Johnson Enos’ original environmental musical, "Honu by the Sea," is on a seven-performance tour of the Pacific Northwest this weekend. A reduced cast of eight is presenting a revamped show, themed "Guardians of the Sea," today through Monday at the Seattle Aquarium.
Ki Quilloy, from the original Hawaii company, is taking on a new role of Nalu the toothless tiger shark and also delivering a new Enos composition, "Just Misunderstood."
And Marlise Ahuna, playing Lehua the Mother Honu, is four months hapai — so a "ninth" trouper sorta is on the tour, arranged by the Oahu Visitors Bureau and the Waikiki Aquarium.
The family-friendly Broadway-style musical, with music and lyrics by Enos, raises environmental concerns about ocean debris threatening marine life as the under-the-sea denizens encounter a Waikiki beachboy in a tale about the virtues and value of friendship.
Enos is a veteran singer-composer and show host, with mainstream credits involving the likes of Bette Midler and Kristin Chenoweth. "Honu" had a limited run last summer at the Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, aka "the Pink Palace," and is poised this year to land a national showcase.
The cast also will visit Bainbridge Island to engage in a cultural exchange program with the Suquamish Tribe. …
ROYAL TREATMENT: If you’ve ever attended a Monarch Room event in decades past, you’ve surely encountered the genial and efficient maitre d’, Coronado Aquino, the face of the showroom. Though he retired three years ago and is happy about it, Aquino often is summoned back into action because past clients still adore his service at catering events. That pleases him — especially when he can pick and choose the occasion and client. "It’s great to see old friends," he says.
Retirement suits him; when I bumped into him one day, he looked grand and totally relaxed. …
PERSONALITIES: Jack Cione, the writer-producer of the "Follies" revue at the Arcadia, is excited about the prospects of staging the costumed extravaganza at the Hawaii Theatre on June 7 — in addition to the usual Arcadia showcase in the renovated chapel/theater.
Cione also is in the midst of completing a book, "Repotting Can Be Such a Bitch," regarding the six "repotting/replanting" phases of his colorful entrepreneurial career. The book will recount his decades of experience operating strip clubs, naked-waiter revues and Waikiki shows. He previewed the book for his fellow Arcadians with a Q&A breakfast session recently, attracting about 80 eager and inquisitive seniors, many of whom frequented his clubs back in the day.
And Leslie Wilcox has tapped Cione for an upcoming PBS "Long Story Short" salute in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned. …
NAMES ‘N’ FACES: It’s bound to be a double sellout for Bruno Mars when his Moonshine Jungle Tour resumes this year with a two-nighter April 18 and 19 at Blaisdell Arena — a Tom Moffatt production. Hopefully by then Mars will have picked up another Grammy award. Tickets go on sale Feb. 3, a day after his Super Bowl XVIII halftime performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. And with the Red Hot Chili Peppers added to the roster (Super Bowl, not Honolulu), there’s socko punch and flavor to the menu. …
Jason Momoa, the ex-islander best known for his Khal Drogo role on HBO’s "Games of Thrones" and the title role in the recent remake of ArnoldSchwarzenegger‘s "Conan the Barbarian," could wind up in director Zack Snyder‘s "Batman vs. Superman" sequel, which will star Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel and Ben Affleck as Batman. Israeli actress Gal Gadot will take on the Wonder Woman role; Momoa’s part could be that of an alien yet to be defined. He’s also destined to portray a villain in the upcoming "Doomsday" flick. …
Localite B.K. Cannon returns as Mary Beth on ABC Family’s "Switched at Birth" (8 p.m. Mondays). Look for her in more episodes in February and March. …
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.
