Hawaii’s Dean Pitchford, 68, a veteran Oscar and Golden Globes-winning composer, lyricist, actor, director, screenwriter and novelist, has launched an off-Broadway musical based on his first book, “The Big One-Oh!,” in the underserviced genre for young audiences and families.

Coincidentally, the star of the vehicle is Hawaii actor Aaron Banes, 24, a 2017 graduate of New York University. He plays the lead character of Charley Maplewood, who contemplates his forthcoming 10th birthday.

Pitchford was not involved in the casting, but discovered he had Hawaii ties with Banes. Pitchford graduated from Saint Louis, Banes from Punahou, and they share a fondness for malasadas.

The Atlantic Theater Company, an off-Broadway nonprofit organization based in Chelsea, is producing the musical as part of its 2019-20 season; the show, in its world premiere engagement, opened Sept. 28 at the Linda Gross Theater and continues through Oct. 20.

“Aaron did the first workshop of our show in March, and it was because of the enthusiastic reception of the show that we were offered this slot. (He) is awesome in the show and audiences absolutely love him,” said Pitchford.

Banes was taken by Pitchford’s novel. “There’s an honesty and simplicity that is so inviting,” he said. “I got a bit nostalgic reading it at first. It took me back to my own childhood and how monumental a birthday can seem.

“I’m a thinker like Charley,” he continued. “He narrates the entire show with his journal, taking notes on what he should do for his birthday, who he could count on as a friend, and what his theme should be. I tend to think very logically; one of my acting teachers talked about how different characters lead with either their body, soul or mind. I’m definitely the latter.”

As a young actor in Hawaii, Pitchford appeared in several Honolulu Theatre for Youth shows, so “One-Oh!” “was an utter joy, every step of the way,” he said. “I had two collaborators who spoke the same language of theater that I do … in a genre that demands economy (a shorter running time) and heart.”

Timothy Allen McDonald, a pioneer in children’s theater, including musicals, adapted Pitchford’s novel; McDonald teamed with Pitchford to create an hourlong version of “Footloose” for the youth market.

Doug Besterman, a two-time Tony-winner, orchestrated Pitchford’s off-Broadway revival of “Carrie, the Musical” in 2012, where Pitchford provided lyrics; their 20-year friendship led to a reunion with Besterman in creating the music for “One-Oh!” “I’ve always felt that he would be as fine a songwriter as he is an orchestrator, and I was right,” said Pitchford. For the premiere, MK Lawson directed and choreographed; Britt Bonney was musical director.

There will be two versions of the new show. As Pitchford explained, “one for schools to perform with casts of middle-school students, and one for presentations by professional children’s theaters, in which adults will play the kids.”

Banes performed in Easter and Christmas shows at church, prodded by his mom and grandma, but admitted, “music has always been a big part of our family. There are videos of me belting out Celine Dion in the backseat when I was about 5; that may have been the real beginning of my performing life.”

It was in his senior year, when he played Jesus in “Godspell,” that confirmed his destiny in show biz.

Banes, who lives in Brooklyn, has toured internationally in “PJ Marks Live” and has been active with stage work via Theatre for Young Audiences.

“I don’t know what the future might hold, acting-wise. I’m trying to transition more into the film/TV side of things; maybe then I’ll get to play some characters my own age,” he said.

Both his parents are educators; his mom Lisa Banes teaches at Waiokeola Preschool and his dad Joseph Banes Jr. at Pearlridge Elementary. A younger brother, Jaron Banes, 21, who attended Hawaii Baptist Academy, “followed me to New York to go to St. Joseph University,” Banes said.

Like others who’ve made the leap to New York, Banes is often homesick so “I try to come home at least once a year. As much as I miss the constant summer weather and the ono food, it’s really the people back home I miss the most,” he said. “It’ll always be home because of them.” …

R.I.P., TAYLOR

I was saddened to learn of the death of Rip Taylor, the king of confetti and interchanging toupees, who was a comedian to the core. He died, at age 88, Oct. 6 in Beverly Hills.

He adored Hawaii — the sunshine, the warm clime — and used to come annually until it became difficult to travel. He spent his days here in the blazing sun poolside at Waikiki hotels, and came to dinner (often red like a lobster) at Keo’s Thai Cuisine (his favorite) donning a wig but sometimes not.

Yes, he was constantly and embarrassingly wacky, speaking in exclamation points! Tossing confetti wherever he went! Loved grand entrances! Mostly played himself in big-screen endeavors, from “Wayne’s World” to a pair of “Jackass” movies. He was an incessant name-dropper, too, because he was personal pals with everyone from Judy Garland to Mickey Rooney, from Ann Miller to Debbie Reynolds.

I last talked via phone with him, after Reynolds died in 2017.

Over six decades, he played clubs and theaters, appeared in game, variety and talk shows, but did a legit gig once in a while, like 1993’s “Indecent Proposal,” a film with Demi Moore and Robert Redford, in which he took a dramatic turn, playing Mr. Langford, Moore’s surly boss, earning him raves.

On one of his last visits here, he tried to shop his “It Ain’t All Confetti” one-man play about his life as a comic and actor. His handlebar mustache was genuine, like his friendship.

Rest in peace, ol’ buddy. …

And that’s “Show Biz.”

Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.