Singer-actress Mary Gutzi, who calls Honolulu her second home, is in the midst of rehearsals in Toronto for the world premiere of a new musical, “Sousatzka,” produced by Canadian Garth Drabinsky. It previews Saturday at the Elgin Theatre, en route to a March 23 premiere.
“Sousatzka” is the tale of Themba, a young South African piano prodigy (played by Jordan Barrow) who escapes apartheid in South Africa in 1982 and finds a haven with his mother, Xholiswa (Montego Glover), in London. He is taken under wing by a masterful Polish piano teacher, Madame Sousatzka (Victoria Clark). It was dramatized in a Shirley MacLaine film, based on Bernice Reubens’ “Madame Sousatkza” novel, which earned the actress a 1989 Golden Globe.
Gutzi will be covering Clark’s title role, her third for producer Drabinsky. “I’m always excited to work in the craft I love so much: theater,” said Gutzi.
“It’s especially wonderful to be with a project from the beginning, as I did with ‘Ragtime,’” another Drabinksy production.
“Watching the creation of a show every step of the way gives you a deeper understanding of the creative process,” she said. “Every day something fantastic happens. But I miss my Hawaii ohana and send my aloha to all.”
She is closely allied with director Adrian Noble (of the Royal Shakespeare Company), Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire (the “Closer Than Ever” composing team), Graciela Daniele (choreographer), actress Clark (a Tony winner from Broadway’s “The Light in the Piazza”) and Judy Kaye (as the Countess).
Gutzi is perhaps best remembered in Hawaii for her role of Norma Desmond in Diamond Head Theatre’s 2011 mounting of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard.”
If the stars align, “Sousatkza” will be on Broadway’s slate in October. Drabinsky’s other credits include “Showboat,” “Fosse” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
WEDDED BLISS
Singer Nina Kealiiwahamana and husband Gordon Rapozo marked their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday with a celebration at the St. Louis Alumni Hall in Moiliili.
Kealiiwahamana, of course, is one of the state’s most endearing voices, and she’s graciously enjoying her retirement and wedded bliss. Among the attendees: Robert Cazimero, Sunbeam Beamer, Aaron Mahi and George Kuo. …
SHORTS OF SORTS
>> Screen gems: Broadway musicals, filmed for theatrical audiences, are on the radar this month. Disney’s “Newsies,” a dance-heavy, high-energy Tony-winner about striking newsboys starring Jeremy Jordan, had two screenings last week at Dole Cannery and Pearl Highlands, with a third viewing 7 p.m. Wednesday. It was filmed at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles after its original Broadway run. And “Allegiance,” the George Takei WWII internment-themed vehicle filmed at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre (and shown here earlier with co-stars Lea Salonga and Telly Leung), repeats at 12:55 p.m. today. For details, go to fathomevents.com.
>> More Mars: If you thought Bruno Mars was hot-to-trot at last week’s Grammyfest, expect more of the same when he joins the likes of Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran at the 2017 BRIT Awards Wednesday at the O2 Arena in London. Footage likely will emerge on YouTube.
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
