And then there are two: Oahu isn’t the only island doing "Les Misérables," the London and Broadway musical favorite. The Maui Academy of Performing Arts already is selling tickets for an Aug. 16-25 staging at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Should be a Maui wowie, since the show is finally making its Valley Island debut, accompanied by high anticipation and buzz.
Ex-Maui resident James Price, who now lives on Oahu and has performed eight seasons with Hawaii Opera Theatre, will enact the plum role of Jean Valjean. He heads a cast of 80 (60 onstage, 20 in an offstage chorus), with a 25-piece live orchestra. Price has been doing an opera in Finland but is returning to join the rehearsals.
"We have been waiting years for the rights to ‘Les Misérables’ to be released," said David Johnston, MAPA executive and artist director, who also is directing. "We are honored to bring this grand tale of love, redemption and the survival of the human spirit to Maui audiences this August."
Rehearsals have been underway since April, to handle the intensive work involved.
The cast also features Jerry Eiting (Inspector Javert), Leighanna Locke (Fantine), Lia Krieg (Eponine), Dylan Bode (Marius), Jacqui Sherwood (Cosette), Kepa Cabanilla-Aricayos (Enjolras) and Kristi Scott and Dale Button (the Thernadiers).
Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 25.
Tickets: $15-$65; go to www.mauiarts.org or call 242-7469. …
Meanwhile, Ron Bright is in the midst of casting "Les Miz" for the Paliku Theatre’s five-weekend run beginning Sept. 20 at the Windward Community College campus. Do you hear the people singing already? …
NEW WAVES: Johnson Enos, the prolific singer-composer-entertainer-producer, has been in Hollywood to record three new songs for his environmental musical fantasy, "Honu by the Sea," for inclusion in a special return run at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 18, 25 and 31 and Aug. 8 and 15.
The show, with Madison Eror reprising her role of Malia (the honu of the title), will embrace a trio of original tunes to the score: "Imagine," "It’s Beautiful" and "Malia Lullaby." Marcelo Pacleb will direct and choreograph. Tickets: 554-1777 or honubythesea.com. …
NAMES ‘N’ PLACES: Scott Speedman, who co-starred in ABC’s failed filmed-in-Hawaii "Last Resort" TV series, will join Wes Bentley in Ryan Murphy‘s HBO pilot, "Open." Speedman, one of the industry’s underrated hunks, will play a handsome sports marketing exec in a program exploring sexuality. …
Jeff Peterson and Friends will stage a Hawaii Public Radio benefit concert at 4 p.m. Aug. 4 at Paliku Theatre. The ki ho‘alu master’s friends include Nathan Aweau, one-time Hapa member; Benny Chong, the ukulele virtuoso and one-time member of the Aliis; and Ben Verdery, classical guitarist. John Cruz similarly supported HPR with an Atherton Studio performance Saturday night, sharing selections from his upcoming, yet-untitled new CD. Details: www.hawaiipublicradio.org. …
IT IS WHAT IT IZ: Trivia question on the "Today" show: Which Hollywood couple used Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole‘s "Over the Rainbow" as their first-dance tune at their wedding? Answer: Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. …
And Bruddah Iz’s "Facing Future" CD, which features that tune, still is among the top 10 best-selling CDs locally, rounding out the list at No. 10. …
The Mountain Apple Co. distributes Iz’s recordings. Has been doing so for years. But the company’s Shelley Coscina raised a valid concern affecting all artists: Costco has dropped CDs from its stores nationwide. "This (is) hitting the local music business in a big way, having been a million-dollar business at one time," she noted. She wants to shake the tree, make some noise and perhaps reverse the decision. Reality: CD sales are down dramatically. So, local acts, now’s the time to rally and raise your concerns. …
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.
