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A ‘HOCUS POCUS’ TUNE-UP ON BWAY?

The Sanderson Sisters – that would be Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy – apparently may be singing and heading to Broadway.

The trio, a hit in the 1993 fantasy horror film, currently appear in a streamer, “Hocus Pocus 2,”  airing on Disney+.

Though the crystal ball suggests that the witches are likely to return again in another venue, the Broadway stage sometime soon, you gotta wonder why.

No. 2 is cute and funny, but not the treat audiences will relish. In case you missed No. 1, there’s a prologue about the Sanderson Sisters as teens, so it seemed nearly forever for the “modern” elderly trio to fly in.

Why would “Hocus Pocus” make the Broadway jump? Could be partly because Midler, who used to be the Divine Miss M in earlier times, did great box office when she was Dolly Levi, in the reboot of “Hello, Dolly” two seasons ago. And she loves Halloween, based on the fact that her annual fundraiser called Hulaween is always on her agenda. The play on hula, of course, is to reinforce her Hawaiian roots.

But getting back to “Hocus Pocus, the Musical” – the tune-up apparently has been under wraps, according to David Kirshner, a producer in the franchise. It might have happened earlier, but COVID-19 swooshed it from the front on the stove to the back burner. So the film sequel must’ve been in the works, and beat the stage version to the cauldron.

The plans for the Broadway vehicle were revealed on the Broadway Podcast Network’s “The Art of Kindness.”

Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy in “Hocus Pocus 2.”

Of course, it would be a treat to reunite Midler, Parker and Najimy for one more flight on the broom. All have experience on the Great White Way, and the dealmaker would be if the producers can corral the threesome one more time. The trio delivered a couple of tunes – the best was “One Way or Another” – in “Hocus 2.”

But on Broadway, if there’s no Midler, there’d be no musical.

As for the streaming film: it’s Disney fluff mainly for the kids. The timeline is 2022, compared to the 1990 Salem in the original flick, and overall, it’s lame lunacy.

The revelation about a stage musical was made on Broadway Podcast Network’s “The Art of Kindness,” several days ago.

The stagecraft of giddy witches with spells that can spook, could work, but it’s got to have elements beyond shtick, considering Broadway tariffs. . And the modern times require updated apothecary surprises; No. 2 involves glowing powers, plus a wild, bewitching romp through a Walgreen’s store.

If a cast, composer, choreographer and director can be inked – and able to lure Midler, Parker and Najimy to frolic in a new Salem populated by dancing and prancing townsfolk – the show could evolve into a  Halloween tradition on Broadway …

‘Magnum’ transfer includes two seasons

“Magnum P.I.” currently is filming in Hawaii, under new alphabetical bosses: NBC instead of CBS.

And looks like Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks, will have a second season after this one to work out romantic issues.

Perdita Weeks and Jay Hernandez, in “Magnum P.I.”

That’s the outlook. Ten shows this year, ten more next year.

Reasons CBS pulled the plug after season four include a hefty audience base of 8 million viewers in the earlier years, shrinking to 6 million during the fourth year, plus a lack of Emmy nominations and wins (none). Ultimately, contractual conflicts with Universal, which produced the procedural, led to the downfall for the cancellation.

So “Magnum” has 20 episodes to reassess and ramp up the numbers….and hope for louder outcry from fans which helped give the show another chance. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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‘SHAKA’ FILM SHOOTING FINALE AT PCC

What does shaka mean? Who originated it? Is there the right way to wave one?

Producer Steve Sue and a team of filmmakers are trying to get the right spin on the widely used hand-and-fingers sign.

Sue, chairman of Bizgenics, a Hawaii-based nonprofit 501CE that specializes in creativity, innovation and supports  entrepreneurs to fulfill dreams, is aiming his cameras in the islands to find the meaning and origins of the shaka sign.

“It’s an interesting story to pursue,” said Sue, a Chinese entrepreneur who studied law but determined he was not going to be a lawyer. A former Californian married to a local girl who now lives in Kaimuki, Sue has toiled as a conceptualist creating theme parks, staging entertainment and corporate theater events, mega-resort casinos and other ventures.

