What's Up!

•	Local favorite The 'Fame' game "Fame," the stage musical derived from a film, which also became a TV series, features a title song co-authored by Hawai'i's Dean Pitchford. Castle Performing Arts Company revives it starting April 12 at Ronald Bright Theatre at Castle High School. Opening gala, $30, $35; regular run, $10, $15. 233-5626.

The bands Third Degree and Bluzilla, vocalist Keahi Conjugacion and surprise guests offer "Midnight Blues," a benefit concert for Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii. $20 at the door, $15 advance. Also, sponsor tables are available: $500 for a table for 10, including Conjugacion's "Live at the Atherton" CDs, gift certificates from various sponsors of the concert and a bottle of wine.

10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. April 12 / John Dominis' The Edge Nightclub / 523-0955

CONCERT: April 12

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, whose soaring soprano voice often gives her the veneer of an auntie well beyond her years, stars in "Tribute to Hawaiian Musical Treasures." It's a salute to genuine Aunties Genoa Keawe, Kealoha Kalama and Leina'ala Haili — a gathering of giants, so to speak, and yes, they will all be there. Ever-changing, full-of-surprises Gilliom debuts her band composed of Sonny Cruz Jr., Barry Flanagan and Jack Ofoia. Tickets: $30 general, with $5 discounts for theater members, seniors 62 and older, youths 17 and younger, plus students and military. (Also: 7:30 p.m. April 13 at Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center; $10, $20, $28; (808) 242-7469.)

8 p.m. April 12 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0566

KIKAIDAMANIA: April 12-13

That Japanese phenom, Kikaida (and the spinoff Kikaida-01), is back with a vengeance. If you grew up in the Hawai'i of the 1970s, "changee" was the buzz word and the Kikaida dolls were the toy faves. Now, a generation later, a younger crowd is making the TV revival a hit all over again, fueling a two-day Kikaidamania at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. Most events are free, including a Kikaida memorabilia exhibit, from 11:30 a.m. April 12 in the JCCH gallery, but "Gill's Gala," a dinner 6-10 p.m. April 12 in the JCCH's Manoa Ballroom, featuring apperances by Jiro (Daisuke Ban) and Ichiro (Shunsuke Ikeda), is $50 plus a $2 service fee; for reservations, call 836-0361 weekdays. A free festival in the JCCH courtyard offers entertainment, Kikaida look-alike contests, Kikaida bentos and shave ice.

11:30 a.m. April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 13 / Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii / JCCH 836-0361

CONCERT: April 12-13

Keali'i Reichel, below, arguably Hawai'i's favorite musical son, brings his multi-talents (kumu hula, singer, composer, ranconteur) to the Honolulu Symphony Pops Concert series. The Maui resident is a top-drawer act; a two-show agenda has been expanded to three. Expect to hear some excerpts from Reichel's sold-out Kukahi concert, a February tradition at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Matt Catingub conducts the pops orchestra. Tickets: $15-$55, at the symphony box office and Ticket Plus outlets.

7:30 p.m. April 12 and 13 (sold out); 2 p.m. April 13 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, 526-4400

CONCERT: April 13

The Peabody, left, easily the world's best-known trio, brings its lush sound and stellar repertoire to the Honolulu Chamber Music Series. Members are Violaine Melacon, violinist; Natasha Brofsky, cellist; and Seth Knopp, pianist. They'll whisk through classical and contemporary works, from Haydn to Shulamit, from Brahms to Scherzo. The Peabody takes its name from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where the musicians also teach. Tickets: $24 general, $15 students and UH faculty and staff.

8 p.m. April 13 / Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa / 956-6878, 956-8246

STAGE: April 18-21

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical with a singable and hummable score, returns under the auspices of Jamarama Productions, assembling some community pros as well as a network of diehard amateurs who love to sing and dance. Matthew Pedersen, left, who appeared on Broadway in "Miss Saigon" and who created the role of Joseph in an earlier Diamond Head Theatre production, repeats as the soul who wears the coat of many hues. A lot of familiar faces are in the adult/youngster cast, including Jodi Leong of KHNL-8, as Mrs. Potiphar, Dion Donahue as Reuben, John L. Bryan as Levi, Chris Bates as Benjamin, Shannon Nakano as the Narrator, Lance Rae as Naphtali, Andrew Sakaguchi as Pharoah and Kalai Stern as Simeon. Tickets: $10-$35.

7:30 p.m. April 18-20, 4 p.m. April 21 / Hawai'i Theatre / 561-1412, 528-0506

FILMS: April 19-25

It's not as huge as its fall big-brother, but the Hawai'i International Film Festival's Spring Film Festival, in its fifth season this year, promises to offer glimpses of new names. Specific titles are still being bandied about and yes, you can expect a mainstream film or two.

