JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM Darren Server -- musical director of Manoa Valley Theatre's "Honk!" -- will be performing in "Singing Sondheim."

Server of Sondheim

Darren Server draws from a
wide repertoire of entertainment
skills in his stage success

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

Darren Server isn't the type of person who brags about having a famous entertainer as a relative, but when asked, he confirms that he's the grandson of Jerome Howard -- better known to generations of comedy fans as Curly of the Three Stooges.

"That's my inspiration for acting, because I really want to follow in his footsteps. I'm the only one in my family who's decided to take this artist's life," Server said, explaining that Curly was his mom's dad, and Shemp and Moe her uncles. He got to know his great-uncle Moe, but Shemp and Curly died before he was born.

Many kids have to be forced to practice the piano, but not young Darren. His stepmother, "who didn't like the sound of the piano," sometimes locked the piano to keep him from playing.

"I had a deep hunger for it," he said. On lunch breaks during junior high and high school, "I used to go to the library and check out Broadway scores, open the book, put it on the piano, and I had to play as if it was a performance from beginning to end."

It's not surprising that he became a professional entertainer. He found more opportunities in San Francisco than Los Angeles, established himself there, and eventually came to Hawaii.

This has been a big year for him. He contributed to the success of Manoa Valley Theatre's second staging of "Song of Singapore," then added a memorable portrayal of 1st Class Steward Henry Etches to Diamond Head Theatre's ensemble production of "Titanic." More recently, he's been heard, and occasionally seen, as musical director of MVT's presentation of "Honk!" -- a "sleeper" of a show that gains in popularity each week.

NOW, FOR something completely different, he's opening with Katie Leiva, Shari Lynn, Andrew Meader and pianist Melina Lillios in "Singing Sondheim," a late-night cabaret show, at the ARTS at Marks Garage tonight.

"Broadway music really inspired me -- and Sondheim particularly," Server said while he and Meader waited for the women to arrive for a rehearsal at MVT.

"I actually got my actor's equity card because I was musical director, played 'Piano 1' (because it's originally scored for two pianos) ... and also did the narration ... for 'Side by Side by Sondheim' in the Plush Room in San Francisco in 1984. It was a big hit in San Francisco, and I got to meet Sondheim."

He mentioned his love for Sondheim when Meader asked him if he'd be interested in being musical director of a late-night cabaret show. One idea was followed by another and another.

"I wasn't officially asked to be the director, but I have so many ideas, and he let me take them, so I basically blocked the whole thing," Server said. "I've had a lot of experience with cabaret 'cause living in San Francisco, there was a lot more cabaret than there was in Los Angeles ... and I'm very excited about this."

Server is part of a high-profile ensemble. Leiva received a Po'okela Award for her work with him in "Song of Singapore" and is coming off a stellar performance in DHT's "Chicago." Lillios is a Po'okela winner as musical director of DHT's "Titanic." Meader was last seen in "Fully Committed" at the ARTS at Marks Garage (he split performance dates in the one-man show with Greg Howell).

Lynn received her most recent Po'okela for her performance in DHT's revival of "Mame," but she and Server have some history of their own -- Server's 3 1/2-year S.S. Independence engagement began when Lynn hired him as her shipboard pianist.

He later graduated to star status. Among his shipboard projects were a pair of souvenir CDs and a popular cabaret tribute to Scott Joplin.

Is this his biggest project to date in Hawaii?

"I think so, but that's an interesting question," he said. "One of my great loves is working out vocals with people. ... I've done a lot of musical directing, and I want to keep that up, and (also) doing acting. Henry Etches in 'Titanic' was a great role, and Freddy S. Lyme in 'Song of Singapore' was a great challenge to me as an actor doing the blind (character)."

He's scheduled to stand in for Jason Scott Lee during early rehearsals for Joe Moore's next play at Hawaii Theatre. He has another couple of projects in mind, but he's keeping his options open.

"Since I was a, kid I've been told by teachers ... I'd have to decide whether I wanted to be an actor or a piano player, and inside I felt I cannot make that decision," he said. "I've always been able to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that -- act, sing, be a musical director, cabaret. I enjoy all of it."

His grandfather would certainly approve!

'Singing Sondheim' Presented by Tim Bostock and the Hawaii Academy of the Performing Arts. Where: The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. When: 10:30 p.m. today through Saturday; doors open at 9 p.m. Cost: $18 Call: 521-9699

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