His latest project is a documentary entitled “Shaka, a Story of Aloha,” with a planned mammoth finale Hawaiian luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oct. 19, in which three original songs are being composed by Henry Kapono to debut at the shooting.

The documentary will boast a Hollywoodish capstone in the PCC’s Hale Aloha showroom-theater, home of the “Ha” spectacle. And the public is invited to attend and participate and become part of the audience in the taping.

Steve Sue, an entrepreneur, is producing “Shaka, a Story of Aloha.”

“I’ve been interested in the shaka, learning from a friend in the LDS (Latter Day Saints) community, and three years ago, I met with the kupuna there,” said Sue.

“Kella Miller, who is 100 per cent Hawaiian, was a resource with a lot of knowledge (of the shaka),” he said.

More recently, Sue went back to the PCC/LDS campus, started probing the legend of the shaka, with many logical origins, depending on the community.

“Anthology studies indicate 91 per cent of people don’t know where the shaka came from  and 7 per cent were curious about its origins.”

And region had a lot to do about the varying notions of where the shaka sign originated.

“There was a story  Hamana Kalili late in the 1800s, who lost three of his digits (between the thumb and the pinky finger), and a member of the Mormon people said it’s true. But there was a tale about a security guy on the train in Kahuku and how he lost his fingers,” said Sue.

“We talked to the Lippy Espinda family, and they say Lippy (a former operator of a service station at the entry of Waikiki and a veteran used car dealer) invented it,” said Sue.

While Joyce Fasi, widow of the former Mayor Frank Fasi, acknowledges Espinda, she said her husband made the shaka part of his brand as he campaigned on the streets of Honolulu.

The stories reflected a lot of aloha and fellowship, with variations galore.

Molokai folks give credit to leprosy residents of Kalaupapa, who lost digits.

The Portuguese paniolo of yesteryear considered the shaka as a drinking symbol.

Former surfer Fred Hemmings said dudes in the waves of Hawaii should not be forgotten in the popularity of the shaka, since surfers waved the sign as a symbol of the sport.

In Kahuku, there’s belief that the shaka was brought here by Japanese who worked at the sugar mill, because in Japan, there was Shakyamuni (with the y) who was known in short as the Shaka (without the y) buddha.

Early media personalities on TV, like Kini Popo (the late Carl Hebenstreit) utilized the shaka in his greeting.

The shaka also was flashed, albeit in a secretive manner, by a character on “NCIS: Hawai’i,” in last night’s episode on CBS, exposing the sign to a network TV audience.

And, of course, TV station KHON continues to end its newscasts with folks in all walks of life shaking and sharing the shaka – with film crews regularly shooting footage in a range of situations, from schools to malls, from hospitals to sporting events – to reflect both appreciation and friendship in a “TV moment” for the shaka-ers.

The simple flashing of a hand with three middle fingers facing to the nobs with thumb and pinky in the “up” position communicates without words.

The common shaka sign — three fingers down, between the thumb and the pinky finger.

But there’s really no right or wrong with doing the shaka. One can do a right-handed one or a left-handed version.

“The value of the shaka is connection,” said Sue. “It’s a feeling like you’ll be safe.”

Generally, the shaka should be simple, “without the elbow and body shaking.”

Sue recalled a memorable personal experience with the shaka. “It was the mid-1980s, and I was in Waialae – at Hunakai and Waialae – where a kid was selling newspapers in the median  and he threw me a major shaka,” Sue said.

The shaka can mean aloha, howzit, mahalo, all right, hang loose, a lot more.  And traditionally, it is flashed without words — though “shaka, brah” is sometimes the way to go.

The shaka is not being ignored in academia these days. “Some schools are teaching that beyond the aloha spirit, it’s important to recognize the shaka values, too.”

Kamehameha Schools is supporting and partially funding the “Shaka” film. Other partners  are Kapono Inc. and Sight & Sound Productions.

Sue is working on the eventual inclusion of the proper “shaka” sign amid the gallery of emoji icons widely utilized in e-messages.

The film also has ties with Project Shaka, which is a non-profit that provides free shaka stickers, with a motto, “Share a Shaka, Live Aloha.”

Remedy Spa Hawaii, a newcomer in the premium spa experiences in Waikiki, is a Japan business which is supporting the film because of Japan ties with the spirt of the shaka and the spirit of aloha.

