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SHOWBIZ
'Grease' to run at Blaisdell Dec. 27-Jan. 2
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Still the word: "Grease," the nostalgia-laced musical that is the fifth-longest-running tuner in Broadway history, will be in residence at the Blaisdell Concert Hall Dec. 27-Jan. 2, which means it's a hand-jive option for New Year's Eve this year. Frankie Avalon, who appeared as the angel in the movie version, will star as Vince Fontaine, the deejay, in this touring production.
The other leads (Danny Zuko, Sandy Dumbrowski, Betty Rizzo, Kenicke, Frenchy, etc.) are yet to be named. This show features such hit songs as "Beauty School Dropout," "Greased Lightning," "Summer Nights," "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" and "Born to Hand Jive" from the original score and is joined by a selection of tunes from the movie (and not in the play, till now), including "You're the One that I Want," and "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Further, the show will take on a special "extra" at the final curtain, when Avalon gives a mini-concert of his signature tunes, such as "Venus," "Bobby Sox to Stockings" and "Why" ... shades of the party-hearty wind-up in "Mamma Mia," when Abba songs are reprised in "concert" mode. ...
"Grease" tickets are already on sale for those on a special mailing list, through Ticketmaster, (877) 750-4400. For group sales, call 732-7733. General sales begin later. ...
Add Tower of Power to the roster of New Year's Eve celebrants this year — though their show will be at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island, not in Honolulu. Check out www.bumpcity.com/TourCalendar.html for details. ...
Trade winds: As part of the Hawaii International Jazz Festival last weekend, John Kolivas and his Honolulu Jazz Quartet launched two compositions — one, a ballad dubbed "The Indians," which pays homage to Kolivas' Little League baseball team and inspired by his late grandfather, Lawrence Kang; the other, an uptempo ditty, "Tenacious," about not giving up when the going gets tough. Surely, these new repertory bits will be heard in future quartet appearances. ...
Seen on the Food Network recently: Restaurateur Rick Enos (proprietor of Compadres), whose marketing concept at Candlestick Park in San Francisco was featured. Enos operates Orlando's Caribbean BBQ, named for Orlando Cepeda, the baseball great, and Enos was all smiles when he and executive chef Alfonso Navarro appeared in a "BBQ at the Ballpark" show hosted by Bobby Flay. ...
When Outrigger Entertainment honcho Frannie Kirk took publisher Peter Gellatly to lunch at Hoku's in the Kahala Mandarin Oriental last week (to mark his birthday), they both agreed not to take cell-phone calls. But Kirk insisted Gellatly take the call from his 16-year-old daughter, Resham, who's summering in New York, studying at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre program; she provides daily updates to her papa on her adventures in the Big Apple. ...
Hip-hopper Kayne West has been sighted at the Lagoon Grill of the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. The Chicago rapper has been enjoying a quiet holiday with a friend at the Hilton's Ocean Tower Suite, experiencing the Dolphin Quest and sunning at several of the hotel's magnificent pools. West is a beat biggie of "The College Dropout" fame, whose imprint has been heard and applauded with a round of popsters, from Jay-Z to Britney Spears to Alicia Keys. ...
Random notes: Latino comic Gabriel Iglesias had a fun time when he was here for his Pipeline Café engagement recently. Hit the Aloha Stadium swap meet, where he sought out super-sized aloha shirts (he is a hefty bundle of laughs) for his shows. Played tourist, checking out the Pali lookout, giving two-thumbs-up to Mark Ellman's Maui Tacos in Kailua, enjoying the pool at Greg Azus' Hawai'i Kai home and grinding at Germaine's Lu'au, where he was hauled on stage. ...
Lots of great performers — Raymond Kane, Randy and Gay Hongo, the Joe Wilcox Band, Van Diamond, Nalani Olds — will be on hand at the Lili'uokalani Protestant Church lu'au, set for Aug. 7 at the Hale'iwa church. Take-out tickets are $12.50 (pick up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), sit-down feasting tickets are $15 (from 1 to 4 p.m.). Call Dick Rodby at Kemoo Farm (621-8481) for details or the church (637-9364) for tickets. ...
Ruth King, general manager of Dixie Grill 'Aiea, was amused when a group of sailors from the Australian navy, here for the RIMPAC exercise, tried to finish — but couldn't— a two-pound Bust Yo Belly Burger in 30 minutes or less (to get it free). Sounds easy, but 'tain't. ...
And that's Show Biz. ...
Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.
