Actor Sunny Sorrels made his mark on Hawaii theater

Sunny Sorrels, who lived and breathed theater here and in Portland, Ore., Mexico and Sacramento, Calif., died Jan. 21 at age 70. He logged a tidy parcel of works and characterizations, the most applauded in Honolulu being a production of "La Cage Aux Folles," in which he played Albin, the feathered and sequined gay entertainer in the Tony Award-winning musical. He also was Captain Hook in "Peter Pan," Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and Frankenstein in a ballet production. At the height of Tom Selleck‘s popularity in "Magnum P.I.,"Sorrels beat him out as actor of the year in a Honolulu magazine poll.

Sorrels, originally from Portland, died of cancer in Sacramento, his last stop in a journey that took him from Nepal and Thailand to the Hawaii island forests. When he learned months ago that his cancer had metastasized, he embarked on an in-depth study program, reading extensive volumes on near-death experiences and the afterlife, along with a demanding anti-cancer program.

He was cremated; details are pending on where and when his ashes will be scattered. …

ANOTHER PASSING: Rose Freeman, widow of the original "Hawaii Five-0" creator and producer LeonardFreeman, died March 4 in Santa Monica at age 83. She was the devoted guardian angel of the "Five-0" brand following her husband’s 1974 death and was a booster of the original Jack Lord-era show that ran for 12 years and the Alex O’Loughlinreboot. "My mother made sure that the show would be watched over," said Lisa Freeman, one of three surviving daughters. "So she has kept the legacy alive; my father’s creativity goes on and on because of her."

Two days before her death, Rose Freeman called Peter Lenkov, the current producer. "She told him how much she loved him, how proud she was of my father’s show," said Lisa Freeman. …

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Entertainer Matt Yee, in town to charge his batteries, is gearing up for his first-ever New York gig, "Matt Yee’s Outrageous Adult Sing Along Show," March 25 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd Street. If you’ll be in the area, admission is $20 in advance, plus a $15 food/drink minimum.Go to www.brownpapertickets.com. …

Honolulu-born Cheesa Laureta, making strides as a Team Cee Lo Green member on NBC’s "The Voice," now lives in Los Angeles but is proud to call Hawaii home. She is a former voice student of William Daquioag (the ex-Society of Seven LV member), eager to launch a singing career. …

Rick Quan, former KITV sports anchor, got caught in the Jeremy Lin-sanity. He earlier filed storieswhen the hoopster was with the Golden State Warriors. "Being one of the few, and I believe, first Asian television sportscasters in the country, CNN asked me to write an opinion piece on how race is part of the Jeremy Lin story," Quan said in an email. "I guess they liked it because I was interviewed by CNN’s Brooke Baldwin about the ESPN ‘Chink in the armor’ headline." Quan left the islands in 1987. …

STANDING PAT: Continuing a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, keyboarder Don Conover will stage two St. Patrick’s Day shows on Saturday. The first will be from noon to 4 p.m.at the Waikiki Elks Club, where he’ll share Irish folk songs and bawdy tunes in his green-beard regalia, complete with song sheets for sing-along mayhem. Drummer Billy O’Wiley will join in on original odes and lusty limericks. Because the Elks is a private club, show-goers must be "sponsored" by a member; for info, email donconoverhawaii@earthlink.net. …

Conover then moves to the new gay club, Bacchus Waikiki (408 Lewers St.), from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The site hosts monthly guest acts; Shari Lynn was there in February and returns in April. …

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.