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Hawaii
LEAP YEAR has special memories for many of us. I mentioned yesterday that it was on Feb. 29, 1956, that I first arrived in Hawaii and knew at once it would be home. This, then, is the 11th anniversary of my arrival. For attorneys Rich Turban and Rai St. Chu, today they celebrate the fourth birthday of their son, Derek, born 16 years ago. Now a 6-3, 185 pound sophomore at Uncommon anniversaries
Punahou School, Derek very nearly was given a different name by his playful pop. He wanted to call his Leap Year baby Lee Pierre, but was overruled by his bride ...
PIANIST Rob Prester plays both jazz and classical, thanks to early lessons from his mom, concert pianist Marcia Prester of New York. Now he gets a chance to play along with her and his frequent musical collaborator, trumpet virtuoso DeShannon Higa, March 16 at Studio Six at the Musician's Union, 949 Kapiolani Blvd. I was very impressed with Prester when I heard him and Higa in a set at the Honolulu Club along with vocalist Rocky Brown ...
ROCKY will be singing songs from Broadway along with Michael Maguire, Jan Horvath and Doug LaBrecque with the Honolulu Pops at the Blaisdell Concert Hall March 24 & 25. All have great Broadway credentials, but I had the privilege of seeing Maguire sing Enrolas in the 10th anniversary concert version of "Les Miserables" at Albert Hall in London, a performance many have viewed on videotape. My assessment at the time: "Unfairly and impossibly handsome." Oh yes, he can sing, too ...
Susi Q and A
WHAT is Lolly Susi up to? The versatile theater performer, who directed "Blood Brothers" at Manoa Valley Theatre, now has a play running in London, "Going to L.A." It's being performed at Hampstead after a reading of it last year on the BBC. What's Susi doing now? She's performing with Helen Mirren in director Nickolas Hytner's production of "Orpheus Descending" at the prestigious Donmar Warehouse. What's next on Susi's agenda? She's acquired a producer for a new play she's written, "Potluck," with an eye on a West End of London production later this year. A script has already gone out to actress Holly Hunter for perusal ...THEY'RE calling all the free events of March 11 & 12 the Honolulu Festival, but it'll really be more a Japanese Festival. Arts, crafts and sports of Japan will be featured at venues as varied as Thomas Square, the Concert Hall, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and a blocked-off Auahi Street. The later will be used for a demonstration of equine archery -- archers on horseback --called Yabusame. Riding at a fast pace, the horsemen hit their targets with incredible accuracy. Another feature is a 2.5 ton papier-mache float called a Nebuta pushed down Kalakaua as part of the grand finale ...
Madama Namba
FOLLOWING the Hawaii Opera Theatre's "Ensemble Evening" for the design team of "Madama Butterfly" at the Pacific Club, a spirited discussion ensued. After chopsticking their way through an authentic Japanese meal, director Paula Williams, conductor Mary Chun and set designer Carol Bailey led the discussion. Designer Anne Namba was also on hand to answer queries about the costumes she designed for the show and revealed they'd be auctioned off after the production with proceeds going to HOT. Lighting designer Peter Dean Beck, was also on hand but couldn't get a word in edgewise ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com