What's Up!

March film premieres March 7: "Bringing Down the House," "Tears of the Sun" March 14: "The Hunted," "Willard" March 21: "Agent Cody Banks," left, "Boat Trip," "Dreamcatcher," "Piglet's Big Movie," "View from the Top" March 28: "Basic," "The Core," "Head of State"

Martin Nievera, the concert king of the Philippines, and Regine Velasquez, a Filipina songbird, team up for a night of romantic entertainment March 8 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Nievera, a one-time Hawai'i resident, has been a Philippines superstar for years — a recording act, concert favorite, movie star, television host. With Velazquez alongside, he should have a whiz-bang homecoming. Tickets: $100 (includes pre-show reception), other ticket prices, $35, $55, $75.

• 7:30 p.m. March 8 / Hawai'i Convention Center / 843-8808

CONCERT: March 8

The Get Up Kids, a band hailing from Kansas City, Mo., brings its pop-punk/indie/emo sound to an all-ages concert at Pipeline Café March 8. The band's latest release is 2002's "On a Wire"; check it all out at www.thegetupkids.net. Tickets: $20, at Tower Records/Video, Cheapo Music, 808 Skate Kailua, the UH Campus Center, Foodland stores and military ticket outlets. The opening act will be local band Linus.

• 7 p.m. March 8 / Pipeline Cafe / 526-4400

DANCE: March 8-9

The renowned Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, a Washington, D.C.-based contemporary dance troupe that's performed in diverse venues that include shipyards, museums, street corners and premiere stages, offers two concerts at the Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College. The concerts climax a nine-day residency during which it will teach and interact with students, hula halau and seniors. Tickets: $20 general, $15 students, seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, available at the University of Hawai'i- Manoa Campus Center ticket office.

• 7:30 p.m. March 8, 2 p.m. March 9 / Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College / 956-6878

STAGE: March 8, 15, 22

Y York's comic fable, "The Last Paving Stone," will be performed for the public March 5, 15 and 22 at Leeward Community College Theatre. It addresses the imaginary, yet possible, questions about what happens when there's no more open space, if the entire Earth were paved. Henry Kapono has created original music; Mark Lutwak directs. For keiki 7 and older. Tickets: $11 general, $5 seniors over 60, youths 3-18; free for keiki 2 and under.

• 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 8, 15, 22 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 839-9885

DANCE: March 11-16

"Spirit of the Dance," the Irish sensation with sizzling hot salsa and cool Celtic tapping, returns to the Hawai'i Theatre March 11-16. It's become a worldwide hit, since the Irish International Dance Company first appeared here in 2001, with six dance companies now all over the world, from Las Vegas to Branson. Tickets: $25-$45.

• 7:30 p.m. March 11-13; 8 p.m. March 14; 2 and 8 p.m. March 15; 7 p.m. March 16 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CABARET: March 13-22

Get ready to be seduced. "Seduction," a musical journey exploring love and relationships (read: the good and the bad), will be presented by Andrew Meader, with support from Tim Bostock Productions, March 13-22 at The ARTS at Marks Garage. An ensemble composed of Katie Doyle, Julie Capili, Zenia Zambrano and Naomi Mal will belt out torch songs, and then some, with John Bryan setting the musical tempo. Tickets: $18, plus a two-drink minimum.

• 9 p.m. March 13-15, 20-22 / The ARTS at Marks Garage / 521-9699

STAGE: March 13, 14

The New Shanghai Circus, right, acrobats and contortionists specializing in a 2,000-year-old tradition, returns to Hawai'i for a series of statewide shows. Honolulu's will be March 13 and 14 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, when the ensemble will demonstrate its balancing and synchronizing skills. Tickets: $20 March 13 opening night; $30, $25 and $20 March 14 ($5 discount for children 12 and younger and seniors). Neighbor Island playdates: Maui, 7 p.m. March 7, 2 and 7 p.m. March 8, Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theatre; $22, $16, $10 (half price for children 12 or younger); (808) 242-7469. ... Kaua'i, 1 and 4 p.m. March 9, Kaua'i War Memorial; $20 general, $9.95 children 12 and younger; (877) 750-4400. ... Big Island, 7 p.m. March 10, Kealakehe High School Gymnasium, Kona; 7 p.m. March 12, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo; $17.50 general, $7.50 children 12 and younger; (877) 750-4400.

• 7:30 p.m. March 13, 14 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 526-4400

FESTIVAL: March 14i16

The Honolulu Festival, a multicultural celebration involving 4,600 performers-artists from Japan and supported by 1,500 local volunteers, offers a myriad of events March 14-16 at venues ranging from the Hawai'i Convention Center to Ala Moana Center, from the Honolulu Academy of Arts to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, and even a parade trough Waikiki (5-8 p.m. March 16). The theme says it all: "Connecting People, Bridging Cultures." Most events are free.

