It’s a whole new world for island actor Jonah Ho‘okano, who’ll assume the role of Aladdin in "Disney’s Aladdin — a Musical Spectacular" at the California Adventure theme park this spring.
He played Melchior in Manoa Valley Theatre’s hit "Spring Awakening" a year ago and Victor Von Frankenstein in "Young Frankenstein" last fall.
He was set to be in "Next to Normal," opening March 7 at MVT, but bowed out because he auditioned for and wound up with the title role in the Disney spectacle, which plays four times a day at the Hyperion Theater at the Anaheim park.
Ho‘okano, a Kamehameha grad, will find his life beyond normal. And it must be kismet that he got the part, since Aladdin is his favorite film and character.
Meanwhile, Kyle Malis has taken on Gabe, the part that Ho‘okano was to play, in the new Tony-winning musical that’s not widely known to audiences, but is loaded with fine voices, surprise twists and lovely music. Anticipate a buzz about "Normal" in the weeks ahead.
The Anaheim hop might be a steppingstone to Ho‘okano’s dreams of Broadway. After years of anticipation and denials, Disney finally is mounting a full-on "Aladdin" musical that opens in spring 2014 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, since "Mary Poppins" winds up its run March 3. Could be the next chapter of the local boy’s odyssey to fame. …
WHOLE NEW LIFESTYLE: Broadway performer Mary Gutzi has a new role, and it’s not on stage. "I am now a marriage license agent," she said, running an office at the Sheraton Waikiki to help visitors who want to tie the knot here. Couples can secure an application at emrs.ehawaii.gov, provide a valid ID and pay with a credit card, avoiding the customary lines at the Health Department in a vetting process that shouldn’t exceed 15 minutes. "I’m always looking to do something here, and it won’t distract me from my (performing) career," said Gutzi, who’s performed in her share of shows such as "Sunset Boulevard," "Cats" and "Show Boat." You may call her at the Sheraton at 931-8349. …
CONDOLENCES: As I reported in my blog a few days back, actor Kevin Gray, who portrayed Scar in Disney’s "The Lion King," died Feb. 11 in his native Connecticut. He suffered a massive heart attack, moments after he finished shoveling mounting snow at his home following that recent East Coast blizzard. Gray, a nice guy offstage, had played numerous iconic stage roles, such as the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera," the Engineer in "Miss Saigon" and the King in "The King and I." Theater was his love and life; he leaves behind his wife, Dodie Pettit, whom he met when he was the Phantom and she played the Ballerina. …
AROUND TOWN: Playwright Daniel Akiyama has been in town for his stellar sellout "A Cage of Fireflies" at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Extended dates are 8 p.m. Feb. 28, March 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. March 3. With director Phyllis Look, the play was developed at Sundance. …
"Hold These Truths," starring Joel de la Fuente (yep, he was on last week’s "Hawaii Five-0"), opens Thursday (through March 2) at Honolulu Theatre for Youth, in a partnership with producer Daniel Dae Kim (Chin Ho Kelly on "Five-0").De la Fuente stars in the one-man show about Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese internment activist. …
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.
