Wishing all boys a Happy Boy’s Day. This is a notecard, complete with a koi, I created some time ago.
MAY 5 IS BOY’S DAY
‘KE NUI’ RETITLED ‘RESCUE: HI-SURF’
Same show, different title.
Fox has secured the rights to “Rescue: HI-Surf,” a straight-to-series drama about the lifeguard culture on Oahu’s North Shore, with Emmy-winning TV veteran John Wells (pictured below) producing for an anticipated 2023-24 debut.
It’s the same series earlier entitled “Ke Nui Road,” the name of that short stretch of beachfront road on Oahu, where dangerous but signature surfing meets have been held for decades. For the past year or so, HBO Max was scheduled to produce the show, albeit with a title that would be meaningless for viewers outside of Hawaii.
Mike Kester, who was associated with “Animal Kingdom,” is riding the new wave of production, serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner of “Rescue: HI-Surf.” The show could become a cult favorite, with first-responding lifeguards pegged to recreate the treacherous high waves that challenge both surfers and rescuers in the waters sometimes called Hawaii’s Seven Mile Miracle.
Wells, a six-time Emmy winner, will direct the first two episodes of “Rescue,’” which will mark his first series in more than a decade. He is well known for earlier directing NBC’s popular medical show, “ER.” “Rescue” will be his first series for Fox.
According to Fox, Kester has been a sometimes island resident. “I’ve lived on the North Shore of Oahu for most of my life, and these are our heroes, the most extraordinary extreme athletes anywhere,” said Kester. …
Miles is lone local Tony nominee
Ruthie Ann Miles (pictured left), a former Honolulan, is the lone local nominated for a 2023 Tony Award. Ceremonies will be held June 11 originating from a new venue, the United Palace theaterDe in New York’s Washington Heights, with CBS carrying it live.
Miles is nominated for Featured Actress in a Musical, for her role as the Beggar Woman in the revival of “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
She previously earned a Tony in the same category for her portrayal of Lady Thiang in the 2015 revival of “The King and I.”
She is a graduate of Kaimuki High School. …
Bree Kale‘a Peters dies
Sorry to report the death of Bree Kale‘a Peters (pictured below right), also widely remembered as Bree Bumatai, who lost her battle with cancer a few days ago. Little has been said or shared at this point, but Manoa Valley Theatre, her last employer in Honolulu before she relocated to the Big Island, posted this terse but fitting tribute on its Facebook page:
“The theatre is a ghost light. It never goes out. It burns brightly, illuminating the empty stage long after the actors have gone home.” Today Mānoa Valley Theatre mourns the loss of longtime ‘ohana member Bree Kale’a Peters. She was light. She was laughter. She was love. And we were all better for having known and loved and been inspired by her. Your legacy will live on through every actor and crew member who steps on our stage. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
I met her years ago, and frequently wrote about her accomplishments, from the time she was known as Karen Brilliande, then later as Karen Bumatai, before she became Bree. She was an active, prolific theatrical light, on stage and off, as an actress, a director, and an over-all theatrical advocate.
She was brave and inspirational, as her Facebook friends and theater colleagues will attest, openly sharing her ups and downs with chemo, and earned support and prayers with her endearing postings. Her last one said she was going into hospice care, anticipating her flight with the angels, always with a gentle breeze of hope. …
Broadway grosses, for week ending April 30
With “The Phantom of the Opera” now in the history books, it’s business as usual on Broadway, and the lion’s roar is at the pinnacle.
The Tony nominations are out, so it’s possible that the newbie shows will start appearing in the weekly summation, provided by The Broadway League. We only list The Lucky 7 each week, and the diehards rule. Only one new musical, “Parade,” managed to find a spot on the Top 10. At No. 10.
Here’s the lineup this week:
1 – “The Lion King,” $2.155 million.
2 – “Hamilton,” $1.809 million.
3 – “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” $1.783 million.
4 – “Wicked,” $1.732 million.
5 – “MJ, the Musical,” $1.619 million.
6 – “Funny Girl,” $1.580 million.
7 – “Aladdin,” $1.461 million.
The full list:
And that’s Show Biz. …
EXHILARATING LEI DAY FROM CAZIMERO
Lei Day is over, but the buzz remains.
