Singer-actress Loretta Ables Sayre, the Tony-nominated Bloody Mary from Broadway’s "South Pacific" revival a few seasons back, will be among the guest celebs taking part in a live reading for Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s 60th-season announcement, 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Tenney Theatre.
The evening starts at 6 p.m. with hosted drinks and pupu. It’s free but RSVPs are required; call Carolyn at 839-9885, ext. 711, or email outreach@htyweb.org to reserve space.
Ables Sayre joins a growing and rich tradition of notables sharing live readings of scenes from HTY’s new seasons. Past participants include Henry Ian Cusick of ABC’s "Lost," Daniel Dae Kim of CBS’ "Hawaii Five-0," Celia Kenney of "The Descendents" and Joel de la Fuente of "Hemlock Grove." Event co-chairs Walter Eccles and Annie Cusick Wood are confirming more readers.
Attendees get a chance to win raffle prizes that includes stays at the Halekulani and Ihilani resorts, restaurant certificates and fine wines, with funds raised supporting salaries and fees for HTY’s professional actors and artists. …
STAGE SHORTS: Diamond Head Theatre will announce its 100th season March 12 at a gala in the Leahi Club Lounge of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Invitees have till Feb. 28 to RSVP. …
Kennedy Theatre is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an Asian theatrical piece, "Lady Mu and the Yang Family Generals," and the Department of Theatre and Dance is inviting anyone who has performed in an Asian show — think kabuki or Beijing opera — over the past five decades to join in the milestone at 8 p.m. Thursday. Call the box office at 956-7655 for ticket details. …
The Castle Performing Arts Company is the lone isle theater group invited to Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe international arts event in August. The cast gave a preview last week of what will be staged. …
Remember Ann Harada (no relation), the Punahou grad who originated the Christmas Eve role in Broadway’s Tony-winning "Avenue Q"? She’s currently playing one of the stepsisters in the "Cinderella" musical on Broadway (with Carly Rae Jepsen of "Call Me Maybe" fame in the title role). She’s also doing what Great White Way folks enjoy: one-night specials. Harada is part of Lincoln Center’s "American Songbook" series on Saturday, if you happen to be heading that-a-way. …
SHOW BREEZES: Good for Bruno Mars, who wasn’t afraid to respond to some of the hits from the and other media that didn’t think he was big enough a star or accomplished trouper to headline the Feb. 2 Super Bowl halftime show because "he wasn’t in the tabloids and he doesn’t have a fragrance." Well, on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Monday, Mars called the criticism "by far the most disgusting thing I think I’ve heard. Not because it was taking a shot at me, but I was thinking about aspiring young musicians who want to do this." He decried the fragrance or tabloid issues: "It’s about you putting in the work, practicing every day, practicing your vocals, practicing your instrument, practicing songwriting. … Follow your dream; one day you’re going to be sitting next to Ellen DeGeneres, talking about how you broke records and rocked the Super Bowl. Stand up, America!"
OK, he doesn’t have a fragrance (yet), but he was in the tabloids on that drug bust in a Las Vegas lavatory in the infancy of his climb. He learned from that mistake and has stayed clean and is a role model who has made it with his philosophy of being "just the way you are." His work ethic says it all. …
BRIEFLY: "Follies" director Jack Cione was playing bridge Feb. 9 at the Arcadia when he experienced heart palpitations. "I knew something was not right," he said. So he was ambulanced to Straub, where he was monitored overnight. Meanwhile, rehearsals for his revue continues. …
That Tihati Productions newbie, "Te Moana Nui," debuts Thursday at the Pacific Beach Hotel’s ballroom — delayed a couple of weeks. …
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.
