SHOW BIZ
Amy and Willie again linked in music-making
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
NAME-DROPPING: Amy and Willie K together again? Seems so — at least musically. Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom will reunite with Willie K, her former partner in life and in song, on their next CD. They toured together recently, doing shows in nine cities over 11 days, and the concerts were taped and recorded for film and DVD. Makana was the opening act, but he won't be part of the November releases. Amy and Willie plan East Coast and West Coast tours next year. ...
Meanwhile, being the opening act for Bela Fleck & the Flecktones in a Hawai'i concert last year has been beneficial for local 'ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. He'll be on two tracks in an upcoming Fleck CD, "Little Worlds" on Columbia Records (release date is Aug. 12). Shimabukuro is happy for the opportunity, which he describes as "a dream come true ... to be collaborating with artists that I've always admired." Others on the disc: Bobby McFerrin, for whom Shimabukuro also opened in concert here. ...
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CELEB CITY: Actor Owen Wilson ("Shanghai Knights," "Behind Enemy Lines," the upcoming "The Big Bounce") was partying last Wednesday at Compadres' lanai, during Puma Party Night (formerly Split 101). ...
And wrestler Hulk Hogan took in John Hirokawa's "Magic of Polynesia" last Wednesday at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. At dad's urging, daughter Brooke Hogan took to the mike to sing "I Feel Good" and "I Will Survive," since her vocal talents were discovered by cast member Sally Davis in a pre-show talent bit. Brooke has been signed by Johnny Wright (one of the judges of the just-concluded "Fame" TV show), so she could be the next Britney Spears. ...
Hogan has been in and out of the waters off Waikiki, too, taking the Outrigger catamaran cruises a couple of times, and grabbing a surfboard from Hans Hedemann's beachfront concession. ...
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BITS 'N' PIECES: Shari Lynn is in full rehearsals for Army Community Theatre's season opener, "Gypsy," premiering Sept. 4 at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Her pooch, Sadie, half bichon/half toy poodle, makes her theatrical debut as Chowsie (short for Chow Mein), Mama Rose's dog. Shari got Sadie from Claudia Cannon of the Sweet Adelines, so she comes with a musical pedigree. Break a paw, Sadie! David Farmer will play Herbie in the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim classic, now on Broadway with Bernadette Peters as Mama Rose.
And Diamond Head Theatre's loss is ACT's gain: Lisa Josephsohn (whose last show with DHT is the current "The Wizard of Oz") has been recruited as publicist for the Army theater group, effective immediately. ...
A Moonlight Mele concert, 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at Bishop Museum, will assemble top-notch Hawaiian acts who'll help 'Aha Punana Leo mark its 20th anniversary. Peter Moon, Palani Vaughan, Auntie Genoa Keawe and other guests will help celebrate the resurgence of the Hawaiian language, and Punana Leo board members Larry Lindsey Kimura and Randie Fong will present emerging talent in the form of Kainani Kahuanaele. Tickets: $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12, free for children under 4. ...
"North Shore Swimwear's Beauties of the Beach," Seth Feldman's reality show (produced by his Show Doctor LLC), is taping the first episode this week at the North Shore abode of artist Wyland. Feldman has been huddling with Fox officials for a possible prime-time pop, and if it's picked up, "Beauties" will pit Hawai'i contestants with folks from the Mainland. KFVE will air the first of the four planned shows starting at 9 p.m. Aug. 6 (repeating at 10 p.m. Aug. 9, and three more twice-weekly airings). Alicia Michioka, Miss Hawai'i USA 2003, and Judah Oschner, known as Da Lion of Judah on 93.1 KQMQ, will host. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, fax 525-8055 or wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