And if Robert Cazimero, the eminent kumu hula, singer, composer, and pianist, is at the helm, exhilaration is part of his game plan.
The May Day concert, on May 1 at the Bishop Museum lawn, was staged in a mammoth tent/structure capped with a stage depicting triangular swaths of white fabric evocative of boat sails. The concept included dining tables and chairs for the VIP crowd, with exterior grass seating on the lawn and on the slopes of grass, like the old days.
Robert Cazimero, at his piano draped with plumeria lei.
Surely, folks in attendance today are talking about the grand, newish workspace that is temporary but looks permanent. On a plain, this gizmo could be godsend, with open-air charm.
So, the evening was a superb blend of hula kahiko and auana, with Cazimero as the skipper and Keauhou (Zachary Lum, his brother Nicholas Lum and fellow Kamehameha and University of Hawaii grad Kahanuola Solatorio ) as the house band, occasionally steel guitarist Jeff Au Hoy sitting in.
Na Kamalei gents render a hypnotic homage to The Mountain.
Nuggets from the awesome cultural evening:
- Cazimero’s hula company, Halau Na Kamalei o Lililehua, continues to impress; they’re the rare kane halau which not only dances, but sings. Thus, the gents – often in full force of about 20 – provide vivid interpretations of the comedic (“I Want to Go Back to My Little Grass Shack,” with a wink to the hapa haole genre) to the hypnotic (“The Beauty of Mauna Kea,” with the lads dressed in black skirts from waist to feet, with a sliver of ti leaf as a simple necklace, in a showstopper homage to address the controversy about The Mountain).
- With soloists Nina Keali‘iwahamana (pictured right), the beloved soprano with roots in the prolific Vickie I‘i Rodrigues family, and Jerry Santos (pictured below left), the endearing singer-guitarist-composer, in the house, a “first” was logged, with Cazimero, Keali‘iwahamana and Santos sharing their first-ever tune singing together on “E Kuu Sweet Lei Poina Ole.” Naturally, the two kupuna vocalists also had a moment to render their own hit songs so Keali‘iwahamana updated her “Silhouette Hula” and Santos his signature classic, “E Kuu Home O Kahaluu.”
Thus, it’s always a plus to have the positive and prolific vibes of the veterans of Hawaiian entertainers.
- Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown (pictured, below right), 2023’s Miss Aloha Hula, was a guest soloist fresh from her Merrie Monarch Festival triumph, bringing not only her sleek, expressive style, but an aura of royalty to the evening, adding Lei Day Queen to her laurels, at least for this evening. And her reign, post Merrie Monarch, is off to a grand start with this credit.
Never will you every see strands and strands of yellow plumeria lei, which were draped on Cazimero’s white piano; yellow plumeria lei showed up to accessorize several hula numbers. Cazimero wore his favorite lei, pikake, a generous assembly of strands galore, with the scent fueling his aloha.
Zachary Lum of Keauhou also has evolved as a savvy host and a genial commentator throughout the evening, expressing his and the brotherhood of the Lei Day cast’s desire to bring Lei Day beyond the shores of Hawaii. Like, there will be a belated Lei Day trek, with an abbreviated cast, to Japan this month.
Keauhou’s Zachary Lum, Kahanuola Solatorio and Nicholas Lum.
Cazimero’s dance soloists from the Royal Dance Company, and members of Hālau Ka Lehua Tuahine directed by kumu hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughn Darval, also performed.
Sponsorship is key to staging this kind of spectacle. Thus, mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines, for its title support and Kilohana for preserving and presenting Lei Day with focus on cultural traditions. The nonprolific group, Kāhuli Leo Leʻa and its director Zachary Lum, have demonstrated meaningful vision to shape and perpetuate Lei Day for future generations to come. Cazimero (as The Brothers Cazimero, with the late Roland Cazimero) previously staged concerts inside the museum and did one outdoor Lei Day, without the tenting. It’s wonderful that he’s returned to presenting a true museum piece.
Debbie Nakanelua-Richards and Billy V co-hosted, not just for the local crowd; the show was beamed locally and streamed for a global audience. Let the magic continue beyond the reefs of Hawaii …
And that’s Show Biz. …
TWO MUST-SEE TV SHOWS LAST WEEK
Talk about must-see TV. Last week’s pair of specials – “Carol Burnett: 90th Years of Laughter+Love” on Wednesday on NBC and James Corden’s farewell in two segments dubbed “The Last Last Late Late Show with James Corden” on CBS on Thursday — were splendid spectacles for the armchair brigade.
