SHOW BIZ
Buffett planning Honolulu concert for early '04
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
WISH FULFILLED: Jimmy Buffett, who flew here last week on his own plane, lunched at Duke's with entrepreneur Tom Moffatt and mentioned plans to set up a Honolulu concert early next year. You recall, the "Margaritaville" singer did a show at the beachfront restaurant at the Outrigger Waikiki in March 2002 and Buffett quietly has donated $10,000 from proceeds of that gig to Make-a-Wish Foundation Hawai'i. He and his family took in the Maui Film Festival before returning home. ...
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PHANTOMANIA: Nothing but high praise for Cris Groenendaal ("Phantom of the Opera") and Craig Schulman (Valjean in "Les Miserables," who also has played the masked wonder), who headlined a Manoa Valley Theatre benefit (honoring a particular newspaper columnist — guess who!) recently at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. The event raised a record $65,000 net for MVT.
The two performers have been doing special shows together for years (with Sue Anderson, Cris' wife, as accompanist) and are contemplating an act called "The Three Phantoms," with colleague Kevin Gray (whose credits include the "Phantom" lead and the Engineer in "Miss Saigon"), as the third Phantom — and there's initial interest from the Hawai'i Theatre to tap their formidable talents to headline a hoopla surrounding the completion (by February or March) of the theater's facade. At least, that's the implication, since the pair huddled with Burton White, theater manager, and Sarah Richards, theater president, and everyone seemed to think it's a perfect fit. Would be a divine gala, too, if there were a symphonic component as well. So stay tuned. ...
Groenendaal's "Music of the Night" (from "Phantom") and Schulman's "Bring Him Home" (from "Les Miz") brought the audience to its feet, with rousing approval and hurrahs, prompting Jimmy Borges to comment: "That was one of the best parties ... the best tribute ever put on by anyone. Lots of love and good feelings." Or, as attorney Jeffrey Portnoy opined: "The show may have been one of the best ever at a charity event. They (Groenendaal and Schulman) were also nice guys, to boot." ...
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SIGHT 'EMS: While here, the aforementioned visiting troupers had time to sample some of the culinary delights at Compadres at Ward Centre, Ruth's Chris Steak House at Restaurant Row, and Sergio's at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Schulman even had a postshow snack at Zippy's McCully; the Groenendaals took in Tihati's Polynesian show at the 'Ainahau Ballroom of the Sheraton Princess Ka'iulani and also dined at Matteo's. At Sergio's, the two children of the Groenendaals, Lucas, 11, and Emily, 9, learned that they share the same birthdays with the two children of Randy and Cheri Schoch, Randall, 11, and Victoria, 9. There was quick bonding by the kiddies, and memories renewed between restaurateur Schoch (who was at the bash) and the Broadway vets who had earlier receptions at Schoch's previous eateries, including The Black Orchid. The kids, by the way, took to local actor Ray Bumatai, who was there at the dinner with wife Karen, when they recognized his trademark voice. On Nickelodeon's "Rocket Project," Bumatai voices the role of Tito, and he happily autographed his cartoon image for the delighted youngsters. ...
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NAMES 'N' FACES: Nothing like combining work with pleasure. For their fourth anniversary recently, Nancy Bernal and Al Waterson celebrated at his work site, Nick's Fishmarket. Omni (Amado Cacho, Eddie Lactaoen and Arnold Pontillas) guested, and Johnny Fernandez and Keahi Conjugacion sang. Though they've been married only four years, they have been together for 26. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
With today's column, Wayne Harada is on vacation. Show Biz will resume in July.
