Hawaii’s Bette Midler is expected to become Broadway’s highest-paid actress when she tackles the Dolly Gallagher Levi matchmaker role, famously portrayed by Carol Channing on stage and Barbra Streisand in film, in a 2017 stage reboot of “Hello, Dolly!”
According to the New York Post’s “Page Six” column, Midler’s weekly salary will be $150,000, bolstered by a package that will give her a percentage of the box-office gross and a cut of merchandising sales. And if “Dolly” rakes in more than $1 million a week, as anticipated, her salary will spiral.
Only two ongoing Broadway shows racked up more than $1 million in sales last week: “Hamilton,” the explosive box-office blockbuster by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and “The Lion King,” Disney’s biggest roar ever.
“Dolly!” rehearsals start in January 2017, with previews beginning March 13 leading up to an April 20 premiere in a Broadway theater yet to be named.
Actress Julia Roberts, who made her Broadway debut in a 2006 drama, “Three Days of Rain,” with Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper, was said to have a $150,000 weekly paycheck, too, largest for an actress at the time. But that show ran for only 70 performances and grossed $11.5 million. As a point of comparison, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick each pulled $100,000 apiece when they returned to “The Producers,” the Tony-winning musical comedy, which was the first Broadway show to charge $100 for top orchestra seats.
The Divine Miss M will introduce a whole new generation to “Dolly!” She likely will earn a Tony Award, thanks to her considerable vocal and comedic talents. Or, to borrow a line from composer Jerry Herman, Midler will be back where she belongs, “still glowin’, still crowin’, still goin’ strong.” …
And if “Dolly!” is not enough of a career boost, Midler and her “First Wives Club” co-stars Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton will reunite in a Netflix feature, “Divanation,” according to Deadline.com. The trio will portray divas from a disbanded singing group reuniting after a volatile three-decade split. A director and timetable have not been announced. …
OPERATICS, SAMOAN STYLE: Sol3 Mio, a Samoan trio specializing in operatic arias and Broadway love songs, will make its Hawaii debut at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, co-presented by the Hawaii Opera Theatre and Tihati Productions.
The group’s name, Sol3 Mio (the “3” stands in for “e”), is a takeoff on “O Solo Mio,” which brought initial Down Under fame to brothers Pene and Amitai Pati, who are tenors, and their cousin Moses Mackay, a baritone. “Sole” has a brotherly connotation in Samoan. The trio resides in New Zealand, where it registered No. 1 in album sales.
Sol3 Mio’s repertoire includes such diverse tunes as “Bring Him Home,” “Yellow Bird,” “We Are Samoa,” “My Way,” “Nessun Dorma” and “The Rose.”
Information: 596-7858. …
NAME-DROPPING: Frank De Lima, Hawaii’s sweetheart of comedy, will present “Love, Frank,” a Valentine’s Day luncheon show, Feb. 14 at the Pagoda’s C’est Si Bon. Doors open at 10 a.m. for buffet, show at noon. Tickets: $55 adults, $25 keiki 5 to 8. Call 948-8370. …
Hawaii’s Bruno Mars will be in the halftime mix, joining headliner Coldplay and Beyonce in the NFL’s 50th Super Bowl Feb. 7. The Denver Broncos battle the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., televised by CBS. …
SIGHT ’EMS: Wife-and-husband proprietors Noi Lapangkura and J.J. Chaiseeha, along with GM Ying Rosawan, hosted a grand opening of their Noi Thai Cuisine at Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Center to benefit Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. Bold flavors, exotic appetizers and exquisite entrees amid opulent surroundings and accents will make Noi a regular destination for those fit to be Thai’d. …
Among the opening crowd: Dennis and Marge Francis, Ron Nagasawa, Ali Resich, Rep. Tom Brower, Chris Lee, Danny Kaleikini, Linda Wong, Dr. Lawrence Tseu, Grace Lee, Sheryl Turbeville, Sean Ibara, Chanel Mokepuha, Kelly Simek, Alika and Tanya Mau, single-monickered Jovan, Colin Miyabara, Wolfgang and Elena Zwiener, Bill Nickerson, Donato Loperfido, Martha Smith, Linda Jameson, Jack and Cha Thompson, Jack Cione, Mike Nichelson, Marleen Akau, Sam Shenkus and Nani Hirosane. …
Another Noi Thai Cuisine opens Monday near Seattle’s Pike Place, and San Francisco will follow later this year. …
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.
