theatrefreak808

Name: Taylor
Country: United States
State: Hawaii
Birthday: 3/28/1980
Gender: Male

Interests: Theatre, and clubbing. When I have the time between work and work.
Expertise: I am an expert in life. Other peoples not my own. I have some wonderful children, some great grandkids, and a nephew, hmmm, who exactly I got the nephew I'll never know, but he's potty trained so we kept him.
Occupation: Administrative
Industry: Entertainment

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Website: visit my website
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theatrefreak808

Member Since: 2/27/2003

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Saturday, September 19, 2009

It's been over 2000 days

So I feel like going old school tonight. I've ventured away from xanga, and been updating my actual website/facebook/twitter sites. So I figured what the heck, let's see if I remember my old password. Turns out I do. So here is a little update.

Still working at Manoa Valley Theatre. My days at Bubba Gumps are long over.

Semi retired from the club scene. My alter ego club persona Taylor Divine is off touring the world. She might have to make a return after all this show is done. I've been working on so many shows that I really haven't had much me time. But that's ok really.

This site was created to post information about local shows in hawaii, and maybe, just maybe I might start to update it again. Post a review or two. We shall see.

Hey, you can publish from xanga to facebook. Hmmmm. I just might do that.

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Friday, September 22, 2006

DHT's Millie opens tonight

DHT's 'Millie' challenges pair to expand their talents

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

'THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE'

Premieres at 8 p.m. today; repeats at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 8, with additional matinees at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 7

Diamond Head Theatre

$12-$42; discounts for students, seniors 62 and older, military

733-0274, www.diamondheadtheatre.com

Shawna Masuda portrays Millie Dillmount, a small-town girl who heads for the big city, and Pedro Haro plays her suitor Jimmy Smith, in Diamond Head Theatre's season-opener, "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Brad Goda

RELATED NEWS FROM THE WEB
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The romantic leads in Diamond Head Theatre's season-opener, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," were attracted to the Tony Award-winning musical for different reasons.

Shawna Masuda, 19, who portrays Millie Dillmount, loves the comedy aspects. "This is a fun show, with a lot of songs, and it's a stretch for me — because it's comedy, with a big tap number. I've never done that before."

Her previous credits include the Hawai'i community theater launch for such big musicals as "Miss Saigon," in which she was Kim; "Beauty and the Beast," in which she sang Belle; and "Cats," in which she was Jemima.

Pedro Haro, 26, who plays Millie's suitor Jimmy Smith, is having fun. "I originally wanted to be in the show because of (director) David Spangenthal, and I wanted to work with him again (he directed 'Beauty' in its DHT debut). But he had to drop out and his good friend from New York, Darren Lee (who is also choreographing), came to do the show instead, and it all worked out. I was a little scared, however, wondering if I could bring myself up to Shawna's level. She's great.

"Acting is my forte; I don't do many musicals," said Haro, who earlier was Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors" at the University of Hawai'i, where he is working on his master's degree in public health.

"I've not had much training (in musical theater), but what I like about Jimmy is that the part is really an homage to the old greats, like Fred Astaire, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. It's an old-time leading man in a modern show, which has the flair of today but is a throwback to the speakeasy."

If he has apprehensions, so does she.

Masuda, primarily a singer, was somewhat daunted by the dancing challenge. "Millie," based on a 1967 Julie Andrews film, earned 2002 Tony laurels for choreography, direction, orchestration, book and music; its principal cast (including Sutton Foster, who was best actress in a musical) lapped up Tonys galore and the show was best musical, too.

"I'm taking tap classes and I must say it's going pretty well," Masuda said of her first choreographic endeavor. "I did a little dancing in 'Cats' but this one is more focused, it's scary. And I'm attending cosmetology classes at HCC (Honolulu Community College), so I get to use some of the skills I'm learning. There are lots of things you can do in cosmetology; when I get my degree, I can support myself while I try to sustain my career. But I just started, so I have three more semesters to go."

