On Monday — her night off from her starring role in the Broadway production of “Hello, Dolly!” — Tony winner Bette Midler will stage her annual Halloween extravaganza, “Hulaween,” at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where a glamorous garden will be converted into a haven of devilish delights.
It’s a fundraiser for the Divine Miss M’s pet nonprofit, the New York Restoration Project. She founded the organization in 1995 to restore or secure green spaces in all New York’s boroughs.
Rock icon Jon Bon Jovi and friends will provide an acoustic set amid the vaulted Gothic architecture of the cathedral.
AN ‘ETERNITY’ MUSICAL
Island singer-actress Tricia Marciel has delayed her return home, after nine months of shows aboard the Crown Princess, because she’s been performing in a new musical, “From Here to Eternity,” which closes tonight at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. The production, directed by Kailua-born Brock Smock, has eyes on a future Broadway bow, despite mixed reviews.
“Brett doesn’t have any theatrical credits in Hawaii other than coming last December for the Pearl Harbor 75th anniversary performances that we were all part of,” said Marciel in an email. Smock became an “Eternity” collaborator after he saw the production in London’s West End.
The musical, which boasts music and lyrics by Stuart Brayson and Tim Rice and a book by Bill Oakes, is not adapted from the Hawaii-shot film or the novel by James Jones. It does feature island scenes, with GIs and showgirls a-plenty.
NAMES ’N’ PLACES
Just out, “The Best of Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole” compiles the indelible and immortal Bruddah IZ hits, including “Over the Rainbow,” “What a Wonderful World,” “White Sandy Beach” and “Kamalani.” Santa surely will be delivering this CD in huge numbers this holiday season. …
Gail Mack and Gordon Kim, two-thirds of the original George Street Group, will launch their “To a Gentler Time” CD at a release party from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at The Mixx Bar & Grill, 436 Piikoi St. The acoustic release — two voices, plus Kim’s guitar — reflects cozy and gentler times, with intimate moments of joy and pain. Though not now on the circuit, they keep the flames glowing. …
Despite online reports that Jason Momoa, the soon-to-be cinematic Aquaman, and Lisa Bonet were married in 2007, the couple held a wedding celebration and repeated vows at their Los Angeles home earlier this month amid 350 celebrants. “Game of Thrones” troupers (Momoa played Khal Drogo) were there, along with island pals Takeo Kobayashi, Eric Chandler and Marian Morrison. …
Margaret Doversola (“Hawaii Five-0,” “Magnum P.I.,” “Lost,” etc.) suffered a stroke last week and was at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center before moving to a rehab facility. …
CABARET, OL’ CHUM
Kathleen Stuart’s “First You Dream” cabaret show, staged Oct. 21 at Medici’s in Manoa Marketplace as a benefit for the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation, was precisely the kind of show a New York actor (which she is) does when not in a book musical.
Stuart starred as Anna Leonowens in “The King and I” at Paliku Theatre this fall, and she shared her New York chops — with powerful material, from a Big Apple perspective — with ease and confidence before an audience of devotees, family and friends of the late Ronald Bright, her mentor, who inspired her to follow a theatrical path.
With assistance from Miguel Cadoy III, Jana Anguay Alcain and Mary Chesnut Hicks, Stuart bowled ’em over with her songs and stories. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
