As he approaches his 90th birthday March 15, Jack Cione, longtime entrepreneur, showman, director and author, has no regrets. But his bucket list still has a few to-dos.
“Like making it to 91,” he said, “and traveling. Though I love living at the Arcadia, I like to travel … and spend time with young people.”
His friends and colleagues will assemble at “Naughty at 90 … Still,” a birthday bash, March 15 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii’s Manoa Grand Ballroom. It was to be a secret surprise, but the cat’s out of the bag.
He explained the leak: “I have Wednesday rehearsals with my ‘Follies’ cast at the Arcadia, but when I asked about sessions for Wednesdays, the gals told me they can’t do it because they were putting together and rehearsing a tribute show for a birthday party … on their own.” For him.
Cione has directed a lavish annual musical review at the senior residence facility for the past 12 years (this year’s opens July 14). So he should be happy to see the tables turned and how his mentorship plays out; Becki Han is heading the Arcadian team.
A showbiz icon here for nearly 60 years, Cione earlier produced a “Follies” spectacle at Pearl Harbor for 25 years. He is perhaps best known in Hawaii as the man who put naked waiters on the map in the 1970s. His luncheon show with unclad gents at the now-gone Dunes on Nimitz Highway had ’em buzzing.
“Office ladies filled the club,” Cione recalled, with the hubbub generating a wave of local and national publicity.
The waiter gimmick was just one spoke in his wheels. Over the decades, Cione staged strip shows at the Forbidden City and varying Waikiki revues such as the Boom Boom Club (formerly Duke Kahanamoku’s), the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room and the Hale Koa Hotel.
And his book, “Repotting Is Such a Bitch,” has made him a frequent guest speaker when he shares vignettes of “repotting” and relaunching a chameleon career.
Bo Irvine emcees “Naughty,” featuring no-host cocktails from 5:30 p.m., a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m., a show at 7:30 p.m. and a toast-and-cake finale at 8:30 p.m. For tickets ($59), call 864-2980 or email naughty90Jack@gmail.com.
In lieu of lei and gifts, organizers suggest attendees write a check (payable to Jack Cione) for his travel fund. Mail to Wanda Shipp, P.O. Box 26293, Honolulu, HI 96825; or bring in person to the event.
His travel agenda?
“Tahiti to see friends, maybe New York to catch plays like ‘War Paint’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ with Bette Midler, and a burlesque convention in Las Vegas in June,” a reunion with strippers now in their 80s and 90s.
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO …
It’s Academy Awards time, so here are my predictions:
>> Best picture: “La La Land.” Ooh la la! An old/new Hollywood classic.
>> Best director: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land.” Old-school vision pays off.
>> Best actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea.” His popularity is Affleck-tive.
>> Best supporting actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight.” A victory for diversity, No. 1.
>> Best actress: Emma Stone, “La La Land.” She sings! She dances! She wins!
>> Best supporting actress: Viola Davis, “Fences.” A victory for diversity, No. 2.
>> Best song: “How Far I’ll Go,” from “Moana,” Lin-Manuel Miranda. Another nod for diversity if the “Hamilton” creator triumphs, and it will make him an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner.
Tune in at 7:30 p.m. today on ABC to see how it plays out.
WHEE, THE PEOPLE
Bree Kale‘a Peters is Manoa Valley Theatre’s first-ever artistic director, just named by producing director Dwight Martin. The post enables Peters (stage vets will remember her as Bree Bumatai) to “lead with continued passion for our art and the artists who bring it to life on our MVT stage,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, MVT will stage a “Rock of Ages” 1980s dance party fundraiser from 5 to 10 p.m. today at Ala Moana Hotel’s Rumours club. Call 988-6131.
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran Honolulu entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or email wayneharada@gmail.com.
