Back on July 17, 2009, a dream came true for 13-year-old Kamehameha student Ana Malia Kia when she had a front-row seat for the Jonas Brothers’ concert at TD Garden in Boston, formerly known as Boston Garden. Ana’s dreamboat is Nick Jonas but she loves his brothers, too. The great seats were arranged by Ana’s grandmother, Mary Clivio, then vice president of the Garden. It was an unforgettable night for Ana but she was disappointed when a sign she worked so hard on, asking the brothers to "Come to Hawaii" to perform, was confiscated.
Fast-forward to Sept. 26’s Waikiki Beach season premier of "Hawaii Five-0" that featured a performance by the Jonas Brothers: Ana, now a Kamehameha senior, got to sit in the front row at the concert next to Denise Jonas, mother of the brothers, and had a nice conversation with her about her boys. The Kailua girl was ecstatic when she got to meet the brothers backstage after the concert. The night was the thrill of a lifetime for the 17-year-old …
MAKING AUDIENCES happy in the starring role of Sally Bowles in Diamond Head Theatre’s production of "Cabaret" is Samantha "Sam" Stoltzfus, a blond beauty. Sam’s day job is making people happy as a waitress, serving good food at Murphy’s. (See review below.) But that’s not surprising as many singers, dancers and actors who hope to make it to the bright lights of Broadway work in eateries on the way up.
Stoltzfus, 25, said she came to Hawaii from New York "about two years ago to check it out" and she likes it here. She went right into playing major roles with local theater companies.
Stoltzfus can sing, dance and act and can also play the flute. She grew up in a town outside Philadelphia. "I used to sing a lot growing up and always wanted to act and started performing in musicals at 14," said the graduate of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. "‘Cabaret’ is a fantastic musical and playing Sally Bowles is a dream role," she said. She praised the DHT cast and called it a "good family."
Drew Tandal is the Master of Ceremonies, David James Bachler is Clifford Bradshaw, Shari Lynn is Frāulein Schneider and Jeff Schmidt is Herr Schultz. Director and choreographer is John Rampage. Musical director is Emmett Yoshioka. For tickets, call 733-0274 or go to www.diamondheadtheatre.com …
THE LATE James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have long been favorites of mine on TV and that, coupled with being at the big guy’s wedding here to local girl Deborah Lin in 2008, thanks to her mom Ruth Lin, made it a must to see the pair in "Enough Said" at Kahala Theatre. Who’da thought the actor who played a Mafia boss to a T in "The Sopranos" could be so good in romantic comedy? The stars fit perfectly together and the witty dialogue they toss at each other sizzles.
The supporting cast is strong. Louis-Dreyfus as Eva portrays a massage-therapist mom and Catherine Keener plays her customer/ new friend. The twists and turns in the script are funny and more than a little difficult for the characters, even painful for them. But the picture is a hilarious trip …
FODOR’S TRAVEL has named the Halekulani one of its 2013 100 Hotel Award winners in the Blissful Beach Retreats category. It was the only isle property named in this category. It designates the Halekulani as an outstanding hotel, as selected by Fodor’s editors and travel experts, recognizing high style, excellent service and a one-of-a-kind guest stays …
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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
