What's Up
Advertiser Staff
CLUBS: JAN. 3
Drum-n-bass pioneers Ed Rush & Optical headline a night of hip-hop, house, breaks, trance, techno, hardcore and more — and, of course, drum-n-bass — at Pipeline. More than a dozen local DJs and MCs, including Creed Chameleon, Ramyt, 45Revolver, P.S.I., Jamz and Toki, will take part. Ed Rush & Optical celebrating the their latest release, "Travel the Galaxy," due in March.
10 p.m.-4 a.m. Jan. 3 / Pipeline Cafe / $20 general, $15 advance / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
STAGE: JAN. 8-FEB. 8
It's the 1980s at the University of Kansas, and cultures are about to clash as a third-generation Japanese American from Hawai'i, a Taiwanese, a Midwesterner and a Japanese national try to overcome language and other barriers. This is "Mainland Education," by Scot Izuka, and it's a world premiere at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Kathy Hunter and Julia Nakamoto, below, are among the cast. James Nakamoto directs.
Premieres at 8 p.m. Jan. 8, continuing at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 8 / Kumu Kahua Theatre / $5-$16 / 536-4441, www.KumuKahua.org
CONCERTS: JAN. 8, 11
Roots rock reggae band SOJA, the Soldiers of Jah Army, returns to the Islands for two performances. Their first stop will be in Honolulu, with Natural Vibrations, Konfrontation and Pacific Sounds Outernational. Then they head for an all-ages show on Kaua'i. The band recently released its "Live in Hawaii" DVD, which was filmed during its 2008 tour, and is currently working on another album.
STAGE: JAN. 14-FEB. 1
A musical within a musical, "Gutenberg! The Musical!" opens the new year at the Manoa Valley Theatre. The two-man show is performed as a backer's audition, and follows Bud and Doug, aspiring playwrights, authors of a musical about Johannes Gutenberg, which they pitch to producers in hopes of making it to Broadway. Above, from left, Elitei Tatafu Jr. is Bud; Tony Young is Doug. Rob Duval is the guest director.
Premieres at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14; repeats 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 1 / Manoa Valley Theatre / $35 general, $30 seniors and military, $20 for those 25 and younger / 988-6131, www.manoavalleytheatre.com
CONCERTS: JAN. 16, 17
Punk rock band NOFX drops in for shows in Honolulu and on Maui. The band celebrated its 25th anniversary this year; its current lineup includes founding members guitarist Eric Melvin, bassist/vocalist Fat Mike, drummer Erik Sandin and guitarist El Jefe, who joined the group in 1991. NOFX's next album is due next year.
STAGE: JAN. 16-18
The circus is coming to town — the New Shanghai Circus, that is, for three breathtaking performances at the Hawai'i Theatre. The troupe, touring since 1991, showcases feats of strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, contortion and magic. The New Shanghai Circus was mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning more national medals than any other acrobatic troupe in the world.
7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17-18 / Hawai'i Theatre / $22.50, $27.50, $37.50 / 528-0506
CONCERT: JAN. 17
Island fave Kalapana, whose hits include "The Hurt," "Nightbird," "You Make It Hard" and "Naturally," will perform a benefit concert to help send the Saint Louis Center for the Arts' production of "Rent: School Edition" to the 15th annual American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburg, Scotland, part of the prestigious Fringe Festival, in the summer. Kalapana recently released the disc "Many Classics: Kalapana Plays Their Best."
8 p.m. Jan. 17 / Mamiya Theatre / $95, $125, $150 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
CONCERT: JAN. 17
Gloria Estefan, five-time Grammy Award winner and recently named the "Person of the Year" by the Latin Grammy Award Recording Association, returns to Honolulu for a concert. Expect to hear hits from her days with Miami Sound Machine and her solo career, including "Conga," "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and "Anything For You." Estefan is celebrating her 25th year in show biz.
8 p.m. Jan. 17 / Blaisdell Arena / $65, $85, $100 general; $125 VIP golden circle tickets / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
COMEDY: JAN. 17-18
Nick Swardson brings his brand of comedy to Honolulu for a two-night stand. Swardson also is an actor, with roles in films including "Grandma's Boy" (right, with Shirley Jones), "Malibu's Most Wanted," "The Benchwarmers," "Blades of Glory," "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" and "House Bunny." He has appeared on numerous TV comedy specials and has a recurring role as Terry Bernardino, the rollerskating homosexual prostitute, on "Reno 911!"
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Jan. 17-18 / Pipeline Cafe / $35 general, $50 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com
STAGE: JAN. 21-25
The Tony and Olivier award-winning "Translations," by renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, takes the stage at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. It's the story of a small Irish village in the 1830s, and the effects of the British imposing their language on the residents. It's a Hawai'i premiere, directed by professor of theater Lurana Donnels O'Malley. The cast includes Brad Larson as Manus, and Eleanor Svaton as Sarah.
8 p.m. Jan. 21-24, 2 p.m. Jan. 25 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre, University of Hawai'i-Manoa / Tickets — $14 general, $12 UH faculty and staff, seniors, military, $10 students, $5 UHM students — go on sale Jan. 14 / 483-7123, www.etickethawaii.com
