WICKED QUEEN COMING TO LEEWARD

The Wicked Queen will be stalking Leeward Community Theatre this fall.

Translation: After a six-year hiatus, the LCC will present a mainstage production – the late Lisa Matsumoto’s pidgin English musical “Once Upon One Time” – in November.

Matsumoto’s popular musicals spotlight fractured fairy tale characters, set in the islands, speaking and singing the local lingo. The beloved characters include the Mean Mongoose, as well as the sacred storybook figures like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel, with island inflections and reinterpretations.

Lisa Matsumoto

And the Wicked Queen, a role originated and portrayed by Matsumoto in the early heyday of the genre, featured her words plus music by collaborator Roslyn Catracchia.

“Once Upon One Time” is part of a classic trilogy including “Once Upon One Noddah Time” “Happily Eva Afta.”

Playdates will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2, and  2 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3.

Auditions will be held in Leeward’s large dance studio from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 24 and 25, and from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Aug 29.

Callbacks will be from 6 to 10:30 Aug. 30 and rehearsals start Sept. 3 and continue from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, leading up to opening night.

To sign up for tryouts and time slots, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084DADA622ABF85-50535427-once#/

A tribute to Gabby Pahinui

Waikiki Beach Walk, in the heart of Waikiki, will present the return of Makalauna, a music festival and celebration honoring the late ki hoalu (slack key) virtuoso Gabby Pahinui (formal name, Charles Phillip Pahinui), from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza Stage.

Gabby Pahinui statue

A star-studded roster of slack key notables will perform and members of the Pahinui ‘ohana, including grandson, Kunia Galdeira, will be present.

Kimo Kahoanu will emcee.

The timetable:

4:30 to 5 p.m. – Protocol and opening ceremonial tribute, featuring Blaine Kia, cultural and entertainment director of Waikiki Beach Walk; hula by Hālau Ka Waikahe Lani Mālie and Hālau Kahulaliwai; lei-draping of Pahinui statue.

5 to 8 p.m., musical tributes by Bobby Moderow Jr., Del Beazley & Friends, Greg Sardinha & Friends;  jam session with Kunia Galdeira.

Admission is free…

The Lion remains king of the weekly Broadway grosses

 “The Lion King” still has the loudest roar in New York.

“Wicked” is No.2, “Hamilton” is No 3.  Both are long-running hits on the Great White Way. “Hell’s Kitchen” is struggling at No. 4 trying to elevate its stake, in the week ending Aug. 4.

The Top 10:

1—”The Lion King,” $2.379 million.

2—”Wicked,” $2.191 million.

3—”Hamilton,” $1.954 million.

4—”Hell’s Kitchen,” $1.604 million.

5—”Aladdin,” $1.547 million.

6—”Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” $1.508 million.

7—“The Outsiders,” $1.488 million.

8—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1.363 million

9—”MJ the Musical,” $1.353 million.

10—“The Wiz,” $1.311 million.

The complete list of Broadway shows, courtesy the Broadway League:

And that’s Show Biz…

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