And the ratings showed audiences approved, too. The Burnett blockbuster logged 7.6 million viewers in true prime-time, and the Corden finale drew 1.43 million viewers, over two segments, one in prime, the other in late night lane. Hope you saw these shows.
Carole Burnett, with Julie Andrews at the bash.
The wattage of stars assembling to pay homage to Burnett included such iconic celebs like Julie Andrews, Cher, Allison Janney, Susan Lucci, Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, and Maya Rudolph, with additional notables in TV clips, largely from Burnett’s indelible and incredible shows that made her a TV queen. Many live vocalizing, too, from the likes of Katy Perry, Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenowith.
Vicki Lawrence, a surviving luminary from Burnett’s gallery of greats, was a standout. Cast greats Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner and Tim Conway were remembered in numerous comedic sketches, each demonstrating keen timing…before bursting out in laughter.
Corden’s goodbye boasted a pair of powerhouse stars, Adele returning to the driver’s seat in a funny, impressive “Carpool Karaoke” rendering, which attracted 3.65 million viewers.
James Corden and Tom Cruise in”Hakuna Makata.”
Then Tom Cruise, not one to commonly get out of his comfort zone as a Hollywood biggie, was a good sport, joining Corden in a surprise cameo in “The Lion King,” and appeared in fuel regalia for the “Hakuna Makata” number, before a real audience at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Imagine the squeals of delight! ‘Twas also kinda a first, for a Broadway show, would accept this kind of intrusion, but certainly, it was win-win for Corden, Cruise and the Disney empire.
In the second segment, Harry Styles, in chic yellow pants and jacket, demonstrated his smooth style, offering “As It Was,” prompting social media buzz with more than 96,000 mentions and 932 million impressions.
Yep, ’twas TV at its best. …
One in, one out at DHT
Talk about confusing; Diamond Head Theatre has altered its 2023-24 season, in the midst of its campaign to get season subscribers to renew their subscriptions. The addition of one show and the exclusion of another has altered the lineup.
DHT will include Disney’s “Frozen,” and pegged it as a Hawaii premiere, beginning July 26.
That was the slot for “My Fair Lady,” and we erroneously said “Lady” was bumped in earlier reportage. But not so; it’s still aboard, moving up to a Dec. 1 premiere, replacing the previously-scheduled “Scrooge, the Stingiest Man in Town,” which has been yanked.
The rest of the season is intact: “Mamma Mia” bows Sept. 22, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” opens Feb. 2; “Kiss Me Kate,” arrives April 5; and “Tootsie,” premieres May 31.
With “Scrooge” erased from the agenda, it’ll be the second season in a row where DHT has no Christmas show.
DHT needs to update its season flier, without “Scrooge,” but with “Frozen,” and with “Lady” in its new position.
Also, a new season flyer should be issued to season ticket holders, perhaps with a new cover message from John Rampage, DHT artistic director. …
And that’s Show Biz. …
A LEI OF THOUGHTS FROM ROBERT…
Robert Cazimero is the skipper of the Lei Day ship that sails onto the lawn of Bishop Museum on Monday, which is May Day, the annual celebration of Hawaiian song and dance.
For the four decades I’ve been following and reporting on Robert’s growth and career, I can tell you that his magic doesn’t happen without determination and desire. When he was part of The Brothers Cazimero, with his late brother Roland, Robert was always the brain and inspiration of putting on a show. Whether it was strictly cultural with his Hālau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, his incredible hula ensemble which also sings, or in commercial and seasonal ventures in venues like the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room, the Waikiki Shell , the Blaisdell Arena, Blue Note Hawaii or alone behind a piano at Chef Chai (restaurateur Chai Chaowasaree bought the grand piano to enable the restaurant to schedule ongoing monthly Full Moon concerts), Robert’s fingerprints always prevailed.
Robert, pictured left, always searches for themes and revels in authenticity and often taps guest artists – dear friends — who bring mana’o and mele to the party.
On the eve of the Lei Day event, Robert was prodded to provide answers to questions I shot his way:
Question: Were you introduced to Lei Day while at Fern School? Was it a happy memory? Had a lei? During those days, schools had the May Day pole dance.
