Posted on: Wednesday, December 12, 2001
Show Biz
Army theater producer joins security team
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
SANTA PAUSE: When Army Community Theatre launches its holiday musical, "Santa Claus Lives in Hawai'i" this Friday at Richardson Theatre at Fort Shafter, expect to see Vanita Rae Smith, Army entertainment director and producer of the show, at the Shafter entry gate. With security measures still in place as part of the aftermath of Sept. 11, those driving onto the Shafter premises will be checked in personally by Smith. We suggested she dress up like Mrs. Claus, since she rather looks the part and will be playing the part anyway. "I will be at the check point with the 'will call' tickets, and I will sell tickets there also," Smith said. The bottom line: It eases your entry if you have pre-ordered reservations, so call before going (438-1980, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays) ...
Jamie Hartnett, executive director of the Hawai'i Association of Broadcasters (she also is promotions director for KSSK Radio), resembled Santa Claus as she pulled up to the Teen Center at Kuhio Park Terrace last week. The center, run by Parents and Children Together, received a load of gifts collected at the HAB Christmas party. Cheryl Johnson, PACT program director, will distribute the gifts Christmas Eve ...
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RANDOM NOTES: In addition to his Christmas Eve show with Frank DeLima at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom, look for Jay Larrin in a show in Hilo, when he guests with the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association. Chorus' Christmas concert, at 7 pm. Dec. 20 at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo campus show. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Normally, the singer-composer of "The Snows of Mauna Kea" and other hits would also be doing a yuletide gig at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, but the show is off this year because of the Sept. 11 tragedy ...
Restaurateur Fred Livingston, who owns Trattoria, Matteo's, Sunset Grill, Davey Jones Ribs and the Crouching Lion Inn, has booked Colon for his company party this year ...
It was like old home week for Randy Schoch, owner of Ruth's Chris Steak House, when he was in town to participate in Rick Hamada's "Leadership Lunch" at his restaurant. Fellow panelists included Sen. Sam Slom, University of Hawai'i journalism chair Tom Brislin and Tax Foundation honcho Lowell Kalapa. In the audience were some of Schoch's former employees, including Ben Dowling and Eugenio Martignago, now general manager and chef at Nick's Fishmarket, and Zyron Schoniwitz, manager at Morton's of Chicago ...
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ITEMIZATIONS: Chris Noth, who is Mr. Big on HBO's "Sex and the City," and formerly Det. Mike Logan on NBC-TV's "Law and Order," has been visiting Maui, where he hung out with Viacom producer Ken Burgmaier (whose "Ki ho'alu" film was part of the recent Hawai'i International Film Festival). Noth took in a Willie K performance at Hapa's and also checked out a property before leaving ...
Former Islander Jim Lapidus arrives here this week for a relaxer; he is a designer for the hit Fox-TV show, "24," starring Kiefer Sutherland and shot on "real time" ...
Musician Russ Trinidad, who has moved to the Islands, checked out Shari Lynn and Fascinatin' Rhythms last week at the Hale Koa Hotel, and also Randy Smith in "A Tribute to Sinatra" at the Sheraton Hotels' Esprit lounge. Trinidad is a one-time member of Kit Samson's Sound Advice ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz appears Wednesdays and Fridays; reach him at 525-8067, e-mail at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax at 525-8055.
