Two island singer-actresses will be prepping to portray Bloody Mary in separate tours of "South Pacific" this summer.
Loretta Ables-Sayre will re-create the Bloody Mary character, which earned her a Tony nomination (best supporting actress in a musical), in the European equity production of "South Pacific," opening Aug. 15 for a run through Oct. 1 at the Barbican Theatre in London. She left Wednesday for rehearsals; her adventure includes a European tour, plus a likely return to the U.K. for the holidays. "When am I going to get the opportunity to spend Christmas in the land of Dickens again?" said Ables-Sayre. …
Cathy Foy-Mahi, a familiar voice in Hawaii community theater, will play Bloody Mary in the nonequity second national tour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein evergreen, opening a two-week engagement Sept. 27 at the Boston Opera House. She leaves Aug. 20 for rehearsals in New York; she’s signed for three months, with a holiday break, plus a three-month tour next year. "It’s exciting to join the tour and carry on the Hawaii tradition of my friend Loretta. I’ll do the best I can to make Hawaii proud," said Foy-Mahi, the 1975 Miss Hawaii. …
CASTINGS: Miles Welsey will be the Phantom, Lydia Pusateri his Christine, when Windward Community College presents the Andrew Lloyd-Webber smash at Paliku Theatre beginning Sept. 9. Paliku manager Tom Holowach and director Ron Bright also announced this cast list: Kyle Malis, Raoul; Jaime Craycroft, Carlotta; Johnny Reed, Piangi; Doug Scheer, Firmin; Leonard Villanueva, Andre; Marlise Ahuna, Madame Giry; and Madison Ero, Meg. Hear "The Music of the Night" from Sept. 9 to Oct. 9. Call 235-7310 or go to www.etickethawaii.com. …
Dancer Ian Navasca, 17, known as Kid Robot with Honolulu’s the Hype, is rehearsing in Las Vegas for a spot in "Jabbawockeez" at the Monte Carlo. Before leaving Wednesday, he joined his Hypersquad Dance Company at a "Perry & Price Show" at Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber to promote the group’s Saturday concert at McKinley High School. Julian Hott, son of STAR 101.9’s Hudson and rocker hubby Steve Hott, was among the Hypers. …
THE BUZZ: Melveen Leed is altar-bound again, according to her Facebook posting: "OK, OK … cat’s out of the bag. Yes, I am ‘engaged’ to a wonderful neighbor of mine from Halawa Housing days when I was 15. He’s a keeper and I am the happiest (that I’ve) ever been. Finally, a man who says: ‘My full-time job is taking care of Melveenand making her happy with unconditional love.’ And that he is! God sent him to me, I know. Just be happy for me, please." …
Tony and Karen Ruivivar marked their 45th wedding anniversary here while he performed with his classic Society of Seven and Martin Nievera at the Outrigger Waikiki Showroom. They also had a pre-performance dinner at Hy’s Steak House, where singer-composer Audy Kimura quipped, "I don’t know how Tony can eat a big dinner, then sing." …
Composer Mike Post ("MacGyver," "Magnum, P.I.," "Hill Street Blues," "Law & Order") visited Kimura, chatting about recording industry technology, and Asia Billboard’s bureau chief Rob Schwartz dropped in, encouraging Kimura to do more Japan projects. …
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.