Times to be announced, April 19-25 / Waikiki Theatres / 528-HIFF

CONCERT: April 20

Choirs from the Philippines, Japan and Hawai'i take centerstage in a presentation of Mendelssohn's "Elijah," one of the most dramatic oratios ever written. The Marikan Choir of Cavite, Philippines, conducted by Patrick Frias; the Merveille Chorus Group of Osaka, Japan, conducted by Takasahi Kawahara; and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, conducted by Timothy Carney, join the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the 19th-century masterpiece. Soloists will be Measha Brueggergosman, soprano; Alicia Wright, soprano; Linda Maguire, mezzo soprano; Les Ceballos, tenor; and Leslie Tennent, baritone. Tickets: $12.50, $25, $35, $45.

7:30 p.m. April 20 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, 526-4400

SECRETARY'S DAY: April 24

You know your office secretary is the perennial life-saver, the do-it-all ally, the keeper of the calendar. So reward and remember her on Secretary's Day, April 24, if not with flowers and the appropriate office ceremony, perhaps with a noontime outing. There are three endeavors this year: Frank DeLima ($29) at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom; Kapena ($25) at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel's Banyan Veranda; and The Makaha Sons with Mel Cabang and Rodney Villaneuva ($30) at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel's Pacific Ballroom. You can't expect your secretary to reserve space, so start your dialing now.

• Ala Moana: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 24 / 955-4811
• Moana Surfrider: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 24 / 922-3111
• Ilikai: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 24/ 944-6372

KIDSTUFF: April 27-28

Barney, the pre-school set's favorite purple dino, brings pals Baby Bop and BJ for "Barney Beach Party." Barney's latest direct-to-video release of the same title receives its island premiere as part of the city's Sunset on the Beach event. Imagine the purple one doing "Barney's Hula Dance," "Rain, Rain Go Away" and "If I Lived Under the Sea," three of 14 songs geared to introduce tots to marine life and outdoor safety. The stars of the Public Broadcasting System's "Barney and Friends" series, will also be featured in a 20-minute sing-along session. Free.

4-9 p.m. April 27-28 / Waikiki Beach, near the Kapahulu pier / 523-2489

LEI DAY: May 1

It's not too early to reserve tickets to the Brothers Cazimero's 25th annual May Day concert. That adds up to a lot of pikake lei for Robert and 'ilima lei for Roland — and this year's falls on a Hump Day, an ideal reason to take a mid-week break to buy a lei, make a lei, wear a lei. Expect the customary guest stars and reflection about how this idea to stage a pageant to commemorate the spirit of Lei Day suddenly reached a milestone moment. Tickets: $25 reserved, $15 grass seats.

7:30 p.m. May 1 / Waikiki Shell / 526-4400

BUZZING ABOUT ...

• All in the 'ohana: Malama e Na Kupuna, a benefit for Lunalilo Home at 2 p.m. April 12 at Hawai'i Theatre, sounds like a star-studded jewel. Performing: The Cazimero Family, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Ho'okena, Nina Keali'iwahamana and the Rodrigues Family, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi of the Makaha Sons, and Kilihane.
• Hot tickets: "Song of Singapore," held over for the last time (through April 14) at Manoa Valley Theatre, and "Mame," held over a week (through April 14) at Diamond Head Theatre.
• Repeat booking?: With two sellouts at the Monarch Room last February, "Mardi Gras," normally staged in the spring at Pearl Harbor, may consider a regular Waikiki performance in the future.
• Tony's turn: With the dust settling on the Oscars, couch potatoes may want to mark June 2 as Tony Awards night; PBS (6 p.m.) does one segment, CBS (7 p.m.) airs the other.

COMING UP:

• Duke Ellington Festival, April 26-27, Honolulu Hale
• Harmony Games, barbershop quartet singing, May 3-4, Hawai'i Theatre
• E Malama I Ke Kai Ocean Festival, May 5, Bishop Museum
• "Fully Committed," May 15-25, The ARTS at Marks Garage
• Ho'okena, May 17, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Sea Marks," a play by Gardner McKay, May 20, 21, Manoa Valley Theatre
• Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, May 21, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki
• "Destiny," Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, May 31, June 1, 2, Hawa'i Theatre
• Filipino Fiesta and Parade, Kapi'olani Park, June 15
• Ka Leo Hano, June 30, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 18-19 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, July 20-21 at Outrigger Wailea Resort, Maui
• BayFest, Aug. 16-18, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i