James K. Seibel — a charismatic actor, singer and dancer who was a major presence in Hawaii theater in the 1980s and 1990s — died unexpectedly Monday in a Naples, Fla., hospital. A family spokeswoman said that he had been hospitalized for observation the previous evening. He was 58.
Born in Syracuse, N.Y., James Kevin Seibel came to Hawaii with his parents and two sisters in the mid-1970s shortly after he graduated from high school.
Kay Seibel remembers her son as a beautiful singer who lived for theater. "He was always in show business one way or another."
Jim Seibel’s contributions to theater in Hawaii ranged from community theater productions to opera, and darkly serious musicals to light comic roles.
Laurence Paxton, professor of voice at the University of Hawaii, remembered Seibel as "a triple talent because he could dance, sing and act. He introduced me to (Diamond Head Theatre) when I first moved here (in 1988), and then years later we worked together in one of my all-time favorite shows, ‘Jekyll & Hyde.’"
Isabelle Decauwert, who starred opposite Paxton in that production of "Jekyll & Hyde," described Seibel as "one of the best actors around."
Seibel excelled at comic roles like the one created for him in Diamond Head Theatre’s seasonal production of "Scrooge" in the early 1990s. He was also a talented director who received a Po‘okela Award from the Hawaii State Theatre Council in 1997 for his direction of DHT’s production of "Little Shop of Horrors."
Actor-director Dennis Proulx recalled Seibel as "one of the finest entertainers I have ever known, and at the same time the most fun to be around."
Friston Ho‘okano, another Hawaii stage veteran, remembered Seibel as "a strong actor and singer (who) often helped with our musicals as vocal coach at DHT back in the ’90s until he left to do ‘Les Miz’ on tour."
"Seibel meant the world to me," Jamie Pestana said via Facebook from New York. "He really was a force of nature who encouraged me and believed in me."
Melina Lillios said, "He was a joy to work with and so much fun to have in an audience when you were performing. His raucous laughter could always be heard from wherever he was."
Seibel left Hawaii for Seattle in 2001. He moved to Florida several years ago to be closer to his mother.
"He moved to Florida to take care of her," DHT costume designer Karen Wolfe said. "His whole joke was when (his parents) go we’re all going on a cruise."
In addition to his mother, Seibel is survived by a sister, Linda Seibel. Funeral arrangements and plans for a celebration of life are pending.
