Tony Ruivivar, co-founder and leader of the Society of Seven group, is cancer-free again. He announced from a Las Vegas stage during New Year’s that the voice and throat problems that plagued him since July were history.
Ruivivar and the SOS performed at a sellout show at the Eastside Cannery casino, their first since a two-night stand in August at the Ala Moana Hotel. “He gave thanks to the Almighty and dedicated ‘How Great Thou Art’ to those who encouraged and supported him through his illness,” said Fran Kirk, former SOS manager and confidante. “He earned standing ovations. His voice was back.”
Before treatment, Ruivivar’s voice was weak and raspy. “I had a lump in my neck, which was highly suspected as cancer, which spread to my lymph glands,” said Ruivivar in a phone conversation last week. “It turned out to be a (B-cell) lymphoma on the base of my tongue, and I couldn’t eat, drink or sing. But it was curable.”
After five months of examinations and treatments, Ruivivar is primed for a two-night Valentine’s Day weekend gig Feb. 13 and 14 at the Suncoast resort in Summerlin, a half-hour drive from the Las Vegas Strip.
He is gaining weight, though head-hair growth has been slow. He attributes his recovery partly to a medicated mouthwash regimen that coated his throat, enabling him to eat and swallow liquids with minimal pain.
About five years ago he battled and conquered cancer in his liver. “You can’t imagine how great it feels to be cancer-free again,” he said. …
COPING: Bassist Steve Jones continues to fight his advanced prostate cancer. Jones and wife Lee Ann remain strong and positive, but friends like Loretta Ables Sayre, the Tony-nominated Broadway star of “South Pacific” fame, have called out publicly to his followers to kokua with donations to help with mounting medical bills.
Jones has been unable to work since August, and has been in and out of the hospital four times in the past few months. Thus, Ables Sayre did a shout-out to Facebookers about his page on gofundme.com (bit.ly/1Q6p0AM), where in the first three days more than $18,000 of a goal of $150,000 was donated to Jones. …
MANOA MUSINGS: “The Who’s Tommy” was a box-office rock-out for Manoa Valley Theatre last year, so MVT has decided to ramp up the volume again next season with the Hawaii premiere of “Rock of Ages,” the off-Broadway, on-Broadway and film musical. It will be staged in March 2017; auditions will be in December.
After five months of negotiations, Dwight Martin, MVT’s producing director, secured rights to the show, which is laden with power ballads from Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more. Think “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “More Than Words,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Don’t Stop Believing.”
The story involves a small-town girl, Sherrie, who meets a Detroit dude, Drew, in a famous Sunset Strip rock club. They fall in love amid a robust soundtrack from the 1980s. It’s all about dreaming big, playing loud, partying hard.
“It’ll be another killer rock ’n’ roll hit like ‘The Who’s Tommy,’” says Martin.
Five other plays will comprise the 2016-17 season, which will be unveiled Feb. 15. …
STAR WATCH: Singer-actress Yvonne Elliman, of “Jesus Christ Superstar” fame, has joined For the Love of Jimmy, the scholarship benefit for Jimmy Borges on Jan. 30 at the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel. And Hawaii News Now’s Rick Blangiardi will emcee. Earlier announced: Lucie Arnaz, Willie K, Melveen Leed and Taimane Gardner. …
TODAY’S MUST-SEE: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, at 4 p.m. at the Hawaii Theatre. This is a ballet classic, comprising elegant, hairy-chested men as ballerinas in tutus. The Trocks launch their 2016 tour in Hawaii, so show your aloha and support. Call 528-0506. …
FASCINATING RHYTHMS: Lightning strikes again, for “Ira and George & Shari and Jim” — with an add-on “and Kip” — at The Actors’ Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery. This extension of last year’s version, conceived and developed by singer-actress-teacher Shari Lynn, still features accompanist Jim Howard. They explore the expansive songbook and film triumphs of Ira and George Gershwin. Guest artist Kip Wilborn joins Shari and Jim in true ’swonderful, ’smarvelous musical pleasures. Last performance is 4 p.m. today. Call 722-6941 …
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 staradvertiser.com.
