Branching out on stage as Roxie
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Tani Lynn Fujimoto, who turns 16 on March 19, is playing the Roxie Hart role in the Saint Louis Drama Players' production of the Tony- and Oscar-winning musical.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I just wanted to be in the show, after seeing the movie," said the Sacred Hearts Academy sophomore who's a community player in show business here — a talent contest winner ("Destination Stardom"), a recording artist in both pop and Christian realms, and a familiar television face, particularly on Tiny Tadani's OC 16 shows.
Tani Lynn Fujimoto, who plays Roxie Hart in the Saint Louis Drama Players' production of "Chicago," gets a lift from Hoku Cortez, Andrew Shriver, Christopher Yeh, Braden Iwami and Marshall Machado.
"First I wanted to play Velma
Kelley, then Roxie. Ultimately, I'm just happy to be part of the cast."
Why the stage?
"I want to be proficient in acting," she said. "And this gives me a chance to play dress-up and fulfill a fantasy — you know, exploring a different part of you that you don't get to do every day."
OK, so her character (portrayed by Renee Zellweger in the film) is a murderess, who pulls a gun on her husband when she finds him cheating. She lands in jail alongside Velma (played by Kamehameha junior Nicole Passas) and then winds up grabbing for the headlines.
'Chicago'
Hey, these are murdering times in that toddling town that Frank Sinatra sang so endearingly about, remember?
Fujimoto particularly adores her Roxie monologue about her life in the press.
"She wants to be a star," she said.
Doesn't everybody?
The production, directed by Kyle Kakuno, also features John Long (a Saint Louis senior) as Billy Flynn, the lawyer.
"The great thing about doing the show is meeting a lot of people," said Fujimoto. Besides Saint Louis gents, students from Castle, Iolani, Kaiser, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific Institute, La Pietra, Punahou and Roosevelt also are participating.
Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.