Masuda is adjusting to her full-time student's regimen. "It's been classes from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day, rehearsals every night," she said.

She previously worked with Haro in "Beauty" and she cherishes the renewed friendships.

And she can identify with the Millie character, "who's very goal-oriented, knows what she wants, moves away and is determined to get what she wants." The character, a small-town girl who heads for the big city, is "a little naive in the way she thinks. She says at one point how things are certainly different from things back home, and I know the feeling," said Masuda, who made a first-time trek to New York to audition for "Rent" in April.

Haro said his theatrical experiences should help him in his career outside the stage. "Acting builds confidence; I was painfully shy," he said. "But I've always wanted to do theater. I imagine my classmates and teachers at Lahainaluna High School seeing or reading about me doing shows now would never imagine me doing theater today.

"One thing I've learned: You do theater for love; you put your heart in the production. A community theater show is no different than professional theater: You can't measure the talent, you can't create the talent. You can only harness it, and I thank a lot of people, like Emmett Yoshioka (musical conductor), who helps pull out a professional performance. The key difference is we don't get paid."

Haro, who was born in Texas, moved to Maui as a youth. He started acting less than three years ago. "You can start late — and still end up being proud of your work. I'm even doing 'Hawai'i Stars' this season, so a lot of exciting things are going on in my life."

Masuda is trying to make her moments matter. "I still get a little nervous because people have expectations," she said of her roles. "But I'm thrilled to be in the company of people like Cathy Foy (who plays Mrs. Meers), and I'm excited trying to do a role that requires (as much) acting as singing. It's a risk for me."

Masuda also cut her hair to suit the flapper nature of the Millie role. "It was a sacrifice, but it's been worth it. No wigs; the hair's all mine."

10:51 AM - 21 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Thursday, August 03, 2006

	S&K are back in there third show at DHT tickets are still out there
	4:26 PM - 2 views - add eprops - add comments - email it

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

congrats to all

2006 PO'OKELA AWARDS

STAR BULLETIN / 2006
Tatiana Wilson as "Bloody Mary," teases the sailors in "South Pacific." The musical received a Po'okela award in the Overall Musical category.

DHT, MVT set the pace in this year's Po'okela Awards

By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

The adjudication process has changed, but the results came out pretty much the same as the Hawaii State Theatre Council announced the recipients of the 2006 Po'okela Awards last night at the Ko'olau Ballrooms.

Key
Army Community Theatre (ACT)
Diamond Head Theatre (DHT)
Hawaii Pacific University (HPU)
Manoa Valley Theatre (MVT)
Paliku Theatre (Paliku)
The Actors Guild (TAG)
Diamond Head Theatre, the perennial front-runner, received 27 awards in 16 of the 21 categories. Manoa Valley Theatre placed a close second with 26 awards; the Actors Group was third with 11 awards.

DHT's spring production of "La Cage aux Folles" received 11 awards, making it the top award-winner. MVT's "The Foreigner" received eight awards, the most of any nonmusical.

Army Community Theatre, Hawaii Pacific University and Paliku Theatre were also recognized, but two other major theater groups, Kumu Kahua and Honolulu Theatre for Youth, continued their longtime boycott of the "Pokies." The University of Hawaii at Manoa also opted out for this season.

The new system allows each of the three adjudicators to directly bestow two awards in each category -- guaranteeing a minimum or two recipients and a maximum of six. There were four or more honorees in 15 of 21 categories.

Mike J. Humerickhouse received three awards in sound design for different DHT productions; Laurance Paxton received two acting awards, for "A Little Night Music" and "La Cage aux Folles"; and Randl Ask was recognized for directing "Enchanted April" and "Pageant," and for his performance opposite Paxton in "La Cage."

