SHOW BIZ
Hawai'i adventures and Italy misadventures

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

WHAT'S COOKIN': Pat Sajak, host of "Wheel of Fortune," dined at Keo's in Waikiki with his family the other night — and got a copy of Keo's cookbook, so he can enjoy his favorite dishes at home. ...

Chef Beverly Gannon (Hali'imaile General Store) has a new nickname: Diesel Mama. When she was touring Tuscany and lunching at Badia Coltibuono in Gaiole, Gannon stopped to refill the tank of her rental car. "She put in regular gasoline instead of diesel, despite the fact that diesel was written all over the gas tank cover," said Joan Namkoong, one of her travel mates. "The car came to a dead stop. Fortunately, as Bev says, her guardian angel was watching over her and she was able to pull off the road into a safe spot." She does a lot better in the kitchen. ...

THEATRICAL TOPICS: 'Ohi'a Productions' "On Dragonfly Wings," at Hawai'i Theatre, benefits from first-tier voices of Mary Gutzi (Dora Dragonfly) and Mary Chesnut Hicks (Paula Wog), whose sheen and experience elevate the reformatted musical fable to rousing new heights. Of course, the Lisa Matsumoto-Roslyn endeavor relies on the expansive youthful cast, and troupers like Chrissy Naruo (Wendy Waterbug) and Trent Nakamura (Sydney Snail, who also delivers the pre-show welcoming message with aplomb) are marvelous beyond their years. To bee or not to bee is the Matsumoto question — she's a honey of a Queen Bee, buzzing in and stinging the crowd with joyous laughter — but the segment and show run way too long. ...

Darren Server, former stage actor and pianist here, has landed the role of Oscar in "42nd Street" in a touring company opening Aug. 5 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Seems a friend, Wayne Green (pianist for "Mamma Mia" at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas), tipped him off about an audition that required a quadruple-threat talent — actor, singer, dancer, pianist. He astounded producers when he was able to memorize piano, vocals and lines. Shari Lynn, who stars in "Gypsy" at Army Community Theatre starting Sept. 4, lunched with Server during an L.A. visit and was delighted to relay the good news. "Everyone who knows him will be so happy for him," said Shari. ...

When publicist Lisa Josephsohn attended a Taco Tuesday event at her longtime client Compadres, she was greeted by hugs and kisses by the hostess. Turned out to be all-grown-up Tiffany Shinn, who was Young Cosette in "Les Miserables" in 1992, when Josephsohn tended to publicity for the show. Shinn is a theater and film major, a senior this fall at the University of Southern California; and yes, she keeps in touch with Jason Tam, Young Gavroche in the same company at the height of Broadway fever in Honolulu. Tam attends New York University and is summering in Amsterdam, Netherlands, doing theatrical work. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Country singer Dita Holifield can't wait to perform when Tom Selleck, the actor and former Hawai'i resident, is inducted Aug. 9 into the Western Movie Hall of Fame at the Gene Autry Museum in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Holifield will perform at a post-ceremony party — a reunion of sorts with Selleck, since she performed at The Black Orchid restaurant when he was was a coiowner of the retaurant with Larry Manetti, Pat Bowlen and Randy Schoch. As for "Magnum P.I." earning cowboy laurels, he's lassoed a number of western projects since doing the Hawai'i-based show. ...

Alan Yamamoto, veteran radio sales whiz and backbone of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, is pau at New Wave Broadcasting. Certainly another station should snap him up. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.