SHOW BIZ
Actor Jason Scott Lee leads play reading
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
STAGE CUES: Jason Scott Lee, the screen actor, returns to the local stage and tops the cast of an invitational reading Saturday of Consulina Wong's new drama, "The Silk Curtain." The reading of the play, about the only empress to rule China, will be at Kumu Kahua Theatre. You can't attend unless you're invited, but Lee (as Prince Kung, Jung Lu) will be joined on stage by the playwright (as Yehenera). Cojoda Films is producing, so it sounds like a movie's in the works, with producers Michael Cimino ("Year of the Dragon," "The Deer Hunter") and Philip Lee aboard. The reading cast also includes TV personalities Gary Sprinkle and Pamela Young, stage veterans Wayne Ward, Fran Ward, Dawe Glover, Jade Glover and Keith Kashiwada, and photographer Mary Ann Changg, plus Seth Char, Edward Sclafani, Taryn Shimizu, Charis Shimizu and Branin Shimizu ...
ITEMIZATIONS: The legacy of the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole continues with the poignant "Over the Rainbow" getting yet more exposure on a recent episode of "Providence," the NBC series. The tune was performed during a montage of Hansen family members ...
Buck Henshaw and Wally White, two award-winning set designers, traded tales over dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House recently. Henshaw is a CBS veteran who worked with Jack Benny, Red Skelton and Lucille Ball before a stint with "Hawaii Five-O" and made-in-Hawai'i films such as "Black Widow." White's credits include shows for Diamond Head Theatre, Hawai'i Theatre and Manoa Valley Theatre ...
AROUND 'N' ABOUT: Glen Campbell, in town for his Honolulu Symphony concerts, found time for golf at the Ko'olau Golf Club. And on another day, actor Bruce Willis, now at work on his "Hostile Rescue," managed to take a lunch break at Honey's at the Ko'olau ...
The golf club also was the site for a recent broadcast of the "Making Healthy Choices" cable show ...
By the way, Campbell last month "baptized" the Martin electric acoustic guitar that KSSK purchased for use at the Perry & Price Hanohano Room shows. The guitar is intended for use when a musician doesn't have his instrument. Campbell didn't. But KSSK didn't have a pick, which Campbell did. He signed and donated one, so now, the house guitar has a house pick ...
Dishwalla, on Maui recently, turned Kimo's in Lahaina into a studio set, performing an unplugged show for the cable show "Midnight with Rolling Stone." With two acoustic guitars and percussion, the band played old and new favorites. They extended the hourlong performance with a few encores ...
Actress Kristy McNichol, ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, and St. Louis Rams player Grant Wistrom dined on separate occasions at Hula Grill in Ka'anapali, Maui. Berman even joined Hula Grill staffers in paddling off Ka'anapali after lunch ...
Tino & the Rhythm Klub have been attracting a round of notables at the Esprit nightclub at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, of "Pearl Harbor," and "Planet of the Apes" hit the dance floor; Danny, of the '50s band Danny and the Juniors, complimented the band, which did "At the Hop," a signature for Danny and the Juniors. Members of Reign jammed with Tino and crew. Attendees also have included Melveen Leed, Anita Hall, Johnny Fernandez and Glenn Miyashiro (of Society of Seven Las Vegas), Bobby Baniaga (singer-composer), Wade Cambern (Hawaiian Style Band), boxers Jesus Salud and Andy Ganigan, Janice Ukauka (the late Loyal Garner's manager), plus longtime pals and colleagues Carole Kai, Ben Vegas, Richard Natto, William Daquioag and Edwin Ramones (all with ties to The Krush) ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz runs Wednesdays and Fridays; reach him at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.