Further, PBS here is interested in airing the film, with a possible reach to headquarters for wider screening on the PBS network.

Sue said he’s exploring the film festivals market, too, to launch the final product, being directed by Hawaii’s Alex Bocchieri, whose previous films include “Go For Broke” (2018), “No More Aloha” (2013) and “Flat” (2011).

“We’re stoked, with what we’ve captured so far and can’t wait to share the power of ‘Shaka’ to the world,” said Sue.

The $375,000 budget for the documentary –  already raised –was for a film envisioned as a 30-minute short. But the doc has  expanded to a 90 minute feature —  with $125,000 more sought by completion in 2023. A rough cut is expected by January 2023.

The final “shoot” at the Polynesian Cultural Center  will resemble a red-carpeted  opening night premiere event, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 – deliberately on a Wednesday, which is a dark night for the Laie venue – and space for 200 people is available.

Tickets are $225 (premium) and $175 (general) and will include a luau meal and a “Shaka” swag bag, plus photo ops  in front of a media wall. Those attending must sign a consent document to possibly appear in the crowd shots, part of a customary film-industry release  agreement.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite: shakacon2022.eventbrite.com

And that’s Show Biz. …

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WOLFE STAYING ON TILL ‘CINDERELLA’

Still no official word from Diamond Head Theatre, but the decision to dismiss costume designer Karen G. Wolfe at the end of the run of  “Anything Goes” this weekend has been reversed.

Earlier today, Wolfe – who served as the theater’s resident costume honcho for 37 years – broke silence and revealed that she will be staying on through the end of the run of  “Cinderella,” which opens next January in a brand-new facility next door to the existing theater.

In a Facebook post, Wolfe said “I’m happy to announce that I will be staying as DHT costume director through the end of ‘Cinderella’ in 2023. I have always wanted to retire after my 70th birthday (Jan. 29) and I am grateful that I will be able to do so.”

Karen G. Wolfe

Why this process was not part of her departure was not fully explained. She revealed the outcome of the online outcry to “save Karen” in the past few days, after her daughter, Kyra Blasé, sent on an online appeal to the DHT board of director to appeal the case.

“Thank you for your support,” Wolfe said of the next few months where she will design costumes for the first new show in the brand-new theater.

“This was made possible by management and the board, and I want to thank them and John Rampage (artistic director).  With a new building and the next 100 years there is so much good that each of us can do to support community theater.”

Wolfe declined to talk about the turnaround, likely because this remains a personnel matter.

But why this arrangement was not considered earlier is a curiosity; Wolfe deserves to have a role in the shutdown of the old facility and help launch the start of the new one.

Sounds like she had a Fairy Godmother – not discounting pressure from ticket buyers and theater fans who rallied in her defense — on her side in the turnaround. Further, DHT owes Wolfe either a grand birthday party or an aloha oe retirement celebration at the end of her tenure.

All’s well that ends well. …

And that’s Show. Biz. …

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A NEW HANDLE ON HALLOWEEN PINS

The bewitching season begins soon, so the behind-the-scenes witchery has been toiling without fanfare.

Translation: I’ve been indulging in my holiday crafting throughout September, to create, design, and assemble the 2022 collection of Halloween pins.

Halloween pins, 2022 collection: the critters are pretty much the same every year.

First confession: The yearly pins resemble previous last year’s selections, because there’s very little you can do with pumpkins, bats, witches and other available Halloweeneries.

I’ve also done some early mailings to friends, colleagues and family – so ifMy you’ve been on the list, watch your mail box for treats over the next few days.

A brainstorming idea: Pins with handles, resembling trick-or-treat bags.

Second confession: midway through the assembly period, I had a quick flash of inspiration.

Sure, ghouls, jack-o-lanterns, spiders, bats and other Halloween critters prevail.

My brainstorming idea: Why not make pins resembling trick-or-treat bags?

Did only a limited addition of these designs, but see the results here – the treat bag pins are the ones with little bag handles.

Will surely be part of the repertoire for next year’s designs.

Trick or treat!!!

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LEE, SATO IN NEW DISNEY ROLES

Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Matt Sato, co-starring in Disney+’s “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” have been tagged for separate Disney streamers apart from their signature filmed-in-Hawaii show.

