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New Hope Oahu’s "Les Miserables," the Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg classic starring pastor Wayne Cordeiro as Jean Valjean, is a hot ticket — and pretty much a secret, unless you’re a New Hope insider.
New Hope’s Youth Performing Arts Center, directed by Dane Ison and conducted by Fred Alcain, has tackled the musical, and it’s the right show for the right group in the right environment at the right moment. Under a thematic canopy of faith and belief in God, the musical embraces issues of sin, forgiveness, redemption, freedom and hope. "Les Miz" channels a powerful message and soars thanks to a splendid cast.
Noni Slade is Inspector Javert, Melodie Zepeda is Fantine, Christina Brown is Cosette, Christopher Kiriakos is Marius, Paul Brown is Enjolras, Craig Shimizu is Thenardier, Kau‘ionalani Mead is Madame Thenardier, Rhye Ruperti is Gavroche and McKenzine Kurosu is Young Cosette. Not your usual theatrical names, but you’ll truly hear the people sing and ring out the virtues that make "Les Miz" the phenom that it is — equal parts theater and worship, equal measure of morality and history, set against the French Revolution.
With the new "Les Miz" still on Broadway, it’s an easier trek to New Hope’s auditorium at 290 Sand Island Access Road — if you can score tickets. Remaining performances are 4 p.m. Sunday and June 22, and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets: www.enewhope.org/lesmis.…
BEAUTY ON TOUR: Local boy Joshua Smith, a 2013 Punahou grad who just completed his freshman year at Pace University en route to a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater, will play an acrobat and understudy for LeFou, Gaston’s sidekick, in NETwork’s touring production of Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast."
His is a tale as old as time: He auditioned in February and had months of callbacks. Rehearsals start in August in New York, and the tour begins in October in Instanbul with treks to Abu Dhabi, Manila and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Smith will participate in his voice teacher Kristian Lei‘s 10th-anniversary production of Honolulu Broadway Babies’ "AWOL: Art Without Limits," Aug. 21, 22 and 23 at Leeward Community College Theatre. Tickets: $40, $50 and $60, on sale July 9 at www.honolulubroadwaybabies.com or call 783-2296. …
KOKUA TIME: Broadway and opera star Willy Falk, who was voice coach Neva Rego‘s first student, has set up a crowd-sourcing Web page, www.gofundme.com/WeLoveAuntieNeva,to support Auntie Neva.
If you recall, she was hospitalized March 17 after what was supposed to be a simple procedure turned into a traumatic three-month stay. She was to be transferred to a rehab facility to continue her recovery as bills mount and her strength and confidence have waned. She now is breathing on her own, can speak and "was able to swallow food for the first time in 75 days," Falk said in a website posting.
For her upcoming birthday Saturday, Falk — who originated the Chris role in Broadway’s "Miss Saigon" — has spearheaded the group gift to reboot Auntie Neva’s spirits and fund future home-care needs;$20,000 has been donated, still short of the $25,000 goal. …
DATEBOOK: "Jeff Peterson & Friends, Hana Hou!" — a fundraiser for Hawaii Public Radio — will be held at 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College.
Raiatea Helm, Cyril Pahinui and John Kolivas will join the bash. Tickets: hprtickets.org or 955-8821. …
CONDOLENCES: Sylvia Wild, unofficial cheerleader for the group Seawind, died recently in Woodland Hills, Calif., at 93. Her musician sons, Ken andDavid Wild, were by her side, according to Pauline Wilson, for many years the voice of the jazz band."Sylvia was the hanai mom for the whole band," said Wilson.
Son Ken will bring Sylvia’s ashes home for burial services at Punchbowl’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at 3 p.m. Wednesday. …
And that’s"Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
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