An open letter to: Hugh Jackman
From: Wayne Harada
Re: “The Greatest Showman” tour
A plea: Would you consider bring your mega-tour to Hawaii?
You are launching your global agenda May 3 in Hamburg, Germany, and then you’ll be all over the map — Europe, Canada and a vast itinerary of North American dates starting June 18 in Houston, winding up in Los Angeles July 20. You’ll visit your Aussie home base and treat New Zealand fans, too, Aug. 2 through Sept. 7.
My question: There appears to be a break in your schedule after L.A., before you play Sydney. Would you consider a Hawaii show (or two) in July? Like, squeeze in a busman’s holiday during this pause? Surely, it’s a costly enterprise; but your cast mates will appreciate the Hawaii break, too.
A celebrity of your caliber seldom blesses us with a first-run tour. Like fans elsewhere, we all loved “The Greatest Showman” and “Les Miserables,” your two musical films (whose music you’ll feature). And Keala Settle, your Bearded Lady in “Showman,” is a global fave, too, since this local girl’s “This Is Me” sizzled on the charts and she’s performing with you in select shows. Help us show her we’re proud of her, too.
A few acts (most recently, our homegrown Bruno Mars) end their big tours here, and rest and recuperate afterward. In your case, it would be the pause that refreshes. We are ready, if you are. Please? …
Not forgotten
A celebration of life for Deanna Luster, a dancer, instructor, choreographer and Po‘okela Award winner, will be held at 6 p.m. April 2 at Diamond Head Theatre. She died Jan. 3 at age 56 and would have been 57 on Saturday. Her achievements included Diamond Head Theatre’s “Titanic,” Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Cabaret” and Army Community Theatre’s “Damn Yankees;” her most recent choreographic production was Kapolei’s PacKids’ “Lion King Jr.” in 2018, culminating in a trip to compete at Disney World. Survivors include her Honolulu mom, Arlene Luster Hanusey, and brother Eugene Luster of San Diego. “Her last wish was to have a dance party as part of her celebration of life,” said her mom. “She didn’t want (a traditional) funeral.” Performers will include singer-actress Loretta Ables Sayre and Jorin Young, former Shooting Stars member. …
Were he still alive, the late-and-great crooner Alfred Apaka would be 100 on Tuesday. He died on Jan. 30, 1960, at age 40, and his son Jeff is not holding a memorial this year for “The Voice of Hawaii” due to difficulties securing a site. …
Cadence countdown
“Momentary” is the working title for Streetlight Cadence’s new album, with the gents self-producing for the first time. It assembles 14 new titles written by group members, according to SLC’s recent newsletter.
The alt-folk-pop quartet — composed of Jonathon Franklin, violin; Brian Webb, cello; Jesse Shiroma, accordion; and Benjamin Chai, drums — is in the second season of its “Will Play for Food” TV show, which documents the guys’ travels and food explorations, and airs locally on KFVE.
And this month, the band is performing in a series of shows at California’s Downtown Disney and Universal CityWalk. …
The local angle
The aloha spirit was in full force, when Josh Tatofi, Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning singer, shared his island mele last week, at a “Hawaii Night” halftime show at Staples Center in Los Angeles, when the L.A. Clippers played the Boston Celtics. Jasmine Trias, American Idol finalist from Hawaii, rendered the national anthem. …
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
