SHOW BIZ
'Big Bounce' scouting locations in Hawai'i
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
CINEMASCOOP: Morgan Freeman will join Owen Wilson in "The Big Bounce," a thriller based on Elmore Leonard's crime caper about the misadventures of an ex-con and a thrill-seeking woman. Could film here, since scouts for the Shangri-La Entertainment movie, which George Armitage will direct this fall, were here last week. ...
In "Blue Crush," the J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa is dubbed the Lanakai Hotel (yes, Lanakai, not Lanikai) and you might want to know that the beachfront suite, where co-stars Kate Bosworth and Matt Davis have a tumble, can be yours to enjoy for a mere $2,500 a day. That includes a private whirlpool. ...
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NAMES 'N' PLACES: Del Courtney, who turns 92 Sept. 21, will be honored by the Musicians Assn. in a birthday wingding from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room, where Courtney staged regular swing dance sessions for years. ...
When Ballet Hawai'i president Susie Schull was meeting at the Pacific Club with the ballet group's veteran executive director, Steve Knox, and newly-hired associate executive director Judy Muncaster, they encountered University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle, who came by to say hello. The talk wasn't academic, since Dobelle is an arts and culture luminary and a dance aficionado who was chairman of the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival on the Mainland. So he's savvy about the dance biggies like Mark Morris, whose company, Ballet Hawai'i, presented here last year. ...
Damon Wayans, in town to film ABC-TV's "My Wife and Kids," dined twice in one week at Keo's in Waikiki, was photographed for the Wall of Fame, and charmed the waiters, who enjoyed his "Handyman" and "Mo' Money" ...
Elvis Presley fan Charlie Ross, president of the Elvis Memorial Fan Club Hawai'i, made it to Memphis for the 25th anniversary of the death of The King, and mailed commemorative postcards — with Presley's likeness, including one pic of him with a lei on. ...
With Monday's Labor Day holiday looming, Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani Hotel will stage four nights of jazz. Sonya Mendez and Lenny Keyes perform tomorrow and Saturday, Rocky Holmes and Keyes on Sunday and Bruce Hamada and Jim Howard on Monday. ...
"Diamond," who joined DJ Dave Ralph, Empress, G-Spot and others at Club 111 last weekend, is Chris Diamond, son of former Honolulu residents Steve and Suzanne Diamond. He now lives in Berlin but does DJ gigs all over Europe. He was here following a 60th birthday shindig for dad at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where family and friends took in the "O" show and toasted the birthday boy at Ruth's Chris Steak House another night. ...
Randy Smith scooted to Las Vegas to catch Frank Sinatra Jr. in a performance. Quick turnaround, since the Frank Sinatra tribute crooner resumes his Esprit shows tomorrow. ...
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WHEE, THE PEOPLE: When it comes to finding talent to perform the national and state anthems before each University of Hawai'i sporting event, the Warriors needn't look beyond the Manoa campus. Kawika Regidor, a Manoa student and recording artist ("The First Time"), will do the honors before this weekend's Wahine volleyball game. ...
Old Lahaina Lu'au is heading to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade for the third time, so it will hold auditions Saturday for male and female hula dancers for its float. Dancers have to hula in nippy weather — and not shiver. ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays; e-mail him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
