3 Hawaii actresses have Big Apple gigs this month

Three islanders are popping up in Broadway-related gigs in New York this month:

A STAGE FIRST

Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of “Moana” in the hit Disney musical film, will rub elbows with some of Broadway’s finest in Opening Act’s 11th annual benefit play reading one-nighter April 25 at New World Stages.

Opening Act provides after-school theatrical treats for underserved public high schools. This will mark the Kamehameha Schools student’s first time on an off-Broadway stage.

Other participants: Uzo Aduba from “Orange Is the New Black” and Christopher Jackson from “Hamilton.” Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun,” TV’s “Hairspray Live”), who just was saluted with the Mr. Abbott Award (named after the late George Abbott), will direct works by such playwrights as Katori Hall (“The Mountaintop”) and Ike Holter (“Hit the Wall”).

BROADWAY DETOUR

As mentioned here earlier, Loretta Ables Sayre, the Tony-nominated stage actress in “South Pacific,” now is rehearsing in Connecticut to take on the role of Mrs. Meers in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which opens May 10 at the Goodspeed Theatre. But she had a quick detour to New York at the invitation of Ted Chapin, president of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Co. (formerly the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization), who tapped Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary in the R&H musical hit at Lincoln Center several years ago) in a program about Richard Rodgers and the art of collaboration at Symphony Space in Manhattan.

“He wanted me to be his surprise guest artist, and our (“Millie”) director Denis Jones and the Goodspeed agreed to give me time to participate,” said Ables Sayre via email. “It was a thrill to be part of it. It was old home week and a reunion, and it just made my heart full.”

David Sayre, the actress-singer’s husband, provided an orchid lei from Hawaii to present to Chapin. The gig enabled Ables Sayre to work with Andy Einhorn, who is musical conductor for Bette Midler’s “Hello, Dolly,” now in previews, and Sarna Lapine, director Bartlett Sher’s assistant director in “South Pacific,” who currently is directing “Sunday in the Park With George,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal. (Also in the “Sunday” cast: Hawaii’s Ruthie Ann Miles, a Tony winner for featured actress in a musical for “The King and I.”)

PACIFIC REVIVAL

Islander Ann Harada, a Punahou alumna and a vet of such shows as “Avenue Q,” “Les Miserables” and “Cinderella,” is in the cast of Classic State Co.’s off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s “Pacific Overtures,” playing through May 27 at CSC. The production, featuring George Takei (“Allegiance”) as the Reciter, incorporates traditional Noh and Kabuki stage elements, under the direction of John Doyle.

HERE ‘N’ THERE

Dennis Callan, creator of “World Traveler,” his ‘Olelo travel program, is marking his 28th season this year. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. the first Monday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Channel 53. He’s taking a breather this year, editing videos.

Go see Diamond Head Theatre’s “Evita,” if you can score tickets. Loved it, so returning Friday.

And that’s “Show Biz.”

Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.