Marc delaCruz, a Hilo-born actor, takes the lead role of Alexander Hamilton for the first time tonight in the New York company of “Hamilton,” playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. He’s been understudying the character since December. Read more
Karen Keawehawai‘i performs at the Manoa Valley Theatre this week as part of a yearlong Studio Series on the theater’s dark nights. Read more
Keala Settle, the breakout star from “The Greatest Showman,” will be part of Fox’s live telecast of “Rent,” airing Jan. 27. Read more
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In the year’s last column, we annually bestow the “Waynie” awards to entertainers who earned significant acclaim in their craft. Read more
Wayne Harada shares his annual Christmas wishes for local celebrities and other VIPs. Read more
Andy Bumatai, Hawaii’s favorite stand-up comedian, turns 65 on Christmas Eve, but will celebrate a day earlier, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 23 at Blue Note Hawaii. The shows also marks his 40th anniversary in island show biz. Read more
Jake Shimabukuro, Hawaii’s prevailing ukulele virtuoso, has been a force in a two-decade yuletide relationship with students at Maemae Elementary School. Read more
A trio of seasoned musical theater veterans have been cast to play leading roles in Manoa Valley Theatre’s island premiere of “Allegiance,” the inspiring show about the true-life experience of George Takei and the unlawful imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Read more
Three things I liked best during a 10-day jaunt to Japan earlier this month. Read more
Two Hawaii actors are in the second national tour company of “The King and I,” the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic now on a seven-month journey of cities in the U.S. and Canada. Alas, Hawaii isn’t on the tour agenda. Read more
Author Leesa Stone, widow of comedian Rap Reiplinger, is looking to a spring release of his biography, “Paradise to Paradise: The Rap Reiplinger Story.” Read more
Robert Cazimero may have been the first of the Waikiki troupers to sing a Yuletide song this season; it happened at his Oct. 25 Blue Note Hawaii gig. Read more
Manoa Valley Theatre, elevating its ongoing milestone 50th anniversary, has signed on a roster of six Waikiki marquee names to illuminate selected dark nights. Read more
It’s been kind of a grand prix of great nightlife acts in island venues these past few days, a realization that if you were willing to go out, you were charmed. Read more
Loretta Ables Sayre ends her triumphant run in Diamond Head Theatre’s “Hello, Dolly!” with a matinee today. Read more
“West Side Story” is on track to be rebooted, yet again, with filming slated to start in the summer of 2019. Read more
A trio of Hawaii’s Broadway troupers — all Punahou grads — continue to dot the showscape. Read more
Last week, we reviewed “Carousel,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “SpongeBob Squarepants” and “Pretty Woman;” we continue the Broadway coverage, with more flashes of color-blind casting plus gender-bending. Read more
It’s in-between seasons now on Broadway, with the final curtain drawn for 2018 as the big reveal of the fall shows proceeds in full gear. Read more
Kevin McCollum, the former Honolulu resident whose Tony Award-winning Broadway credits include “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” “In the Heights” and “Something Rotten,” will produce the stage musical “Mrs. Doubtfire” based on the 1993 film that starred the late Robin Williams. Read more
Hawaii’s Ruthie Ann Miles, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Lady Thiang in the Lincoln Center reboot of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, “The King and I,” will be part of a filmed version of the London production due this fall. Read more
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