Posted on: Thursday, November 4, 2004
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SHOW BIZ
Fresh from Broadway, Castle grad to kokua with Islands' 'Aida' debut
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
CASTING CALL: Mahiai Kekumu, a Castle High School grad who was in the ensemble of "Aida" at the time of its Broadway closing a few weeks back, will be in the Islands in December to huddle with Saint Louis School drama director Kyle Kakuno and cast of the first Island production of the Elton John-Tim Rice Tony Award-winning musical beginning March 4 at Mamiya Theatre.
Because "Aida" replaces "Sweet Charity," Kakuno is holding additional tryouts for female roles from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 11 at Mamiya. "We are looking for both lead and ensemble roles," he said, expecting to draw performers who earlier passed on "Charity."
Kekumu will share insights but cannot commit to a choreographer's slot because he's up for a role in the touring production of "Wicked."
Meanwhile, the cast has begun dance classes with R'yn Sabado, the localite who has performed with stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears. For audition information, call Kakuno at 739-4886. ... WHEE, THE PEOPLE: After her Blaisdell Arena concert Saturday, Hilary Duff was in the audience at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental's Veranda Lounge, (Michelle Wie peeked in from the outside), soaking up jazz. John Kolivas (bass) joined Betty Loo Taylor (keyboards) and Stacy Tangonon (drums), backing singer Loretta Ables Sayre. ... Kolivas and his Honolulu Jazz Quartet will be at Donato's Saturday; he then journeys to Guam for Lea Salonga's rescheduled shows (he was in Salonga's orchestra in her Maui and Honolulu concerts) and made time to record with Keola Beamer on the latter's new CD. ... Singer Nina Keali'iwahamana joins the Royal Hawaiian Band at the "Light Up the Hawai'i" celebration tomorrow, when the downtown Hawai'i Theatre marquee and vertical sign will be formally "lit" — something theater honcho Burton White is glowing about. Then on Saturday, Keali'iwahamana performs (along with pianist Mahi Beamer and others), at the Parents and Children Together fund-raiser, "Starlight and Slippahs," at La Pietra. ... HERE 'N' THERE: Whoa! That was Jake Shimabukuro astride a Parker Ranch mount on the Big Island recently. All in a day's work, pardner. Shimabukuro was working on a Hawai'i Tourism Japan video to promote the Islands to Nippon audiences. ... That was quite a celebration at Army Community Theatre's "The King and I" rehearsal at Richardson Theatre last week. It was Anna's birthday — well, KHON-2 reporter Tina Shelton's (she is the teacher) — so Ray "The King" Bumatai and his real-life wife, Karen, brought champagne to complement the Halloween cupcakes Shelton made for keiki in the cast. ... John Langan and his Compadres crew have been operating a taqueria at Aloha Stadium for years, but it took the taco-eating contest at the University of Hawai'i-San Jose State game to put the stand on the map. Now a chingalinga-eating contest is set for Saturday's Louisiana Tech game. ... PARADISE LOST: In this week's People magazine, Matthew Fox, the fox on ABC's "Lost," is profiled, and there's a revealing comment from co-star Evangeline Lilly, who says of Fox: "He is notorious for taking his clothes off and running around naked, usually around bodies of water. He'll skinny-dip at any moment with anyone." ... And in last week's People, Triathlon participant Ryan Sutter, the hunk who was chosen by (and who wed) ABC's "Bachelorette" Trista Rehn, was pictured on the Big Island. The couple even had time to spell out "T+R= ♥" in coral (against the lava rocks), which still is the vogue between Waikoloa and Kailua-Kona. ... COMEDY CAPERS: Frank DeLima is Las Vegas-bound, performing at 8 p.m. Saturday at the California Hotel; call (702) 385-1222. He then journeys to the Normandie Casino near Torrance, Calif., for shows at 9 p.m. Nov. 12 and 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 13; call (310) 352-3431. He returns to the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel on Nov. 26; call 923-7469. A Comedy Triple-header (Andy Bumatai, Paul Ogata and Kaleo Pilanca) shares the Palace tomorrow night, Rufus on Saturday. ... And that's Show Biz. ...
Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays; reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067, or fax 525-8055.
