Willy Falk, 60, a former Honoluluan with a 35-year career on Broadway, makes his first Blue Note Hawaii appearance at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday in a show themed “Mostly Love.”
A busy week awaits, mixing fun and work. The Punahou School grad (class of 1976) timed his Waikiki debut to the school’s carnival this weekend, since alums aplenty are in town.
“While I am home, I am doing a music video on campus for the ‘Punahou Sessions’ series (celebrating talented grads) and singing the national anthem for the Navy before the carnival,” he said.
Since he has previously appeared at Manoa Valley Theatre, he was tapped to do a public service announcement for the theater and take in a performance of the “Avenue Q” musical, extended through Feb. 10. “For their 50th season, they are reaching out to veterans of MVT; I did three shows when it (the theater) was just a mildewed church,” he said.
Falk is best known for originating the role of Chris, the GI who falls for Kim, in 1991’s “Miss Saigon” on Broadway, opposite Lea Salonga (Kim) and Jonathan Pryce (the Engineer). Both won Tony Awards; Falk was a nominee. He also played Marius in Broadway’s “Les Miserables” and earned kudos in a 1983 musical, “Marilyn: An American Fable,” a dud about Marilyn Monroe, but notable for a standing ovation for his “You Are So Beyond” solo.
His Broadway and Punahou chum, Leilani Jones (also known as Angie, class of ’75 ), will be a guest star. “A solo and a duet,” Falk revealed. “Very happy about that.”
They started doing musicals together in high school, moved to New York at the same time, “and well, we are family.” She won a 1985 Tony as best featured actress in a musical for “Grind.” Her New York credits also include “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Falk was the first island voice student of the late Neva Rego, a legendary vocal coach to local entertainers. “First and foremost, Neva believed in me and my potential,” he recalled. “For a young person, this is so valuable. She always stressed the importance of keeping the voice in good health through technique, study and good habits. If the voice gets damaged, it can be so hard to heal. This is crucial.”
Rego, he said, “inspired me to keep the pure joy of being around good music. Don’t get jaded.”
Falk advises Broadway neophytes to “dream big, but have a support network who believe in you and temper your dreams with a dose of reality.” Rego was his key supporter. “Instead of flying away like a bird, think of creating your own beautiful kite, attached to a string and being held by the authentic, grounded person that is you. When the winds are favorable, be ready to fly proud, but don’t let go.”
Tickets: $25-$45, at 777-4890. …
BROADWAY BITS
Roy and Rochelle delaCruz, parents of Marc delaCruz, the localite interviewed in last week’s column, took in Sunday’s matinee of “Hamilton” on Broadway, to catch their son playing the lead. They shared an apres-show photo taken onstage, with a note: “We are bursting with pride.” Indeed. …
Cynthia Erivo, a Tony winner for best leading actress in a musical for “The Color Purple,” performs at 8 p.m. March 16 at Hawaii Theatre. Tickets: $79 to $500, at 528-0506. She also has Grammy and Emmy awards and sings at La Pietra — Hawaii School for Girls’ Hoopla event from 5:30 p.m. March 15. Information: lapietra.edu/giving/hoopla. …
JUNGLE JIVE
With Dwayne Johnson filming “Jumanji 2” on Kauai through early February, several folks, like Pogi Tevaga of Tihati Productions, have landed roles as cousins of Dr. Smolder Bravestone, the Johnson character on the verge of going to battle with a group mercenaries. The cast includes Danny Glover, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Awkwafina and Danny DeVito, with Jake Kasdan, who helmed the 2017 reboot, directing again. …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
