Ruthie Ann Miles, the Tony Award-winning actress from Kaimuki, is among a growing cast of Broadway and off-Broadway troupers assembling for The Public Theater’s “Hair to Hamilton: 50 Years of Revolutionary Musicals” concert Monday at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
Miles, recently in a brief run of “Sunday in the Park with George,” first gained notice when she played Imelda Marcos in The Public Theater’s acclaimed “Here Lies Love.” Then she appeared in a revival of “Sweeney Todd,” soon earning her Broadway stripes and a coveted Tony for featured actress in a musical for her performance as Lady Thiang in “The King and I.”
The 90-minute gala will highlight songs from a gamut of Great White Way hits, ranging from “Hamilton” to “A Chorus Line,” from “Fun Home” to “Hair,” from “Runaways” to “The Pirates of Penzance.”
Miles joins an expanding cast of Broadway stalwarts, including John Lithgow, Anika Noni Rose, Will Swenson and former “Hamilton” cast members Brian d’Arcy, Christopher Jackson and Phillipa Soo. Tony-winning director Daniel Sullivan will direct.
Tickets start at $750, at publictheater.org. …
BROADWAY BUZZ
There’s an unstated rift of sorts between Hawaii’s Bette Midler — predicted to cop this year’s Tony Award for leading actress in a musical, for “Hello, Dolly!” — and the Tony camp. Could be she’s still sour about the Tony snub in 2013, when her highly acclaimed one-woman show, “I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers,” was totally ignored. She won’t perform on June 11’s Tony telecast on CBS (airing at 7 p.m. here) but will be an award presenter. After all, she’s the toast of Broadway. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE
>> Morning glory: Lahaina chef Sheldon Simeon appeared May 28 on “CBS This Morning,” creating a number of traditional island dishes, including chicken burgers, tofu salad, poke, bibingka and more.
“I always had kim chee in my refrigerator,” he said. Simeon, proprietor of Tin Roof in Kahului, was a “Top Chef” fan-favorite competitor on the Bravo series. And, yes, he autographed the traditional white plate as part of the TV appearance ritual. …
>> BBQ meets blues: The second annual Honolulu BBQ & Blues Festival, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. June 17, will showcase barbecue pitmaster Myron Mixon and blues bro Willie K on the Great Lawn of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Willie performs from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; other acts include John Akapo from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Haleiwa Slim and the Trailer Park Romeos from 7:15 to 8 p.m., and Lightning Larry Dupio from 8:15 to 9 p.m. Tickets: $50 (VIP), $35 (general), at 947-7955. …
>> Farm-to-table: Chef David Lukela has launched a new menu showcasing island produce at the Beachhouse at the Moana. The farm-to-table fare includes Maui greens and goat cheese, Kahuku corn, Molokai beets, Big Island mushrooms and lots more. Entrees include cioppino, rack of lamb, short rib ragu and even loco moco. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