Answer: My earliest memories of May Day is Mama in the yard picking plumeria to make lei for us to wear to school. Never fully understood the foundation of it until much later. My 6th grade at Fern School made me King of May Day with my Queen, Lynette Palama. My mom was so excited; I think I needed a white shirt (short sleeve) and white pants. My mom and family members made a crown of white crown flowers, and I wore an Alfred Apaka-like red carnation lei. I remember being most excited to do the May Pole dance with the rest of my school mates.
Q: “Make a lei. Wear a lei. Give a lei.” When and how did this evolve?
A: The phrase, ‘make a lei, wear a Lei, give a lei’ is a direct quote from my kumu hula, Ma‘iki Aiu Lake. Before we started doing May Day at the Shell, we – Ala, Wayne Chang, good friends and sometimes Ma‘iki herself would meet on ‘the day’ at the old Tahitian Lanai. We loved the eggs benedict and the banana muffins; we’d eat, party, and give lei that we’d make, wear lei and then when done, head to the Bandstand at Kapiolani Park for the appearance of the May Day queen and her court, the entertainment, as well as the lei contest there It was always restive.
.Q: With all the juggling you have in your life as singer and kumu, are you a good planner to tend to halau, your monthly Full Moon concert, special shows like Lei Day and working treks to Japan?
A: I definitely learned to be more prepared, communicate better with fellow cast members and make sure everyone has the same picture I have in my mind. Great communication is an amazing key to success. It is also so very true that it takes a village. Many friends, teachers, associates have helped me to get to his point.
Q: Surely, your Hawaiiana history dates back to your parents, but Kamehameha has been a foundation and a fount for cultural relevancy. Did you ever imagine you’re now up there among the iconic entertainers of the past, from Ma’iki Aiu Lake to Gabby Pahinui, from Iolani Luahine to Eddie Kamae, from Alfred Apaka to Ed Kenney, from Loyal Garner to Beverly Noa, from Edith Kanaka‘ole to Don Ho, from Willie K to Palani Vaughan, from Haunani Kahalewai to Hilo Hattie?
A: I owe a generous percentage of my life’s gratitude to Kamehameha Schools. Just as much to my mom and dad. The consideration of being ‘iconic’ or a ‘legend’ is the last thing ever on my mind. I still get nervous when I think about the real ones, the excitement of meeting them for the first time, to sing with them, party hearty and to know that I said hello to Nina, Goofy, Sam Kapu, Jerry Santos, Quack … that they would say hi back to me. My job today includes talking about them all as much as possible. People use the word ‘legend’ far too quickly. It takes time, and I mean that sincerely. That I’m still here performing the style of Hawaiian music I love and owe so much to, is an honor.
Q: As a senior now, do you still have mountains to climb, and happy about your achievements? Are there any regrets?
A: I still have mountains to climb as a 74-year-old guy. Most of it is physical, LOL. I thought after Roland passed that I would just sit on my laurels and watch the sunset.
Ha! Fat chance! Not with pals like Kuana, Vicky, Zach, Bu, Jonah and HNKOL. I’ve got work to do and ahhh, it makes me happy. Regrets? One. I wish I could have understood more of what my brother Roland (pictured, right, with Robert) was going through when it came to his health challenges. From what I’ve gathered about myself since then, I think I could have been more understanding and loving. Such an interesting place, to find myself, a so-called ‘legend,’ raised in Kalihi, still trying to be the best I can, living in one of the most beautiful places in the world, getting ready to do a sold-out show for May Day Is Lei Day in Hawaii…
And, FYI, after responding to the Qs, after-glow comment from Robert: “I had no idea this was in me.” …
Robert Cazimero on keyboard, with Keauhou in background.
The Lei Day event will be staged from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday –- the concert will be from 7 to 9 p.m., preceded by a Ho’omau Market offering food and more — with starlight galore in a cast that includes lifetime serenaders Nina Keali‘iwahamana and Jerry Santos; 17-time Na Hoku Hanohano Awards winners Keauhou; and hula by Hālau Ka Lehua Tuahine under the direction of kumu hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughn Darval. Debbie Nakanelua-Richards and Billy V will share emcee duties. Tickets are $30 to $120, available at wearalei.org….
And that’s Show Biz. …