Shari Lynn, the irrepressible singer, actress and teacher, is wearing a new hat these days.
Lynn is making her directorial debut with "Beehive — the 60’s Musical," opening 7 p.m. April 25 at the La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls "Gymatorium."
Coaxed by her La Pietra administrators to direct the musical review, she was understandably reluctant. "After all, being directed and being a director are completely different," Lynn said. "Since I’m a novice, I told them that I would need some expert help."
Since Lynn was in a 1992 mounting of "Beehive"directed by John Rampage, she asked him to choreograph. How could he say no?
She further enlisted Friston Ho‘okano (wigs and makeup), Lacey Rolf(costumes), Kenji Higashihama (music) and Chesley Cannon (sets). Most had creds at Diamond Head Theatre, where Lynn has played "Funny Girl" and "Gypsy" over the years, and Higashihama is fresh from Saint Louis School’s "In the Heights." Cannon, now with Honolulu Theatre for Youth, "was one of my little newsboys in ‘Gypsy’ the first time around, about 18 years ago," Lynn said.
The cast was expanded to enable more students to do the show, which celebrates the female popsters of the ’60s. "Beehive" repeats at 7 p.m. April 26 and 4 p.m. April 27. Tickets: $10, available at the door. …
DUKE-ING IT OUT: So how did Joe Moore, the KHON2 anchor and sometime actor, get Patty Duke, winner of an Oscar, three Emmys and three Golden Globes, to commit to Michael Aitkens‘ "Heaven Forbid!" — a comedy about retirees in a home for seniors?
"He sent me a script, and I thought it was wonderfully funny and relevant, and couldn’t wait to perform it," said Duke, who picked up her Academy Award as Helen Keller after playing her onstage in "The Miracle Worker.""My character is a real pistol!"
Moore couldn’t resist "a smart comedy that holds a mirror up to the dilemmas of aging and remaining independent in the face of those who wish the old would just fade away. The character I play is a doozy!"
So pistol and doozy collaborate in a June 20-30 run at Hawaii Theatre. Rob Duval directs and appears in the cast, which includes Paul Mitri, Stephanie Conching, Tricia Marciel, George O’Hanlon and Eden-Lee Jellinek. Tickets go on sale Tuesday. Call 528-0506. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Kim Johnson, who is Mrs. Jack Johnson, and their keiki were among the sold-out opening audience of Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s season finale, "Charlotte’s Web," the children’s barnyard favorite. The production features Junior Tesoro as Wilbur, Nina Buck as Fern, Maile Holck as Charlotte and Alvin Chan, Kala‘i Stern, Chesley Cannon and Jordan Savusa as other critters. Katie Doyle, an HTY supporter, and her son Conner Hummel brought along their own Wilbur, a black-and-white, 200-pound Vietnamese potbellied oinker — a huge hit with the kids in attendance. The play repeats at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays through May 12. Tickets: www.htyweb.org. …
Retired director Ron Bright managed to make it to the Castle Performing Arts Co.’s 50th-anniversary tribute April 7 at the theater bearing his name, when "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was staged as a benefit for the Ronald Bright Scholarship Fund. More than $9,000 was raised — but the exhausted Bright looked frail from pneumonia and hospitalization during a family mainland trip. Sons Clarke and Michael provided watchful eyes and physical support. …
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 www.staradvertiser.com.
