast: Michael Abdo (Weselton), David Weaver (Oaken), Olivia Manayan (Queen Iduna), Lee Nebe (King Agnarr), Anthony Orsillo (Pabbie), and Nicole Villejo (Bulda).
The sizeable ensemble includes Nikki Bagaw, Landon Ballesteros, Chandler Converse, Sammy Houghtailing, Megan Hovick, Amber Kauinui, Pono Lundell, Tai Malalis, Olivia Manayan, Lee Nebe, Anthony Orsillo, Brandon Sorilla, Marie Staples, Anya Teruya, Nicole Villejo, David Weaver, Presley Wheeler, and Alexandria Zinov.
Curtain times: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 25.
Tickets: $68, at (808) 733-0274, or www.diamondheadtheatre.com …
Bright Kids’ ‘Imagine’ in weekend run
Island youngsters, who have been participating in an I’m a Bright Kid Foundation series of summer workshops, will be featured in a four-show, three-day production tonight (July 26) through Sunday (July 28) at Paliku Theatre, at Windward Community College.
Themed “Imagine,” the musical is the culmination of a five-and-a-half-week program of performing arts education that target theatrical life skills, enabling the participants to undergo acting and dancing training leading to the 50-minute live stage show.
About 40 youngsters, aged 6 to17, have been rehearsing for the showcase, as part of IABK’s ongoing program to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of the late director-educator, Ronald Bright. Allan Lau, mentored by Bright, is directing the production.
Curtain time: 7 p.m. today (July 26), 2 and 7 p.m. tomorrow (July 27) and 2 p.m. Sunday (July 28).
Tickets: $24 for adults, $19 for seniors over 65, youths 12-17, military with ID; $14, youths 6 to 11, at www.imabrightkid.org, (802) 395-1695 or https://cur8.com/schedule/item/24380/226586?event=85196&date=226586
And that’s Show Biz…
Hawaii’s Auli‘i Cravalho, best known for voicing the titular role in Disney’s “Moana” animated film, will co-star with Adam Lambert, the one-time finalist of “American Idol,” in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” on Broadway.
She will portray Sally Bowles, opposite his Emcee enactment, in the hit musical at the August Wilson Theatre in New York.
They open Sept. 16, succeeding Gayle Rankin and Eddie Redmayne, whose last performances will be on Sept. 14. It will be the Broadway debut for both performers and a real challenge: the show is staged in the round, with a constantly rotating stage.
It’s a bold leap and a huge break for Cravalho, to flex her musical muscles, in a demanding but engaging realm, where she performs seven of eight shows a week. She was a high school teen at Kamehameha Schools, when Disney tapped her in 2016 to voice the Moana character, enabling her to sing the musical’s huge hit song, “How Far I’ll Go.” She since has done a few films, including the recent “Mean Girls: The Musical,” and will return to her Moana roots when she reunites with her co-star Dwayne Johnson as Maui the Demigod in Disney’s animated “Moana 2” Disney project. A live-action fill also is in the works, but Cravalho will not be in it.
Lambert is the flamboyant rock/blues star, a pop fave in concerts and recordings, with an immense presence. His films include “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Cravalho and Lambert are contracted through March 30.
In recent years, Hawaii actors have proudly performed in Broadway hits. Loretta Ables Sayre portrayed Bloody Mary in “South Pacific” and earned a Tony nomination in 2008; Ruthie Ann Miles played Lady Thiang in “The King and I” and was rewarded with a Tony award in 2025 and was nominated for her Beggar Woman role in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” in 2023.
Two other islanders are now in hit Broadway shows: Ezekiel Kekuna is cast as Young Simba in “The Lion King,” since November, and will wind up his role Aug. 8. Zare Anguay is currently a swing actor in “Aladdin.”
Further, another islander will be featured on Broadway this fall: Nichole Scherzinger will portray Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” previewing from Sept. 28 and premiering Oct. 20 at the St. James Theatre…
‘Lion King’ retains lead in grosses
All is calm in the Pridelands: “The King” retains its No.1 spot on the chart of grosses, for the week ending July 21.
The Top 10:
1—”Lion King,” $2,355 million.
2—”Wicked,” $2.158 million.
3—”Hamilton,” $1.987 million.
4—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.616 million.
5—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.616 million.
6—” Aladdin,” $1.526 million.
7—”MJ the Musical,” $1.471 million.
8—”The Outsiders,” $1.432 million.
9—”The Wiz,” $1.355 million.
10—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.340 million.
The complete list, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…
The program will feature George Balanchine’s “Serenade, a Midsummer Night’s Dream;” Pas de Deux, by Toni Pimble and Corps de Ballet by Christine Kaminski, and a Broadway piece entitled “The Groove Is in the Heart,” by award-winning choreographer Lainie Sakakura.
The show is the culmination of Ballet Hawaii’s three-week Summer Intensive starring Megan Fairchild, principal dancer, New York City Ballet; Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet; Courtney Schenberger, principal dancer, Carolina Ballet; Mark Tucker and Danielle Tolmie Tucker, principal dancers, Eugene Ballet; Wyatt McConville-dcCoy, Sacramento Ballet; and Ballet Hawaii’s Summer Intensive Corps de Ballet.
The program is the first endeavor under the leadership of Richard Vida, new executive director of Ballet Hawaii.
Tickets are $45, available at the Leeward theater box office at https://honoluluboxoffice.com/shows/2024/7/26/balanchine-to-broadway or visit BalletHawaii.ORG/events/Balanchine-to-broadway …
Ukulele Festival July 27 at Kapiolani Park
The Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii will stage the International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 27 at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.
Pre-festival events are slated the day before, July 26, at different venues. Ukulele and hula will be performed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the lobby of the Hawaii Prince Hotel on Ala Moana Boulevard, and a concert is set from noon to 2 p.m. at the Beach Bar of the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel on Kalakaua Avenue.
The primary attraction, at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, will feature Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Kalaʻe Camarillo, Mika Kane, Jody Kamisato, Crossing Rain, Craig & Sarah, Cynthia Lin, Corey Fujimoto, Benny Chong, Byron Yasui, Honokaa, Kalei Gamiao, Sho Humphries & Tyler Donkoh-Halm, 1933 Ukulele All Stars, Tomoki Suzuki, Dr. Trey and Flatnine Ukulele Jazz Orchestra.
A secondary stage, nearby in the park, will assemble keiki strummers from the Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, Ukulele Hale, and Kapālama Elementary School.
There also will be ukulele display at booths by uke makers from Hawaii and a special collection of vintage ukes from the Hawaii State Archives.
“On behalf of Ukulele Festival Hawaii, we congratulate Kazuyuki and the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii on celebrating 15 years of sharing their love and passion for the ‘ukulele with Hawaii and the world,” said Roy and Kathy Sakuma in a joint statement. The Sakumas, founders of the uke fest, presented the event for 52 years. The Ukulele Foundation, current sponsor for the past 15 years, previously called the attraction the Ukulele Picnic.
Admission is free.
And that’s Show Biz…