SHOW BIZ
'Sopranos' role not to be for entertainment guru
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
TRAVEL LOG: Entertainment entrepreneur Jack Cione is back from a whirlwind trip to New York, where he saw 11 shows — yep, all the big ones, from "Hairspray" to "Flower Drum Song," from "The Lion King" to "Mamma Mia" — but the real thrill was auditioning for HBO's "The Sopranos." "I saw a notice that they were looking for actors who looked Italian, were over 65, who could ballroom dance, and look good in Armani, and I thought that was me," said Cione, who answered the call even if he didn't have a suit with him ("I travel with a Levis jacket"). "I made the first round but couldn't make the callback, because I had to return home," Cione said. So we won't see him making like Fred Astaire in a future episode. ...
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WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Keith and Carmen Haugen mark their 24th wedding anniversary tonight at the Mai Tai Bar of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. No big hoopla planned, but Keith Haugen recalls that Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, the Sons of Hawai'i member, helped tie the knot after years of living together. Best man and matron of honor were Eddie and Myrna Kamae, and the marriage took place at Iao Valley while the Haugens and the Sons were there campaigning for Gov. George Ariyoshi, for whom Haugen was working at that time. ...
Restaurateur Randy Schoch was blissful and relaxed at the formal launching last Thursday of the new party room at his Ruth's Chris Steak House at Restaurant Row. Staffers had dubbed it the Orchid Room, but he's contemplating another name, to honor his 10-year-old daughter Victoria. While here, Schoch also managed to celebrate a birthday — at Alan Wong's restaurant. ...
Though he wasn't there last week, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) did stop by Ruth's Chris — with his mother, according to restaurant g.m. Al Hosoi. Johnson has been here the past month, filming the once-titled "Helldorado" movie for Universal. ...
No word if she was doing the walk in boots, but singer Nancy Sinatra found her way to the Ohana Reef's Nohea Gallery, where she bought a vase and gave a thumb's up to Kathleen King's "Cosmic Carving" earrings (also being shown at The Contemporary Museum). ...
Eddies, the burger and frozen custard establishment opened last July by Ed Wary and Jim Hamachek, will do something nice for nearby Liholiho School on Nov. 11. Eddies will provide free frozen custard from 2 to 4 p.m. that day, with donations made instead to the Liholiho PTA to support campus activities. ...
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TALK ABOUT PEOPLE: It's a coup for the Honolulu Symphony Pops. Its first-ever CD, "The Last Concert," a live concert of last season's show with the late Rosemary Clooney, will be released Nov. 19. Pops conductor Matt Catingub and his Big Kahuna Band are featured with the orchestra. Catingub arranged a medley of Clooney tunes — they'd become lifelong friends. ...
In Japan, they call Ku'uipo Kumukahi Ipo-chan, according to Randy Hongo, who was in Japan when the singer-uke player gave classes in Hawaiian language, uke-strumming and hula. Ipo-chan had about 25 dancers, mostly middle-aged Japanese women who wear "Hawai'i Halau" T-shirts while practicing, and they "danced in perfect synchronicity, with expressive eyes, graceful hands and gentle smiles," Hongo said. Much like locals. When the group danced at a festival, Hongo joined in and played uke — a good-fun reunion with Ipo, since both are originally from Hilo. "Like bread and jelly," said Hongo about their friendship. ...
And that's Show Biz ...
Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays; reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
