A Thenardier of "Les Miserables" was in our midst during Thanksgiving. Broadway actor Richard Vida and his partner, musical conductor Bob Billig, spent November chilling in the islands. Vida, who has a string of Broadway credits, portrayed the "Master of the House," Thenardier, in the touring Broadway-bound, 25th-anniversary production of the newly re-imagined "Les Miserables," which debuts March 23 at the Imperial Theatre in New York … but alas, he won’t be doing the part then. Not yet, anyway. Billig, a veteran Broadway conductor who’s helmed musicals here,also conducted "Les Miz" on the tour.
Over breakfast at Moena Cafe in Hawaii Kai, they both said "Les Miz" will be a hot ticket in New York despite some major production changes. "There’s no round table," Vida said of one of the trademarks of the show till now, and Billig said "quite a bit of the music has been edited out," which doesn’t diminish the appeal of the show. The new version employs the use of projections.
Toronto’s Ramin Karimloo ("The Phantom of the Opera," "Love Never Dies,""Les Miz") will be Jean Valjean, Will Swenson (Tony-nominated for "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," "Hair") will be Inspector Javert, Caissie Levy ("Ghost," "Wicked") will be Fantine and Nikki M. James (Tony winner for "The Book of Mormon") will be Eponine. …
NAMES ‘N’ FACES: AdamLevine of Maroon 5 and NBC’s "The Voice" might be People’s Sexiest Man Alive, but Keanu-Ray Charlie Bergfeld, 18,of Keaau on the Big Island is "Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man," copping the title in a field of 13 other men and a $10,000 scholarship and $1,000 cash prize. Bergfeld is a student at Hawaii Community College with a brown belt in judo, working toward earning his black belt. His goal: to be an EMT and ultimately a firefighter. …
HOLIDAZE: Nick Kawakami of the family ManoaDNA group has been prepping for the group’s annual toy drive, set for 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 at Gordon Biersch at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The event collects toys (so bring a couple of unwrapped toys with you) benefiting the Keiki o ka ‘Aina and Laulima Giving Program. Also performing: Roy Sakuma‘s Ukulele Keiki, Jon Yamasato and Brother Noland. …
Kit Samson and his five-piece combo will perform at Kahala Nui’s Christmas party Dec. 7. He’ll feature singer Shari Lynn, and this sounds like a ‘swonderful musical gift for the residents. …
The Honolulu Boy Choir‘s 39th annual "Merriest Hawaiian Christmas" concert will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Central Union Church. Aileen Kawakami and Nyle Hallman provide prelude harp music from 6:30 p.m. Guesting with the boy singers: Jake Shimabukuro and the Sounds of Aloha choir. Donations accepted at the door. …
The Hawaii Sacred Choir, featuring youths 3 to 8 who render the adult soprano parts, will perform at England’s Ely Cathedral in July. Preview their sound in a Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in the Liliha area. A Tongan choir also will perform. …
Diamond Head Theatre’s holiday musical "Elf," starring New Yorker Jami Keck as Buddy the elf, which opens Friday, has added two performances, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and 8 p.m. Dec. 28. …
RADIO DIAL: Deejay-turned-artist Frank B. Shaner has teamed up with Generations magazine publisher-editor Percy Ihara to do "The Baby Boomer"call-in talk show from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturdays on AM 690. Meantime, look for Shaner’s art on the walls of Assaggio restaurants. …
Gregg Hammer, Davey D and Shawnee (Hammer) form the morning team on Krater 96.3, with chatter and tunes from the ’90s to the present. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
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Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
