February 2010 Volume 95 • Issue 2
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February 2010 Volume 95 • Issue 2 Six Trips and Counting DHT’s popular Broadway Bound tours hit all the right notes Diamond Head Theatre hosted yet Inside This Issue another exciting Broadway Bound adventure A Look Back in Time 2 this past November. It was our sixth “adult” Executive Director’s Message 2 trip to the worlds of theatre, shopping and The Year in Review 4 dining in New York City (we also took the Shooting Stars in 2007). The 2010 trip will The Joy Luck Club 6 be lucky number seven! In the Spotlight 7 When we created the Broadway Bound Broadway Bound, Spring 2008 Holiday Memories 8 program back in 2005, we decided that late autumn, around Veterans Day, was Our Mahalo 8 the perfect time of year to visit the Big Rockefeller Center tree is up and New York’s Apple. For one thing, it gives our group the many incredible stores are primed for early possibility of experiencing the amazing fall Christmas shopping (as are we!). colors that we miss out on living in Hawaii. For that first trip, we weren’t sure if It’s also the beginning of the holiday season, anyone would sign up. They did—31 people so the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas in all. We hosted a summer orientation Spectacular has just opened. Plus the at the theatre and a bon voyage party Coming Soon CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 SHOUT: THE MOD MUSICAL Theatre ABC’s Director Deena Dray and Education March 19 - April 4 Director Kelly Moulson immediately put When school doors closed, DHT’s their heads together, and Theatre ABC’s GUYS AND DOLLS stage doors opened was born. The response was terrific, and the May 14 - 30 program sold out immediately. It was an auspicious first day: The THE SOUND OF MUSIC morning’s tentative “hellos” became happy July 9 - 25 cries of “I can’t wait for next Friday!” echoing through the rehearsal hall by 3 pm. The silver lining for us was that the majority of the students had never participated in DHT’s performing arts program before, so we had brand new kids to introduce to our For Tickets theatre. Call 808.733.0274 or visit Theatre ABC’s was built using condensed www.diamondheadtheatre.com When word hit that public schools curriculum modules from our popular would close on Fridays to offset Hawaii’s Musical Theatre Experience (MTE) summer budget crisis, we at Diamond Head Theatre program. The program features Department wondered how we could help. Executive CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 performed in the original rehearsal next week, Broadway production. but could keep the His name was Jim part open if you could Alex, and as with work on it there. Alvina DHT’s present-day Kaulili doing the singing 1959 guest artists, Mayer [she was actually the ran headlong into music director] and she transportation and thinks she could get you by. housing challenges. Let’s hear, boy. It all worked out, A Look Back in Time however—a cheap After that resounding vote Guys and Dolls flight was found, of confidence (!) Mr. Ganley as was “a room did take the role, but was soon With in our Guys and Dolls in a house near again on the hot seat, this time repertoire this season, it was a good the theatre from a girl who also for his costuming. One W.J. time to look back at another production works on the show.” Forrestel wrote the director on of the show staged here at Diamond Casting the lead was the next July 26: “James Ganley’s portrayal of Sky Head Theatre (then known as Honolulu challenge. Director Mayer wrote to Masterston is excellent but I thought the Community Theatre). The year was James Ganley, a local boy away at college character delineation suffered just a bit 1959, nine years after the show opened in Oregon: because his costume—a dark business on Broadway and won five Tony suit—was a bit too drab . a checked Awards®, including an award for Best or brighter hued sport coat would more Musical. May 28, 1959 enhance the illusion of the character.” Jerome Mayer, then HCT’s managing Dear Jim, Diamond Head Theatre will present director, was also to be the director How about reading the part of for the fourth time of . Mayer decided to Guys and Dolls Guys and Dolls Sky Masterson, fast, and answering, (previously mounted in 1973 and 1990) bring in a choreographer from the fast, if you’re coming back for the this spring. Keep an eye out for Sky Mainland—someone who had actually summer and when. We go into Masterson’s attire! 2 story as it’s unfolding. So, we’ve built a Aloha from DHT’s Facebook page. Now we can post pictures Executive Director of rehearsals and our new Furlough Last year I signed up for Facebook. Fridays classes, plus feature links to I never thought I would. Like many of articles, videos of performances . you you, I thought it was a “young person’s name it, we’ve posted it! We try to post thing” and way too time consuming, but new items at least once a week, and our I started hearing that middle-aged folks page already has more than 500 fans. like myself were signing up in droves. Interested? You don’t have to be on I so hate to be left behind! Plus, my Facebook to see our page. Just go to our mainland friend had posted pictures of website, www.diamondheadtheatre.com, her son’s wedding and I was eager to see and click on the Facebook icon. You’ll the photos. land on the page and be able to see all Once I signed up (it was easy!), I our news. And you may find yourself as became intrigued. It’s not the invasion of intrigued as I was by Facebook and end privacy I expected. I limit my “friends” up creating your own page. If you do, be to close friends and family, and it’s not sure to become a fan of DHT. You’ll get all that time consuming. Anyway, I’m all the theatre news as soon as we post it. hooked. Facebook has become an easy So, is Twitter next? I don’t think so, way for me to check in with people, see but we’ll see. After all, that’s what I said about Facebook! what they’re up to and best of all, view Photo from DHT’s Broadway Bound tour last their pictures. November. We had a great time, as usual! In setting up my personal page, I quickly recognized what Facebook could do for Diamond Head Theatre: tell our BROADWAY BOUND - CONT. FROM PAGE 1 and we had our first bus tour with guide get into shows in preview, such as this at a private club one week before Zoura. She’s knowledgeable, fun and year, when we attended Bye Bye Birdie departure—a tradition we’ve continued. very entertaining. We made a special trip before it had officially opened. We learned a lot on that first foray. to The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park, a One thing we have never changed is For example, don’t plan too many group great opportunity to see the fall foliage. the Actor Talk Back. One of the actors activities, since patrons enjoy creating It was so late in the season that we from a show we have seen during our some of their own plans. So the next found it more barren than expected, but stay joins our group for an hour-long year, we cut back on group activities and still fun! discussion of his or her life, the role, the left more free time. It worked beautifully. We had always had our Four show—whatever we want to talk about. Each following year we found Seasons dinner on a theatre night, and It’s a wonderful backstage peek at life in something to tweak. After the first year, one year, trying to get cabs to Lincoln the theatre business. One of the most we moved from the Algonquin Hotel to Center to make our show on time was memorable sessions was with Loretta the Warwick New York Hotel and have on the November 2008 tour (as you stayed there ever since. The Warwick 2007 probably know, South Pacific did not end has an intimate feel as well as a very nice up closing—in fact, it’s still running!). restaurant, plus a cozy lounge ideal for a Loretta told the story of her climb from quick sandwich or glass of wine. It’s also Honolulu lounge singer to DHT actress perfectly located, on the corner of 6th to Broadway Tony nominee—and Avenue and West 54th. Fifth Avenue is believe me, there was not a dry eye in a block away, Central Park is right up the house. The ups and downs of her the street and the theatre district is only journey were truly five or six blocks away. To top it off, the poignant to hear. hotel staff is simply With each superb. tour, we’ve had the In year number inevitable snafus. three of Broadway In 2007, a stage Bound, we developed manager strike shut the first-night down all but a very tradition of a no- few Broadway shows; 3 host dinner at Remi, another year, a patron a charming Italian ended up in the restaurant only a 2008 hospital overnight; block from the hotel. then there was the It’s an indulgent way 2008 very stressful.