Bette Midler, the Divine Miss M, is returning to Broadway for the first time in more than three decades.
The Hawaii native will replant her larger-than-life imprint on the Great White Way in a one-woman play titled "I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers."
The work, by Tony-winning author John Logan, is based on the life of the late Hollywood superagent, who died in 2011 after a colorful and impressive career in a genre dominated by males. Mengers’ clients included such luminaries as Barbra Streisand, Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.
The show will open April 24 at a Shubert theater to be determined. The director of the production will be Tony-winning Joe Mantello.
Midler, of course, ignited her career after leaving Hawaii and heading for New York, where she sang in gay bars while building her brand as an over-the-top singer-actress with flair to spare and gags by the bagful. She made her Broadway debut in "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1996 but became a superstar with her vocal and comedic antics in "Clams on the Half Shell," prompting an enviable run as a recording star ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "The Rose," "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "From a Distance")and Las Vegas headliner ("The Showgirl Must Go On") at Caesars Palace. Her film conquests include "The Rose," for which she was nominated for a best-actress Oscar, "Beaches" and "First Wives Club."
Her latest film outing, now in theaters, is "Parental Guidance" with Billy Crystal.
Screenwriter Logan, who scripted the latest James Bond blockbuster, "Skyfall," envisioned Midler while writing the stage script.
Mantello, an actor-director, won a Drama Desk award for his role in "Angels in America" and directed a clutch of Broadway hits including "The Normal Heart," winning Tonys for direction of "Wicked," "Assassins" and "Take Me Out." …
UKULELE TALK: Roy Sakuma and his ukulele students are excited about the prospect of performing with Train in the pregame entertainment at the Jan. 27 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Sakuma said 300 youngsters plus 150 teens and adults are practicing the uke segment to support the group on its "Hey Soul Sister" hit, which will be part of a medley of Train tunes. The Pro Bowl is attiring the troupers in aloha shirts and also providing game tickets. Train, of course, splendidly showcases the uke, played by Jimmy Stafford, on the hit song. …
HANA HOU:"Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite — Legacy Edition," an expanded and remastered version of RCA Records’ 1973 album based on the first global satellite concert by Elvis Presley, will be released March 19 to further mark the 40th anniversary of the historic TV moment.
The concert film, of course, will be shown Monday night at Blaisdell Arena, the site of the original show. Tickets are $35 at Ticketmaster and the Blaisdell box office.
The new two-disc CD will incorporate "The Alternate Aloha," a rehearsal performance recorded as a backup to the actual show, withfive additional tunes by "The King." …
NAMES ‘N’ PLACES: Team Equus, the Equus Hotel’s polo team led by the hotel’s GM and longtime kamaaina polo leader Mike Dailey, saddled up during the holidays to host the first family on a spectacular ride along Mokuleia Beach during their Kailua vacation.Although President Barack Obama missed the outing to tend to fiscal cliff issues in Washington (he later resumed his vacation),first lady Michelle and first daughters Sasha and Malia enjoyed the excursion. The Dailey ohana has hosted the Obamas on a Christmas trail ride for the past three years.Mike’s parents ran the old Waikikian Hotel and were patrons of Hawaii’s polo community. …
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.
