SHOW BIZ
'Footloose' composer stepping up the pace
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
'FOOT' NOTES: Composer Dean Pitchford, the center of attention at St. Louis School's benefit premiere of his "Footloose" musical last week at the Mamiya Theatre, has plenty on his plate in the months ahead.
Pitchford gave his alma mater the green light to present a high school world premiere while road companies still are touring — a rarity and an honor. Though secondary characters such as Sheldon Cadoy as Will and Brendan Hanohano as the Rev. Moore have the best moments vocally, leads Guy Rodrigues as Ren and Camissa Hill as Ariel have youthful spark and chemistry, which is precisely what Pitchford had in mind in creating the musical. "It's now where I wanted it to be in the first place — a high school stage property, performed by high schoolers," said Pitchford. The premiere was emotional, since the evening was dedicated to the memory of Pitchford's sister, Patricia Pitchford Colodner, a victim in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack.
Pitchford will be heading to Sydney shortly, where rehearsals begin for an international tour. "Footloose," based on the film, earlier was a hit in Tokyo, where it will reopen later this year.
He has more news, too: After Barbra Streisand sang a Christmas song Pitchford co-wrote with Tom Snow for a holiday CD, Pitchford had pitches from Johnny Mathis to write and record one for Mathis' new holiday collection. And "I Sing the Body Electric," a song from the "Fame" movie musical which Pitchford and Michael Gore worked on together, has been recorded as the first single on LL Cool J's new CD. ...
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NAMES 'N' FACES: Bruce Willis, head shaved, has been working out at Gold's Gym in Kaka'ako, keeping ship-shape for his movie, "The Untitled Fuqua Project (aka "The Bruce Willis Project" and "Man of War"), which begins filming here March 25 ...
Dan Meisenzahl, KITV-4 sports anchor, and wife Su Shin, formerly of KHNL-8 and now a publicist with Joan Bennet, are expecting their second child ...
Former chart-toppers/grunge-rockers Dishwalla showed up one Friday night at Kimo's in Lahaina and performed for hundreds of fans and for TV crews taping "Midnight With Rolling Stone." It was an unplugged performance by the band, featuring signature songs and music from an upcoming CD ...
Charlotte Kandel, the retired worldwide publicity head for Warner Bros., can't seem to get enough of Ed Wary's restaurants. She dined with husband Stanley at Auntie Pasto's, as mentioned here earlier, but also ate at Wary's Dixie Grill. She continues to support local organizations; as a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she's donating film scripts for "Shrek," "Monster's Ball," "Gosford Park," "In the Bedroom" and more to the Hawai'i Theatre for a "Starlite Club" silent auction and gala April 26 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental ...
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CLOTHES ENCOUNTER: The yukata happi coat worn by Frank DeLima in his Noodle Shop Days show bears the crest of retired sumotori Takamiyama (Jesse Kuhaulua), who give the comedian the fabric during a Japan visit ... Renee Jensen-Olivera, daughter of entertainer Dick Jensen and owner with husband and business partner Rick Olivera of Sanctuary Salon, will stage the last of three "History of Lingerie" shows Saturday at Wave Waikiki. For details, call the Salon at 735-4247 ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Reach Wayne Harada by e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
