The Buzz

Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Justin Lo, center, plays Joseph and dons a multi-hued coat in First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical, opening at 8 p.m. today at the church, 1822 Ke‘eaumoku St. Roslyn Catracchia is directing, Ka‘ohi Yojo is choreographing. The musical plays at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays through March 3; $7 adults, $3 children under 12. 532-1111.

Several other schools are stage-active this weekend and next:

• "The Fantasticks," the Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical which is longest-running off-Broadway musical ever, is being revived by Mid-Pacific Institute's School of the Arts, at 7:30 p.m. today, in the campus Kawai‘ahao Recital Hall; Linda Johnson is directing the student cast, with April Vogel handling vocal direction; plays at 7:30 pm. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through March 10; $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. 973-5066.
• "Springtime Canteen," an off-Broadway musical by Linda Thorson Bond, William Repicci and Charles Busch, premieres at 4 p.m. next Thursday at Sacred Hearts Auditorium. The Sacred Hearts Thespian Trouple production, repeating at 8 p.m. March 1 and 2, is based on "Hollywood Canteen," with archetypal film characters from the 1940s performing more than 30 vintage classics to an audience of GIs; directed by Lloyd Stone; $3 at the door. 373-2586.
• "Bye Bye Birdie," the Broadway musical by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams inspired by Elvis Presley's appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, premieres at 7 p.m. next Thursday at the Hawai‘i Theatre. The Iolani School Dramatic Players production features Reid Hedani as Conrad Birdie as the title character, with Phillip Mendel portraying agent Albert Peterson, Rayleen Carangio as Rose Alvarez and Janna Normington playing Kim Macafee; repeats at 8 p.m. March 1 and 2; $10. 943-2244, 528-0506.

Mardi Gras Follies put on the glitz

More Las Vegas glitzy than New Orleans nasty, the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Association's annual Mardi Gras Follies is a splashy carnival of themes. A lavish musical cabaret replete with glitzy costumes, elaborate dance numbers and vocalese directed by local entertainment impresario Jack Cione, the follies gives its 60-strong military and civilian cast a chance to shine for an audience. Costume designer Bill Doherty has stitched together more than 200 costumes for this year's production, including a number of his signature, outlandish feather and rhinestone creations. Now in its 47th year, the follies is a major fund-raiser for military and civilian charities. Feb. 28 and March 1. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Monarch Room. $50 admission includes 6:30 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show, tax, tip and validated parking. 931-7194.

East West Center celebrates

The East West Fest is an annual celebration of the crafts, foods and talents of students at the East West Center. Students from all over the United States, and 30 Asian and Pacific countries play host to the 2002 festival, which includes interactive craft demonstrations, martial arts, children's games, music, exhibits and, of course, face painting. Taiko drumming by center alumnus Kenny Endo will be featured as part of the daylong range of activities. Also: a lineup of multi-cultural dishes for no more than $5 a plate! Admission is free. It all happens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the East West Center's Hawaii Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall, across from Kennedy Theatre on the UH-Manoa campus. Parking is $2. 944-7111.

Advertiser library photo

Collectible extravaganza

A variety of collectibles — bottles, jewelry, toys and more — will be on view and sale at the 12th Annual Hawai'i Collectors Expo, opening a weekend run from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The show continues from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; $3 adults, $1 seniors, free for children under 12. 486-4766, 591-2211.

Jammin' backyard-style

This Sunday, grab the bentos and coolers and enjoy a free afternoon of great local music at Kapi'olani Park. From noon to 7 p.m., The Hawaiian Style Backyard Jam will feature the live sounds of the Royal Hawaiian Band, Forte, 'Ale'a, Maximum Recovery, Native Blend, BET, Ho'onu'a and Kapena. Three PLUS (who provided a rousing opening to Janet Jackson's Aloha Stadium concert last weekend) plays host to a release party for its latest CD, "3+4U," at Backyard Jam, as well. The event celebrates Drug Free Awareness Month. At Kapi'olani Park Bandstand. Free shuttle from Kapi'olani Community College parking lot to the event. 545-3228.

ACT launching 'Flower Drum,' canceling 'Bingo'

Army Community Theatre will unveil its "Flower Drum Song" musical at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday at Richardson Theatre at Ft. Shafter.

However, the Sunday Matinee Readers Theatre presentation of "The Queen of Bingo," slated to play for three Sundays starting March 3, has been canceled.

"Flower Drum" is a Rodgers & Hammerstein classic about the generation gap in San Francisco's Chinatown of the late '50s. It was a hit Broadway musical, then a movie.

The ACT production, directed by Jim Hutchison, features Tricia Marcel as Linda Lowe, Stefanie Okuda as Mei Li, Kevin Yamada as Wang Ta, Woody Chock as Master Wang, Daren Kimura as Sammy Fong, Larry Fukumoto as Dr. Li, Nicole Sullivan as Helen Chao, Charlotte Dias as Madame Liang, June Chun as Liu Ma and Robert Hsia as Wang San.

Lina Jeong Doo is musical director.

The show boasts a string of hits, including "I Enjoy Being a Girl," "You Are Beautiful," "A Hundred Million Miracles" and "Love Look Away."

Other performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through March 16.

Tickets: $15 and $12 for adults, $8 and $6 for children.

Reservations: 438-4480, 438-5230.

Tunes, tasting at La Pietra

We're having a difficult time thinking of a reason to pass up on an event called Wine, Women and Song. Why, indeed? The Na Leo Lani Chorus plays host to a benefit concert and wine sampling Saturday evening on the Great Lawn of Diamond Head's La Pietra School. Bring your own picnic dinner to nosh on, and enjoy a concert featuring the music of Shari Lyn (above), Forte, Tani Lyn Fujimoto, The La Pietra Chorus, 2Gether Again, The Skylarks and The Na Leo Lani Chorus. Adults get two glasses of wine with admission. The Na Leo Lani Chorus is the state's only chapter of Sweet Adelines International — a worldwide collective of vocal groups specializing in four-part, a capella and barbershop-style singing. Proceeds from Wine, Women and Song will go toward the group's ongoing vocal education programs, including its efforts to begin a Young Women in Harmony program. Enjoy the event at 5 p.m., Saturday, at La Pietra School, 2933 Poni Moi Road. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. Children under 6 get in free. 944-3373.

Celebrating the pony year

Though the Year of the Horse started Feb. 12, a Chinese New Year festival continues at 7 p.m. today with lion dances, music, and food at the Honolulu Hale Courtyard. The celebration is part of the continuing Hawai'i Heritage Series, which pays tribute to the numerous cultures in the Islands. Admission is free. 523-4674.

Master of the sarode

Daniel Birch, a sarode master, presents an evening of Indian classical music, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Hawai'i Public Radio's Atherton Performing Arts studio. The program features Birch on sarode, a stringed instrument of Islamic origin, accompanied by Alan Cramatte on tabla, a pair of tuned drums; $15 adults, $12.50 HPR members, $10 students. 944-8821.