Lee has been signed to join a Disney Branded Television show, featuring popular Disney talents, in “Prom Pact,” a teen rom-com. She portrays Mandy Yee, a high school senior, at the height of prom season, with hopes to enroll in Harvard after graduation, but she’s waitlisted … but she has a plan.

In this venture, “Zombies“ triple-threat actor Milo Manheim, also has a lead. He already is a new-to-this-season regular in“Doogie,” in the role of street-smart Nico with a love interest in Lee’s Lahela; in “Prom Pact,” he is Ben, her main squeeze. …

Peyton Elizabeth Lee

Meanwhile, Sato, already a one-season vet on Disney+’s “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” has been added to another Disney venture, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” now in its fourth season.

Matthew Sato

Sato plays Kai Kamealoha, brother to the titular series star, played by the aforementioned Lee, who is the youth doctor in the Hawaii-based remake of the sitcom, “Doogie,” pegged for another 10-episode season, with airdates  to be announced.

In the “High School Musical” dramady, filmed in Salt Lake City, Sato portrays sitcom actor Mack, in a recurring role  …

‘Cats’ on sale, ‘Cabaret’ held over

Theater tips:

  • The morality surrounding organ transplants is the theme of “The God Committee,” opening Friday (Sept. 30) at the Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.

Dwight Martin is directing the drama by Mark St. Germain. The cast includes Rea Fox as Nurse Larkin, Richard Valalsek as Dr. Klee, Tom Smith as Dr. Gorman, Shannon Tatalano as Dr. Ross, David Farmer as Father Dunbar, Aiko Chinen as Dr. Banks, and Justin Strain as Mr. Piero. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 16. There is no intermission.

Tickets: $30 (general), $25 (seniors) and $20 (students/military).

Details: www.taghawaii.net; reservations at  tagtickets@hawaii.rr.com or (808) 722-6941.

  • If you want to live the “Memory” of “Cats” once again – of if you’re a newbie in the catmosphere – you can order single seats, starting at 10 a.m. this Friday (Sept. 30).
“Cats” tickets (single seats) go on sale Friday.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical won’t be performed till next June 23 through 18 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, as the final of a four-show Broadway in Hawaii season.

“Jersey Boys,” the second musical, just wound up its run; “Hamilton,” the third show in the series, opens Dec. 7 for a month’s run.

But the launch of “Cats” tickets is part of a special promotion, which requires this code – ECLUB – to order seats.

Tickets: $45 to $90.

Details at: ticketmaster.com or visit the Blaisdelln box office.

  • “Cabaret,” a hit at Manoa Valley Theatre, has been extended with new performance dates at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1) and Sunday at 3 p.m. (Oct. 2). Update: a second extension has been announced; new dates are: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 and 3 p.m. Oct. 9.

Seating is cabaret-style, with tables and chairs on the main floor. Beverage service is available prior to curtain and at intermission. 

Tickets: $28 to $46, at www.manoavalletheatre.com or (808) 988-6131….

  • Three more performances of “Aloha Las Vegas,” Edward Sakamoto’s beloved local-style comedy about the passion for Las Vegas by locals, will be held this week: at 8 pm. Friday (Sept. 30), and at 2 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 1) and. Sunday (Oct. 2). The last two shows are sold out. Tickets are scarce, so check on availability at https://www.eventbrite.com …
  • “Anything Goes,” Diamond Head Theatre’s latest musical, will be making history this weekend. It will be the final show following decades of shows, but then facility will shut down to prep to move to a brand new DHT next January. Too bad that the closure has had an off-stage drama, when word leaked earlier this week that DHT was terminating Karen G. Wolfe, its resident costume designer for 37 years, a startling surprise to many. She expected to be part of the team moving to the new venue, but it’s not happening. Talk about anything goes! …

Broadway grosses, for week ending Sept. 25

With little surprise, the top-grossing Broadway musicals continue to lead the pack.

“The Music Man” was No. 1 with $2.804 million; “Hamilton” was No. 2 with $1.915 million; “MJ the Musical” was No. 3 with $1.732 million.

The compilation is courtesy The Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz. …