Former Honolulan and now Broadway actor Jason Tam will be part of NBC’s next live musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” set for Easter Sunday April 1.
Tam will portray Peter, one of 12 apostles. The show, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, was a hit on the New York and London stages. John Legend, Alice Cooper and Sara Bareilles headline the cast.
The rock opera is set during the final week of Jesus’ life and told from the viewpoint of Judas Iscariot. It boasts a score that includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and “Gethsemane.”
As a child actor, Tam played Gavroche in “Les Miserables” in Honolulu before transiting to Broadway. As an adult, he starred in “A Chorus Line,” “If/Then,” “Lysistrata Jones,” and most recently “K Pop.” I also discovered an obscure additional credit: Tam is one of the heard-but-not-seen voices in one of the many social media snippets in the Tony-winning “Dear Evan Hansen.” …
BROADWAY CARES
The Broadway community responded with heartfelt support when one of its bright lights, Ruthie Ann Miles, Tony-winning co-star of “The King and I,” was injured in a horrific traffic incident that killed her 4-year-old daughter Abigail on March 5 in Brooklyn. Miles, a Kaimuki High School graduate, played Imelda Marcos in two off-Broadway runs of “Here Lies Love.” Her married name is Ruthie Ann Blumenstein; she and husband Jonathan are expecting a second child. Friend and fellow actress Lauren Lew also was injured and her 1-year-old son Joshua killed when a car hit them as they were crossing an intersection in a marked crosswalk.
Broadway peers swiftly tweeted condolences, exemplifying her stature as a beloved actress: “Heartsick for Ruthie and her family,” Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” tweeted. Other responders included Daniel Dae Kim of “King and I” (“Please pray for @RuthieAnnMiles); Ben Platt of “Dear Evan Hansen” (“This incredible woman of unimaginable kindness and goodness and talent is going through the absolutely unthinkable”); Audra McDonald of “Shuffle Along” (“This is shattering … Ruthie, I am sending you all the love and light in my heart today”); Kristin Chenoweth of “Wicked” (“There are no words … except you are loved”); and Josh Groban of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” (“An unimaginable tragedy has happened to an extraordinary person in our community”).
A GoFundMe account for the victims was established by Jack Stephens, company manager of “King and I,” who said of Miles: “She is always kind and always has a smile.”
Miles was set to recreate her Lady Thiang role in London’s West End this summer. We had a sweet Lincoln Center backstage visit with her during her “King” run in 2016, and extend our condolences and prayers, too. …
‘GREASE’ IS THE WORD
At Farrington High School, “Grease” is the word. An irresistible performance brimming with raw talent is wowing audiences. Most of the singers and dancers are first-timers in a show. Watching and hearing audience cheers and applause is as much fun as witnessing the contagious pride and positive spirit on stage. Director Miguel Cadoy III, founder of the Farrington Performing Arts Center, has made everyone a believer, and John Travolta’s “break a leg!” message shared in a pre-curtain video, is a delightful surprise.
The final performance is 2 p.m. today; for tickets, call 305-5245 or visit ShowTix4U.com. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
