Patrons of the arts, news junkies and people who enjoy mocking people in high places have something to look forward to this summer: The Gridiron show is back after a one-year hiatus.
The Gridiron has, as always, taken note of news events and pop culture in its title for this year’s production: "#SequesterThis."
Social media users call the pound sign a hashtag, and it is used to set something apart. If a word, name or phrase with a hashtag gets used enough, it shows up as "trending," which means uku-billion people are talking about it, thinking about it and, in many cases, mocking it.
But back to the news-mockers, many of whom you normally see reporting on the newsmakers featured in Gridiron parody sketches.
While the final show rundown is top-secret and tightly kept by Gridiron artistic directors Robbie Dingeman and Keoki Kerr and other high-level production staff, it is safe to say that the University of Hawaii will be featured in some way for its numerous appearances as the top story du jour; that turmoil in Hawaii’s Democratic Party following the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye might just get a mention or two; and along the same lines, local lawmakers’ antics will receive a spotlight in true Gridiron fashion.
There could very well be a number or two relating to not one, but two billionaires who have spent tons of money on Hawaii real estate, and more. Their actual names rhyme with Enshiro Lawamoto and Garry Kellison.
There is no guarantee the following paragraph will be true about the actual show, but during the aforementioned secret sessions to rate proposed material, several parody songs were written to the melodies of Broadway show tunes — no surprise there.
But there also were sendups written to Hawaiian melodies, hip-hop songs, 1970s-era rock ‘n’ roll and pop tunes from yesteryear (yes, to people of a certain age, this is beginning to sound like a K-tel commercial). At least three of the parodies were written to disco songs that have just about become parodies in and of themselves.
The monetary mission of Gridiron is to raise funds for internships at various Hawaii media outlets and public relations agencies that are part of the Society of Professional Journalists internship program.
Organizers changed the show to every other year for a couple of reasons, according to Kerr. One, past shows have been so successful that annual productions are not needed, and because the availability of its longtime venue conflicts with primary elections, when both politicians and reporters are crazy-busy.
Besides, organizers rather like that the show will be performed in every "odd" year, he said.
"We are fortunate to feel the pent-up demand in a few ways," said Dingeman, who delineated, "the eagerness of our cast (and) crew to jump back in, the audience asking us when tickets will go on sale and the more than 100 pieces of parody submitted for this year’s show by a combination of our longtime comedy scribes and some new writers inspired by previous performances."
Gridiron performances this year include an 8 p.m. curtain on opening night Aug. 23, and two performances Aug. 24 (a 3 p.m. matinee and an 8 p.m. show), all at Diamond Head Theatre. Tickets also usually become available for the Thursday preview night.
Tickets will be available for public sale on July 5 via Ticketmaster by phone, online and in person. Prices are $60 and $40, the same as in 2011.
Because tickets typically sell out the first day of sales, organizers say the only way to guarantee seating is to become a sponsor, and the way to do that is through sponsorship wrangler Stafford Kiguchi at Bank of Hawaii, via email at stafford.kiguchi@boh.com.
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
