Showman Jack Cione was heralded as a beacon of artistic energy and inspiration for his Arcadia Retirement Residence community at a recent afternoon wine-and-cheese salute.
Cione, of course, is the producer-director of the "Follies" spectacle that concluded a10th-anniversary run at the Arcadia last month, along with a one-night hana hou where Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association troupers joined the spectacle at Hawaii Theatre. More than 125 residents, friends and fans of entrepreneur Cione gave him a standing ovation after he was acknowledged as a mover and shaker at the senior livingfacility and a magnet for volunteer resident performers who annually trade fear and trepidation for glitzy costumes and lip-synching in the "Follies." Like Cinderella, the women (and a corps of men) are transformed into show princesses and princes and glow in the moment.
Joy Abbott sang an a cappella medley of "Mr. Wonderful" and "It Had to be You," with new lyrics. Veteran broadcast favorite Linda Coble acknowledged Cione’s reputation as a prolific show producer-director during a presupper interview/chat session. Arcadia CEOEmmett White, who still can’t quite forget the time he portrayed Carmen Miranda in a previous "Follies" production, has become a fabled figure in drag — this year enacting a castanet-clicking senorita.
Cione now is in the midst ofa summer vacation. He’s at a burlesque convention in Las Vegas, where he hopes to link up with one of his stellar headliners from the past, Tempest Storm, then he’ll immerse himself in hits like "An American in Paris," "The King and I" and "On the Town" on Broadway.
Prior to departure, Cione had a dental emergency —two fillings fell from his teeth"and I swallowed them at lunch," he said. So he called his dentist, John Kotake, who did the proper repairs. (Kotake is a performer in Cione’s "Follies.") …
MIGHTY EIGHTY: Jimmy Borges turned 80 last week, and wife Vicki corralled about 40 of his nearest and dearest friends — largely musicians and a few peers — to celebrate at a Willows luncheon on Wednesday. Borges, who could easily pass for 60 with his smooth, suave demeanor, singled out a few pals, like Gordon Sakamoto, who connected the jazz singer with the Mountain Apple Co.’s Jon de Mello to produce a late-in-his-career album of Borges’ iconic, immaculate vocal stylings.
Keyboarder Betty Loo Taylor, his longtime accompanist, finally joined in recording such titles as "Lost in the Stars" on a recent Sunday. (They wept happy tears at the session.) The new album could be out by July.
Borges’ daughter Steffanie, with camera in hand, documented the celebration, getting photos of folks like Leslie Wilcox, Jim Nabors, Shari Lynn, Virginia Hinshaw and others. ‘Twas, indeed, a day of valued camaraderie. …
ONLINE: Matt Yee, who performs in New York nowadays and also aboard cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, befriended Broadway legend Chita Rivera, who’s now starring in the Terrence McNally and John Kander-Fred Ebb Broadway musical "The Visit." He posted a YouTube video with his heroine, cooing in an email:"She’s 82 and I want to be Chita when I grow up." …
STAGE SHORTS: Dane Ison will direct New Hope Chapel’s "Into the Woods," part of its Youth Performing Arts Center project playing June 19 through July 5 at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College.After last year’s "Les Miserables" triumph at New Hope’s Sand Island HQ, the community expects yet another crowd favorite. …
And Diamond Head Theatre’s "Shrek the Musical," which has yet to be cast and won’t open till July 17, already has added shows Aug. 7 through9. Talk about anticipation! Call 733-0274 for tickets. …
Hawaiian Mission Houses will stage Shakespeare’s "The Tempest," with William Hao directing, Aug. 7 through 22 as part of the museum’s Cemetery Pupu Theatre offering on the outdoor Kahua Ho‘okipa stage. Auditions will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 at the facility. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
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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.
