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Ballerina and reigning Narcissus Festival Queen Erica Wong has been cast in the world premiere of "In Your Arms," the new dance theater musical by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli and Stephen Flaherty, as part of the Old Globe Theatre’s 2015-16 season in San Diego.
The production, set for a Sept. 16 debut, will feature Wong as White Snake in an original David Henry Hwang segment — one of 10 vignettes the show comprises.
Wong thus will be engaged in a production team laden with Tony A-listers: Gattelli choreographed 2008’s "South Pacific," 2012’s "Newsies" and the current revival of "The King and I," along with the just-opened "Amazing Grace" on Broadway; Flaherty is the composer of 2000’s "Seussical," 1998’s and 2009’s "Ragtime" and 2014’s "Rocky"; and Hwang is author of 1998’s "M. Butterfly" and "Golden Child" and 2011’s "Chinglish," and book writer of 2000’s "Aida," 2006’s "Tarzan" and 2002’s "Flower Drum Song."
"In Your Arms" marks dancer Wong’s theatrical debut. She is a Punahou School graduate majoring in civil engineering at the University of Hawaii and is a ballet instructor at Hawaii State Ballet. She previously performed with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Milwaukee Ballet. …
HAPPY DAYS: Leo Days is the latest Elvis Presley trouper in town, doing the hunka-hunka-love thing in "Burn’n Love," a tender but mostly energetic salute to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Days is performing in the Magic of Polynesia Showroom following John Hirokawa‘s "Magic of Polynesia" spectacle at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Resort.
His voice is higher and his bold moves far more frenetic than the King’s, so his act is not an imitation or impersonation, but rather an imaginative interpretation of Elvis that explores Presley’s music catalog. Days dons spot-on costumes including a red jumpsuit, GI khakis and that requisite white-and-gold finale number. This is a must-see tribute. Tickets start at $69, with discounts for military and kamaaina; call 971-4321 or visit BurnnLove.com/Waikiki. For a full review, see my "Show and Tell Hawaii" blog at staradvertiser.com. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Kelly Hu, 1985 Miss Teen USA and 1993 Miss Hawaii USA, has amassed a mound of TV and film credits since her beauty pageant wins. But she’s getting her biggest buzz for pitching Viagra on a current TV commercial — you go, girl! …
It’s been 20 years of aloha for the KoAloha Ukulele ohana, so the Okamis — dad and momAlvin and Pat, and sons Alan and Paul — will celebrate with friends and supporters Monday evening at the Willows Restaurant.Two decades of my-dog-has-fleas — now that’s a lot of strumming! …
ALL THAT JAZZ: The Blue Note Jazz Club is coming to the Outrigger Waikiki’s Main Showroom, for decades the showcase for the Society of Seven. Blue Note is partnering with the Outrigger in a licensing agreement to host jazz, local and other acts, in two shows nightly, seven days a week. The club is under renovations; happily, the hotel has spared the showroom from conversion to retail space. Blue Note has been a premier host for a range of jazz acts — Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Ray Charles — in clubs in New York and Japan. Initial reaction? Great that the showroom will see new life, but locals want a Hawaiian presence, too — or at least jazz with a local tilt. …
The Oahu Jazz & Blues Festival, held at the Turtle Bay Resort with the likes of Les McCann, Donald Harrison, Javon Jackson, the Iguanas, Skip Martin, Brother Noland, Paula Fuga, Benny Uyetake and John Cruz, will air as a one-hour"JazzAlley" TV special at 3 p.m. Saturday on KITV. Kenneth K. Martinez Burgmaier produced and directed the event, held in November. Burgmaier, who also produces the Maui Jazz & Blues Festival, has a fifth coming up Sept. 10-13, with Grammy-winning faves John Patitucci, bass guitar; Russell Malone, jazz guitar; and Kenny Neal, blues guitar, among the featured acts. …
Services for Ronald A. Bright, the iconic theater director who died July 7, will be held Aug. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church, 45-550 Kionaole Road in Kaneohe. Visitation from 8:30 to 10 a.m., followed by services from 10 to 11:30 a.m. …
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.
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