• Various times, March 14-16 / Various venues / www.honolulufestival.com

STAGE: March 15

A benefit performance of Dennis Foon's "War," a Honolulu Theatre for Youth production, will be staged March 15 as a fund-raiser for the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline. The play, a look at violence among young men, stars Jonathan Sypert, Junior Tesoro, Reb Allen and Scot Davis. A post-show forum will discuss the effects of the media and gender roles in teen-dating violence. Tickets: $20.

• 7 p.m. March 15 / Tenney Theatre, St. Andrew's Cathedral / 534-0040

CONCERT: March 21, 23

Mezzo-soprano Frederica Von Stade, one of operadom's brightest stars, joins the Honolulu Symphony in the Halekulani MasterWorks series, March 21 and 23 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets: $15-$57, available at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets.

• 8 p.m. March 21, 4 p.m. March 23 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

CONCERT: March 21, 22

Plus One, a Christian act that speaks to the young, takes the Hawai'i Theatre stage March 21 and 22. The foursome — Nate Cole, Jeremy Mhire, Nathan Walters and Gabe Combs — are hip in appearance and in sound, all the better to send out their message of commitment and purpose. Tickets: $15-$35.

• 7:30 p.m. March 21, 22 / Hawai'i Theatre /528-0506

STAGE: March 21-April 6

"Romance, Romance," a musical about love and its inherent complications, premieres March 21 at Diamond Head Theatre. Act I is an operetta of old Vienna, about a wealthy businessman and an elegant courtesan, who discover amour only when disguised as a penniless poet and a milliner; Act II, set in the Hamptons, ponders the question: Can a married man really be best friends with a woman who happens to be married to another man? Tickets: $10-$40.

• Premieres at 8 p.m. March 21; repeats at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 4 p.m. Sundays, through April 6 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

CONCERT: March 22

Bobby McFerrin, who is mistakenly only associated with his "Don't Worry, Be Happy" mega-hit, brings his uncanny, must-see solo show to Hawai'i for a one-nighter, under the auspices of the Honolulu Symphony, March 22 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Since scoring with his "Happy" hit, McFerrin has reinvented himself into multi-task artist, ranging from symphonic conductor to one-man band. He uses his voice, and thumps on his body, to mimic a myriad of sounds. It's a symphony season add-on "extra." In a word: incredible. Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. March 22 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

COMING UP:

• Tahiti Fête, March 14-16, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo
• Hawai'i Music Awards, March 15, Kapono's
• Queen Ka'ahumanu Festival, March 15-16, Ka'ahumanu Center, Kahului
• "Romance, Romance," March 21-April 6, Diamond Head Theatre
• "Hanau Ka Moku: An Island Is Born," March 29, Hawai'i Theatre
• Olomana, April 4, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Morning's at Seven," April 11, Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre
• Hawai'i International Spring Film Festival, April 11-17, Dole Signature Theatres
• Margaret Cho, April 12, Waikiki Shell
• "Rumble in the Jungle," 'Iolani School carnival, April 25-26, 'Iolani campus
• "Giselle" ballet, by Ballet Hawaii, May 3-4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Uluwehi Guerrero, May 16, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

Dean of music: Dean Pitchford, who co-wrote the music for such shows as "Fame" and "Footloose," returns to his alma mater, Saint Louis High School, to help the drama students launch this year's musical, "Pippin," at 7:30 p.m. March 7 at Mamiya Theatre. (He was also here last year when Saint Louis did "Footloose.") Turns out he appeared in "Pippin" when he was acting, singing and dancing on Broadway, so it'll be a stroll down memory lane. Call 739-4886.

Ticket docket: "March Madness," 9 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow only at the Hawai'i Theatre box office, offers special $25 tickets for the 7:30 p.m. March 11 and 12 performances of "Spirit of the Dance," which plays March 11-16. A $2 theater restoration charge applies. Call 528-7733. ... A new reservation number is in place for the Andy Bumatai-Augie T comedy shows Fridays and Saturdays at the Hoku Hale Showroom at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. It's 392-3943.

Honorable mentions: The Commission on Culture and the Arts will honor two individuals and one organization March 20 at City Hall. You'll agree they've contributed significantly to the arts scene: Nona Beamer, hula master, musician, songwriter, teacher and matriarch of a prolific Island family; Beebe Freitas, musician, teacher, and pianist extraordinaire; and Dances We Dance, the indefatigable dance company.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

Schedule is subject to change.