Dual talent

Joey Caldarone shines in both his theater character roles and in Hawaii's real estate industry

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Many theatergoers have heard of Joey Caldarone. A familiar face on local stages, Caldarone has appeared in musicals from "Miss Saigon" to "Chicago," for which he won a Po'okela Award for his portrayal of Mary Sunshine.

'Bye Bye Birdie' » On stage: 7:30 Fridays and Saturdays through May 24 » Place: Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter » Tickets: $12 to $20 » Call: 438-4480

But since childhood Caldarone has had a dream besides the stage: He wanted to go into real estate. Not as an architect or contractor. He simply wanted to buy and sell property.

"I've always loved real estate," said Caldarone.

Caldarone and his father, Giorgio, frequented Sunday open houses as far back as the younger Caldarone can remember. A precocious child, Caldarone would ask the showing real estate agent, "What's the square footage?" and "What's the tax-assessed value?"

"I meant business," recalled Caldarone. "I have loved homes ever since I can remember. I love real estate and its synergy."

Caldarone has made his mark in both fields. While he might have a higher profile as an actor, away from the spotlight he is a real estate agent with a division of Coldwell Banker, and an accomplished interior decorator.

Caldarone's current stage project is Army Community Theatre's production of "Bye Bye Birdie." He stars as Conrad Birdie, a character loosely based on Elvis Presley, which raises an interesting connection: Caldarone's late uncle Tom Rocco served with Presley in the Army.

"He said (Presley) was a great guy," remembered Caldarone.

Family legend has it that Rocco might have led Presley to record the '60s-era No. 1 song "It's Now or Never," which is based on "O Sole Mio." The Italian-born Rocco told family members he had asked Presley, while they were serving in Germany, if he had ever sung Italian music. (Shortly after his discharge, Presley sang new lyrics written to the Neapolitan tune.)

Rocco encouraged his nephew's acting and singing endeavors and supported his passion for the arts. Partially as a result, Caldarone toyed with the idea of becoming a professional actor, even performing in musical productions in New York as a high school student, having grown up in nearby Franklin Lakes, N.J.

"Ever since I can remember, I've always liked both real estate and singing," Caldarone said. "They're not my only passions, but they are the ones that go the farthest back."

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Joey Caldarone believes his training as a stage performer helped prepare him for working with real estate clients. "Being an actor, you learn to take direction," said Caldarone. "You take direction without letting ego get in the way. You take both direction and criticism."

Caldarone is a real estate agent with the Previews International division of Coldwell Banker. He also assists with the remodeling and renovation of high-end homes for his clients.

"I'm inspired by the people I'm working with and what's going to appeal to them," said Caldarone. "My clients always have so much input."

In his seven years on Oahu, Caldarone served as project manager or partnered with the late New York designer Geoffrey Rey Hassman on approximately 10 full-scale reno- vations, mostly in neighborhoods in Kahala and in the Diamond Head area.

The list of homes and commercial projects includes a collaboration with Hassman on a Kahala Avenue home that was built in 1989. The Eurasian-style four-bedroom, 4 1/2 -bath home later was purchased by Japanese billionaire Gensiro Kawamoto from Caldarone and his family for $3 million. A high-profile property at the corner of Kahala Avenue and Elepaio Street, it is one of 18 purchased by Kawamoto -- and one of three homes the billionaire is allowing low-income families to live in rent-free.

"It's a very opulent home," said Caldarone. "I wanted to be true to the architecture. It's indicative of a true Colonial."

Caldarone's latest project is a two bedroom, two-bath, high-rise condo in the building known as 3003 Kalakaua Avenue. He plans on outfitting the home with natural materials for floors, bathroom walls and the kitchen backsplash. The 1,200-square-foot home also plays upon its oceanfront location -- a color scheme of blues, purples and greens is being implemented.

Coincidentally, the 12-story building is next door to one of his very first projects, a penthouse at Oceanside Manor. For that two-bedroom, two-bath home, the owner asked Caldarone and Hassman to design around a glass table she'd purchased on a trip to Murano, Italy, and her favorite color, purple. The result was contemporary-style décor accented with purple touches.

Caldarone calls the late Hassman his mentor. "I always had an eye for design. I grew up around construction sites and design ... but I really learned from him."

Caldarone bought a home in 2005 for his parents along Waialae Nui Ridge, which he renovated from "soup to nuts," and which is currently for sale. A partial home on the site was removed and a new structure was built in a U-shape that his parents helped design. The layout takes advantage of the valley view, with every nearby room having sliding doors overlooking the courtyard.

The home's features include an infinity pool and a Jacuzzi overlooking the valley. Caldarone staged the great room in a neutral palette with textured fabrics and travertine flooring. A sitting area shares space with the dining table, and nearly everything is placed in twos: two club chairs, two sofas and two table lamps -- providing several conversational pits for family and friends.

Caldarone decorated the great room with contemporary Hawaiian-Asian accessories, and outfitted the space with furniture and accessories from stores such as Lighting Concepts and Design, C.S. Wo & Sons, Interior Accents and Baik Design.

He also mixed old with new, incorporating a 100-year old Indonesian sculpture of an angel alongside contemporary photos by Peter Lik.

Not all partnerships with clients involve a full remodeling. On occasion, Caldarone has acted as personal shopper, assisting a hesitant customer with the selection of materials.

Caldarone also is involved in other artistic endeavors: jewelry, art and writing. He also serves on the board of directors for Manoa Valley Theatre.

"Ever since I was little, I've always been involved in different things," said Caldarone. "I get involved in diverse projects to which I devote all my time and energy. I get bored easily. I need to have all the different things that I do."

While he is drawn to playing "fun character roles" in theater, Caldarone's tastes run to the understated in interior decorating and home design. Though he customizes homes to his clients' tastes, including Eurasian and contemporary, his personal style favors an Asian-Hawaiian fusion of decor.

"There's a dichotomy to my personality," said Caldarone. "I'm over the top, but I'm conservative and reserved as well."