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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 10, 2003

SHOW BIZ
Local star to make directorial debut in Big Apple

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

WATCH POWER: After putting out fires and providing first aid all season on NBC-TV's "Third Watch," three cast members are ready for another challenge, starting Thursday. Anthony Ruivivar, the localite who plays Carlos Nieto on the firefighter, police and paramedic series, will direct "Safe," which he co-wrote with Tony Glazer. Ruivivar's two co-stars, Jason Wiles (Maurice "Bosco" Boscarelli) and Coby Bell (Ty Davis Jr.), will perform in a drama set in a bank safe after a botched robbery. "Safe" bows this week in an Imua Theatre Company production at the Jose Quintero Theatre at 534 W. 42nd St., New York, where it will have a brief run through June 28. Also in the cast: Carlin Glynn, Tony Award-winning star of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," and mother of Mary Stuart Masterson (who is currently in the musical "Nine").

Ruivivar is making his directorial debut with "Safe," which he wrote in his trailer while awaiting calls for the TV series. "He made good use of his down time," said his proud Honolulu grandmother, Ethel Walker. And you betcha: Walker has tickets for a flight to the Big Apple to take in the world premiere engagement and visit great-grandson Kainoa. ...

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WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Look for Lee Ritenour, the Grammy-winning jazz guitarist, at the Turtle Bay Resort July 3. The Independence Day event, dubbed "Guitars Under the Stars" Jazz Festival, begins at 6 p.m. and includes a fireworks display at 9 p.m. ...

Charo called the other day from Las Vegas, where her popular show, "Bravo," abruptly closed at the Sevilla at the Aladdin. You might call the cootchie-cootchie cutie a girl named Sue now — because she's in the midst of litigation. She has filed suit against the club owners, who promised her the moon but left her with scars. "I find myself in the worst of my nightmares," she said of the hasty closure, since she and her cast weren't getting paid. She since has taken to convention gigs, hanging on to her salsa dancers and flamenco musicians until there's a settlement, but one thing is certain: "I miss Hawai'i with a passion." ...

Whose steak was it, anyway? Apparently, it was Wayne Brady's, who celebrated his 31st birthday at Morton's The Steakhouse at Ala Moana Center a few nights back. His wife, Mandie, a Castle grad, was among those in the private boardroom. ...

Denis O'Hare, who won the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play Sunday night, has Hawai'i ties. He starred in a Manoa Valley Theatre production of Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart," an AIDS-themed drama that played in the early 1990s, and was directed by Tim Engle, son of localites Claire and Ray Engle. "We were thrilled that Denis won," said Claire, "since Tim brought him over and he stayed with us for about six weeks." ...

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SHOW BREEZES: Caught the Society of Seven Las Vegas recently, and my, how they've improved and adapted since the departure of Johnny Fernandez from the ranks at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom. The guys have had to switch material and leads around, and the results are amazingly effective. Lots of new nuggets, too, like Jan Luna doing a Honky Cat version of Elton John, Freddy Von Paraz prancing like Jerry Lewis, and John Salvatera joining Glenn Miyashiro and Jonathan Kaina in the "Phantom of the Opera" finale. William Daquioag, formerly of The Krush, has been sitting in as a multi-instrumentalist (bringing along his violin-playing, among other talents), as the group works out a full-time lineup. Still, the challenge of tweaking the show has made the group that much more engaging. ...

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.