Mary Gutzi, a Broadway actress-singer, loves the life of a gypsy. She travels to wherever a role or mission beckons, on land or at sea, but her heart remains in Hawaii.
“I am a nomad at heart,” she said in an interview from New York. “I love to travel and see new places, meet new people. I carry my home with me and ‘nest’ where I am. The challenges are something I talk about in my act; some are pretty funny. I can adapt because I love what I do and am so grateful to be able to perform.”
And she’s finally coming “home” to the islands again, to make her debut at Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. June 12.
Gutzi is understandably excited; she’s writing a new show with “a mixture of standards and, of course, some signature Broadway songs I’ve performed.”
The gig will also serve as a possible preview of a New York offering later this year at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in midtown Manhattan.
“I’m thinking of shopping it as well to some luxury cruise lines and yachts,” she said. “Sounds like fun, right?” She previously performed in a show called “Havana” for the inaugural cruise of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ The Bliss.
Her last Hawaii show was the Governors’ Ball for the March of Dimes, some years ago. “I always come ‘home’ to Hawaii; it’s where I long to be, since I’ve been going back and forth for 25 years,” she said.
While here, Gutzi intends to share her insights and skills as a Broadway trouper, in workshops and private lessons here. She supports the community of Hawaii actors, and the workshops help hone her roles as teacher, educator and audience member.
Earlier this year, she completed a workshop for “Passing Through,” under auspices of Goodspeed Musicals in Chester, Conn., which will be part of its summer season in July- August. Instead of continuing on with that show, she is telescoping the role of Fraulein Schneider, in a yet-to-be- announced production of “Cabaret,” the Tony Award-winning musical.
On Broadway, she was soaking up energy and performances preceding this year’s Tonys, set for June 9 at Radio City Music Hall.
“Tony season is crazy,” she said. “I’m at the theater almost every night; this season has been wonderful! I’m even seeing some shows twice, because they’re so good.
Broadway (attendance) is strong — the audiences are coming because the shows are good.”
Gutzi’s Great White Way credits include “Ragtime” (Emma Goldman) and “Les Miserables” (Fantine), and she has toured in “Ragtime,” “Sunset Boulevard” (Norma Desmond) and “Cats” (Grizabella). On TV, she had a role in HBO’s film “Paterno” with Al Pacino.
Travels enhance her livelihood. “I’m always learning life lessons,” said Gutzi. “I hope to always be a student; you never know what or who will cross your path and teach you something invaluable.”
While she maintains an apartment in New York, “I’m not there a lot. I have a storage unit in Los Angeles with a whole apartment worth of stuff in it.”
Her band will include Dan Del Negro on piano, Ian Sheridan on bass and Ian Wacksman on drums. Tickets are $25 to $45, at bluenotehawaii.com or 777-4890. …
New MVT leader
Kip Wilborn will become Manoa Valley Theatre’s producing director, effective Aug. 1. He currently is interim theater manager at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College and a member of the MVT board.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to lead Manoa Valley Theatre into its next 50 years,” said Wilborn. He will succeed retiring Dwight Martin, whose exit coincides with MVT’s ongoing 50th anniversary season.
Wilborn, who has vast theater credits on both sides of the footlights, is rehearsing to co-star with Shari Lynn in “Mining for Cole,” a revue on Cole Porter, opening June 14 at The Actors’ Group. …
Maui wowie
Awkwafina (real name, Nora Lum), one of the breakout stars of two Warner Bros. box office hits, “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s 8,” will receive the Shining Star Award June 15 at the 20th annual Maui Film Festival at the Wailea Resort. The film fest, running June 12 through 16, also will screen the Asian actress’ latest, “The Farewell,” as part of the Celestial Cinema event beneath the stars at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course.
Awkwafina joins a galaxy of previous recipients, including Adam Driver, Zac Efron, Andrew Garfield, Jake Gyllenhaal, Amber Heard, Freida Pinto, Emma Roberts and Olivia Wilde. In 2020, her “Awkwafina” show debuts on Comedy Central.
Barry Rivers, founder- director of Maui’s signature film attraction, said in a statement that Awkwafina “is deservedly enjoying a stratospheric ride into the galaxy of cinematic stardom. My guess is that we have only just begun to enjoy her eclectic and powerful performances (that) delight and touch people around the world.” …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