[ PO'OKELA AWARDS ]

Winners of the 2006 Po'okela Awards, announced last night:

Overall play: "The Gin Game," HPU; "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia," TAG; "The Foreigner," MVT; "M Butterfly," MVT; "Joe Turner's Come & Gone," TAG

Overall musical: "Cats," ACT; "The Full Monty," DHT; "Pageant," MVT; "South Pacific," Paliku

Director of a musical: Randl Ask, "Pageant," MVT; Ron Bright, "South Pacific," Paliku; John Rampage, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Vanita Rae Smith, "Cats," ACT

Director of a play: Randl Ask, "Enchanted April," DHT; Mitchell Milan, "The Gin Game," HPU; Scott Rogers, "Flaming Idiots," MVT; Jerry Tracy, "The Foreigner," MVT

Featured male in a play: Buck Ashford, "Flaming Idiots," MVT; Derrick Brown, "Joe Turner's Come & Gone," TAG; Curtis Duncan, "Joe Turner's Come & Gone," TAG; Erik J. Krummell, "The Foreigner," MVT; Colin Miyamoto, "M Butterfly," MVT; Thomas C. Smith, "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia," TAG

Leading male in a play: Dwight Martin, "M Butterfly," MVT; Don Pomes, "The Gin Game," HPU; David Starr, "The Foreigner," MVT

Featured female in a play: Dusty Behner, "Boston Marriage," TAG; Regina Ewing, "The Foreigner," MVT; Jo Pruden, "Enchanted April," DHT; "Genny Wilson, "The Foreigner," MVT

Leading female in a play: Betty Burdick, "Boston Marriage," TAG; Victoria Gail-White, "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia," TAG; Joyce Maltby, "The Gin Game," HPU; Susan Park, "Betrayed," TAG

Featured male in a musical: Richard Aadland, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; R. Andrew Doan, "The Full Monty," DHT; Kyle Malis, "Aladdin Jr.," DHT; Wyoming Rossett, "South Pacific," Paliku; Brent Yoshikami, "A Little Night Music," MVT; Keoki Kerr, "Pageant," MVT

Leading male in a musical: Randl Ask, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Laurence Paxton, "A Little Night Music," MVT; Laurence Paxton, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Matthew Pennaz, "The Full Monty," DHT; Steve Wagenseller, "South Pacific," Paliku

Featured female in a musical: Lisa Konove, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," DHT; Shari Lynn, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Sonya Mendez, "South Pacific," Paliku; Zenia Zambrano Moura, "Into the Woods," DHT

Leading female in a musical: Elizabeth Ananij Harrison, "Damn Yankees," ACT; Stefanie Smart, "A Little Night Music," MVT; Shari Lynn, "Aloha Rosie's," HPU

Ensemble cast: "Flaming Idiots," MVT; "Enchanted April," DHT; "Cats," ACT

Choreographer: Grace Bell Humerickhouse, "Cats," ACT; Deanna Luster, "Damn Yankees," ACT; Andrew Sakaguchi, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT

Musical director: Clarke Bright, "South Pacific," Paliku; Lina Jeong Doo, "A Little Night Music," MVT; Lorna Mount, "Cats," ACT; Alethea Train, "La Cage Aux Folles," DHT

Nonresident guest artist: Timothy Albrecht, director/choreographer, "The Full Monty," DHT; Greg Zane, choreographer, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," DHT

Costume design: Bill Doherty, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Bill Doherty, Peggy Krock, Randl Ask, Lorena Jones, "Pageant," MVT; Evette Tanouye, "Charlie Brown," Paliku; Carlynn and Rose Wolfe, "Joe Turner's Come & Gone," TAG; Karen G. Wolfe, "Aladdin Jr.," DHT

Hair, wig, makeup design: Jess Aki, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Bryan Furer, "Cats," ACT; Greg Howell, "M Butterfly," MVT; Greg Howell, "Pageant," MVT

Lighting design: Stephen Clear, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Jack Hufstetler, Jon Vasquez, John-Paul Tai, "Charlotte's Web," Paliku; Dawn Oshima, "Enchanted April," DHT; Derron Peterson, "Cats," ACT

