Cheesa Laureta, the island performer who competed last year on NBC’s “The Voice,” will make an appearance at the 30th annual Universal ShowQueen Pageant on Saturday in the Hawai‘i Convention Center’s Kalakaua Ballroom.
Laureta, whose debut album is “Naked,” will perform late in the evening while judges tally results for the “ultimate in boy beautiful.”
The pageant will draw gents in drag from Hawaii, Mexico and Asia in what is an extraordinary and eclectic parade of talent (usually lip-sync), couture design and Las Vegas showgirl costumes. There will be glitter, sequins and feathers aplenty, with most candidates boasting slim waists and astonishing ladylike moves.
The panel of judges will include Mark Kanemura, the lead dancer with Lady Gaga (whose “Born This Way Ball”tour has been on hold while she recuperates from a hip injury). Kanemura, a former 24-VII Danceforce beacon, gained national acclaim when he appeared on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” which led to a 2009 dance slot with Gaga at the MTV Video Music Awards and subsequent performances in her “Telephone,” “Alejandro,” “Born This Way” and “Judas” videos.
The reigning ShowQueen is Christina Doll from Hawaii, who makes her final walk down the runway Saturday.
Doors open at 6 p.m.; the pageant starts at 7 p.m. Tickets: $50 and $60 at TIX.com or www.universalshowqueenpageant.com. Information: 372-9350 or 389-6909. …
CANNON’S CANON: You might say the late Glenn Cannon, the director, actor and drama professor, worked down to the wire. Cannon, who died April 20 at the age of 80, was to direct The Actors’ Group’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which opens Friday at its Dole Cannery stage. He was working on the script in his final weeks, even while waiting for doctors’ appointments.
Obviously he was unable to see the production through, but he personally cast two of the show’s leads. As his widow, Samsil Cannon, said, “He did the casting … from his hospital bed. ‘You are Maggie,’ he told Lauren Murata(in a phone call). ‘You are Brick,’ he said to Scott Russell.He tried so hard to speak to them, with all the strength he could gather,” she said. So yes, Cannon will be overlooking and sending his blessings from his perch in heaven. …
NOTEWORTHY:Blue Man Group, the wildly inventive act, opens an eight-show run Tuesday at Blaisdell Concert Hall as the last of three “Broadway in Hawaii” shows this season. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: 745-3000, ticketmaster.com. …
Local boy Bruno Mars and his Hooligans have taped a performance of “Treasure” for the finale of NBC’s “The Voice” on Tuesday. It was done in May, shortly before Mars’ mom, Bernadette Bayot, died. The two-hour finale also will feature Florida Georgia Line and Nelly, and Cher debuts her new single. …
While here for his mom’s funeral, Bruno showed up with dad Pete Hernandez when the ex-Love Notes leader needed a quick trim at Hair Razing Experience in Puck’s Alley. No, Bruno didn’t get a cut, said stylist Tootsie Kobelansky. But yes, photos were snapped. …
HITHER ‘N’ YON: Elvis Presley fans by the thousands, including a contingent from Hawaii,will convene at Elvis Week from Aug. 10 to 17 at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. There will be the usual events: a candlelight vigil, the Elvis tribute competition and a screening at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis of “Aloha from Hawaii,” the King’s historic live-from-Honolulu 1973 TV concert remastered in high definition to mark the 40th anniversary of the event. Yes, Honolulu already had a chance in January to experience this reboot.Tickets: ElvisWeek.com. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
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.
