Posted on: Friday, December 20, 2002

What's Up!

Buzzingabout ...

• Surprise, surprise: Local singers continue to provide "extras" at "Christmas Talk Story 2002," the Honolulu Theatre for Youth/Kumu Kahua endeavor continuing for the last times at 2 and 8 p.m. today and tomorrow at Tenney Theatre. Kala'i Stern was a guest last week, fresh from a trek to the Pan Pacific Festival in Shinjuku, Japan, organized by Robert Cazimero.

• Holiday cheer: Those taking in the Army Community Theatre's "Christmas Forgotten" revue of holiday songs, continuing at 7:30 p.m. today, 2 and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and 2 p.m. Sunday at Richardson Theatre, get a visual bonus: the Army's holiday light display opposite the theater.

• Variety's the spice: A movie can surely spice up a kid's life, and the Variety Club of Hawai'i Tent 50 will host more than 350 youngsters, 12 and younger, from the Boys and Girls Club and Palama Settlement, for a free film, popcorn, soft drink (all donated by Consolidated Theatres) and a goodie bag with gifts donated by KFC, Bishop Museum, and the Honolulu Police Department. It happens Dec. 23 at the IMAX theater. Aloha lives.

• Ballet high: Watch for the official word, but balletomanes can expect a Ballet Hawai'i production of "Giselle" May 3 and 4 at Blaisdell Concert Hall; the National Ballet of China's Wai Haiyan and Li Jun will star.

— Wayne Harada, Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Local favorite

Two guys and a holiday show

Frank DeLima and Jay Larrin — the Portuguese prince of comedy and the poet of the keyboard — might seem like the ultimate Odd Couple, but they've worked together, successfully, in selected holiday shows. So a Christmas Eve to-do, at the Ala Moana Hotel, sounds fab — no-host cocktails from 6 p.m., buffet at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. $50 adults, $35 children 12 and under. 955-4811.

CHRISTMAS: Dec. 27-28

Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, will be celebrated Dec. 27 and 28 at the Academy Art Center. It's an African-American and Pan-African festival, celebrating the first harvest of Africa, and will include entertainment, hands-on activities and films (in the Doris Duke at the Academy). Among the activities will be quilting workshops, 10 a.m.-noon each day ($4 adults, $2 kids); a free cooking demonstration noon-1 p.m. Dec. 27; a children's book fair noon-2 p.m. Dec. 28; a free "Black H'attitude" hat-making workshop 1-3 p.m. Dec. 27; and films at the Doris Duke theater at the Academy of Arts.

Dec. 27-28 / Academy of Arts and Academy Art Center / 532-8741

CONCERT: Dec. 28

The final KIPO Blues Night of the year features the stylings of the band Slim Mango, right, and free shrimp provided by The Shrimp Shack. It's billed as "a feast of authentic Southern blues and Southern cooking," also sponsored by Kona Brewing Co., at Anna Bannanas. The KIPO house band Jeff Said No! will start things off at 8 p.m.; Slim Mango takes over at 9 p.m. Tickets: $7 general, $5 Hawai'i Public Radio members.

8 p.m. Dec. 28 / Anna Bannanas / 955-8821

CONCERT: Dec. 28-29

It's become a tradition with the Honolulu Symphony and Chorus: The new year is hailed with concerts devoted to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, with vocalists Mary Chesnut, Milagro Vargas, Laurence Paxton and Leslie "Buz" Tennent. Maestro Samuel Wong conducts the orchestra; Karen Kennedy directs the chorus. Tickets: $27-$72, at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets.

8 p.m. Dec. 28, 4 p.m. Dec. 29 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

COMEDY: Dec. 29

Wayne Brady, left, who impersonates the famous and also sings quite a tune, returns to Hawai'i during the holiday season, playing Dec. 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawai'i Ballroom, and Dec. 30 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theatre. O'ahu tickets: $35, $45 (Golden Circle); Maui tickets, $35, $40, $45.

7 p.m. Dec. 29, Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom; 7 p.m. Dec. 30, MACC's Castle Theatre / 526-4400 (Ticket Plus), (808) 242-7469 (Maui)

EXCURSIONS: Dec. 29

"Sea Lion Day" will be observed Dec. 29 at Sea Life Park in Waimanalo to formally welcome two new sea lion pups, a male, Kimokeo li'i, and a yet-to-be-named female. Pepsi is sponsoring a name-the-pup contest, with the naming coinciding to the special day of fun, games and tours for young and old alike. Boxer Jesus Salud and whale wall and marine artist Wyland will make appearances; the first 500 people will receive free Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies. $9.99 kama'aina adults, $4.99 children 4-12 ($24 and $12 for others).

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 29 / Sea Life Park / 259-7933

CONCERT: Dec. 31

Original Beach Boy Mike Love will lead a reincarnated Beach Boys in a New Year's Eve concert at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. The Boys' hits include "Surfin' USA," "Surfer Girl," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "California Girls" and other timeless surf/pop classics. Doors open at 9 p.m., with pre-show entertainment until 10:15 p.m.; the Beach Boys take over at 10:45 p.m. Tickets: $85, $100, $130 and $160, available at the Hilton ticket desk in the hotel lobby.

Doors open at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 / Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom / 947-7877

WRESTLING: Jan. 2, 3

World Wrestling Entertainment, right, returns with a vengeance, or at least big bodies and knock-down drama in tow, for matches Jan. 2 and 3 at the Blaisdell Arena. The last time WWE came to town was in June, with local boy The Rock leading a sold-out show. This time the lineup includes Triple H, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho and many others. Tickets: $25, $45, $75 and $90, at the box office and at Ticket Plus outlets.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 2-3/ Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

COMEDY: Jan. 4

Funny guys Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, veterans of the long-gone-but-much-beloved "Carol Burnett Show," offer a night of laughs Jan. 4 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Their traveling funfest, titled "Together Again," showcases sketches and standup routines and has won rave reviews. Tickets: $50, $55, at the box office at Ticket Plus outlets. The two also perform on Maui — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater; $35, $45, $55; (808) 242-7469.

8:30 p.m. Jan. 4 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 526-4400

CONCERT: Jan. 10

The acclaimed Tak‡cs Quartet, right, will perform works of Mozart, Ravel and Schubert in a concert at Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. The award-winning string quartet, formed in 1975 in Budapest and now based in Boulder, Colo., has performed in virtually every music capital and prestigious festival in the world. Tickets: $24 general, $15 students, at the UH Campus Center ticket office.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 / Orvis Auditorium / 956-6878

CONCERT: Jan. 11

You know that unmistakable voice from hits such as the Oscar-winning "Say You (Say Me)," "Three Times a Lady," "Easy," "All Night Long" and so many others. He's Lionel Richie, left, one-time lead singer of The Commodores and wildly popular solo artist who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. He'll bring his smooth soul sounds Jan. 11 at the Blaisdell Arena. Richie's latest album, "Encore," was released in Europe and Japan and is scheduled to hit U.S. stores early next year. Tickets: $49.50, $59.50, at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400