Set design: Karen Archibald, "The Foreigner," MVT; James Davenport, "M Butterfly," MVT; Andrew Doan, "The Goat or Who Is Sylvia," TAG; Dennis Hassan, "Cats," ACT; Johanna Morriss, "Enchanted April," DHT

Sound design: Bobby Hamnett, "The Foreigner," MVT; Mikel J. Humerickhouse, "Enchanted April," DHT; Mikel J. Humerickhouse, "The Full Monty," DHT; Mikel J. Humerickhouse, "La Cage aux Folles," DHT; Jason Taglianetti, "M Butterfly," MVT

Pierre Bowman Award: John Rampage, DHT

Adjudicators Special Awards

» Lisa Matsumoto and Roslyn Catracchia, creators of "The Adventures of Gary and Harry: A Tale of Two Turtles," 'Ohia Productions

» Costume World and Kathe James, costume coordinator, for ACT's "Cats"

» The Hawaii Shakespeare Festival

Excellence in Service Awards
» Randy Ressler, Aloha Performing Arts Co.
» Susan Koontz, ACT
» Marci Taylor-Kaneshige, DHT
» Dennis Markuna and Kristina Larson, HPU
» Kelli Des Jarlais, Hawaii Shakespeare Festival
» Mindy Willer, MVT
» Parent Support Network, Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts
» Kokua Paliku, Paliku
» Tomas Tochiki, TAG
» Felicity Johnson, Waimea Community Theatre

4:48 PM - 285 views - add eprops - add comments - email it

Monday, February 27, 2006

On the Scene

John Berger

‘Cats’ Opens At ACT

SHE'S UNSTOPPABLE!: Elizabeth Ananij Harrison, left, and Shawna Masuda came out with their makeup on to greet the audience after "Cats" opened Thursday at Army Community Theatre. Harrison injured her left shoulder when a male dancer she declines to embarrass by naming him dropped her during rehearsals, but in the time-honored tradition of "the show must go on," removed her sling, blocked out the pain and gave a stellar performance.

CATNIP, ANYONE?: "Cats" sponsor James Berger of Saab Hawaii, right, no relation, welcomed cast members Ashley Layfield (Cassandra), left, Jimi V. Wheeler (Rum Tum Tugger), Elizabeth Ananij Harrison (Bombalurina) and Shawna Masuda (Jemima/Jellylorum) to the opening-night post-show cast party, which was also sponsored by his company. Harrison bravely tried to enjoy the party without having her left arm immobilized by a sling, but decided after a few minutes to listen to the pain; she returned wearing the sling, bandages and an ice pack. Layfield, whose portrayal of Val was one of the most memorable in Castle High School's most recent production of "A Chorus Line," displayed equal talent Thursday as a fashion designer as she customized a conventional "Cats" T-shirt into a contemporary top.

NOW HE SINGS, TOO: Kainoa Lee, left, and "Cats" sponsor Joey Caldarone, center, congratulated Philip Amer Kelley on his performance as Skimbleshanks. Kelley, a versatile dancer, quit a show several years ago during rehearsals saying, "I don't sing." That was then, this is now and "Cats" proves he can do both.

PERFECT DANCERS: Lynn Kinoshita (Rumpleteaser) and Arthur "AJ" Johansen (Mungojerrie) found a place to sit in ACT set designer Dennis Hassan's junkyard set. Kinoshita recently opened a dance and massage studio in Pearl City. Johansen plans to rejoin to the cast of a Waikiki show when "Cats" closes.

THE THINGS MEN LEARN: Tony Young (Muskustrap) and Don Richards (Alonzo) learned a lot about makeup and pantyhose during rehearsals. Young now buys waterproof liner pencils so his makeup won't drip on his dance partners. The men also learned to put on the pantyhose they wear under their costumes.

10:44 AM - 43 views - 4 eprops - 2 comments - email it

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