It’ll be Lights! Camera! Resurrection! for comedian Augie T.
For three weeks in June, Augie will be before movie cameras on Maui, starring in a full-length film, portraying a washed-up beach boy as he expands his acting creds.
Thus, his self-proclaimed “retirement” was short-lived, though he specifically referred to stand-up.
“There’s no running title yet,” he said of the film. “I’m super excited and ready. Go Govs!,” he declared, demonstrating pride of his Farrington alma mater roots.
Augie said his character is named Tai “Gonzo” Alonzo, and described him as “a washed-up surf pro forced to take a job at a beachfront hotel, teaching obnoxious tourists how to surf.
“Soon, he’s the tennis pro, the substitute yoga instructor, the handyman,” said Augie. “He might even be the key to saving the family-run hotel from being forced out of business by the rapacious hotel conglomerate.”
Augie landed the part because of his previous ties with writer-director Stefan Schaefer on two other films, including Brian Kohne’s “Get a Job” and the more recent “Kuleana.” The latter is being rebranded as “Maui” for its mainland and international release this year.
“He knows I’m funny, “ Augie said about Schaefer. “I just needed to know that besides my wife, I can make other people laugh.”
Said directer Schaefer of Augie: “I’ve always been impressed by his ability to deliver dramatic moments, too.”
For the record, when Augie does serious drama, there’s an inevitable undercoat of hilarity, notably, his depiction of an investigator in “Kuleana.” It was meant to be dramatic, but it had a definite comic undertone.
The cast will include Taiana Tully, Branscombe Richmond, Matt Corboy, Alex Farnham, Kealani Warner and other Los Angeles-based actors yet to be named.
The production companies involved include Abominable Pictures (producer Jonathan Stern), Cicala Filmworks (writer-director Schaefer and Diane Crespo), in association with the GVS Accelerator and Measures- Richmond Productions.
GVS Accelerator is a Hawaii public-private program that fast-tracks creative entrepreneurs by providing funding to successful graduates through its GTA Development Fund, partnering with the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp., according to the producers.
GVS projects include “Aloha Surf Hotel” and “Running for Grace.” The latter starred Matt Dillon and Jim Caviezel and was released last summer, with a planned June 19 bow on Netflix.
Meanwhile, despite his “retirement” from comedy, Augie is planning to do a gig in Washington, D.C., in August. Also percolating on his post-retirement list: “Seriously thinking about running for office in 2020.” …
Here ’n’ there
Should be a nostalgic stroll down memory lane, when Peter Noone fronts Herman’s Hermits at Blue Note Hawaii, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2. Don’t deny you embraced their hits. “I’m Henry the 8th I Am,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter,” “There’s a Kind of a Hush,” “Wonderful World” and “I’m Into Something Good” were chart-busters. Heck, I remember interviewing the band back in the day of the British invasion of pop groups at the Kahala Hilton. Tickets are $50 to $65 at bluenotehawaii.com or call 777-4890. …
When the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame “Lei of Stars” honored the Beamer ohana recently, the event marked the reunion of Keola and Kapono Beamer of “Honolulu City Lights” and “Mr. Sun Cho Lee” fame, performing together for the first time in decades. That performance is now on view via Olelo Video On-Demand (Channel 184), beginning today, and also on olelo.org/olelonet.
Other inductees are the Bray ohana, Dorothy Kahananui/Dorothy Gillett, the Ho‘opi‘i Brothers and Saichi Kawamura. …
When Leesa Clark Stone debuted her bio on Rap Reiplinger, “Paradise to Paradise: The Rap Reiplinger Story” at Da Shop at Bess Press, many folks mentioned in her manuscript showed up to support the launch, prompting Stone to remark, “this is like a cast party.” Indeed, the gallery included the likes of Ed Kaahea, Bob Hampton, David Talisman, Leon Siu and Audy Kimura, all mentioned in the tome and popping up in person. And an apology: We misstated the Leesa-Rap wedding date here last week; should have been Oct. 25, 1983, not Oct. 23. …
What’s the buzz
“Beehive,” the musical with ’60s hair and hits, opened Friday at Diamond Head Theatre. A 3 p.m. matinee has been added on June 8. …
It was an unexpected surprise for the gents of Streetlight Cadence when their self-produced, self-filmed “Will Play for Food” TV show was nominated for an Emmy Award in the arts/ entertainment special program category. Good luck, guys! …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
