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CONCERT: Dec. 17-18

Renowned classical cellist Matt Haimovitz, right, winds up his 50 state "Anthem" tour in the Islands, which promotes his latest album. Haimovitz has been bringing his solo cello sounds to unconventional venues around the nation, plus Canada and Britain. Tickets are $15.

• 6 p.m. Dec. 17-18 / The ARTS at Marks Garage / 521-9699

Haimovitz plays on at:

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, $18. (808) 242-2787, ext. 223.
• 6 p.m. Dec. 20, Wananalua Congregational Church in Hana, free. (808) 248-7569.
• 4-6 p.m. Dec. 26, Wai'oli Hui'ia Church, Hanalei, $15. (808) 245-2733.
• 7:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 26, The Landing Pad at Princeville Airport, $15. (808) 245-2733, (808) 826-9561.
• 7 p.m. Dec. 27, Kilohana Carriage House, Puhi, Kaua'i, $15. (808) 245-2733.
• 7 p.m. Dec. 28, Hukilau Lanai, Beach Boy Resort on Kaua'i, $25. (808) 245-2733.

CONCERTS: Dec. 18-19

Make your holiday bright at the concert "Immersed in the Bowl of Light: A Christmas Celebration," presented by kumu hula Sonny Ching and Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu. Two hundred of the halau's dancers will perform. Musical guest will be Mahiehie. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30, with discounts for Hawai'i Theatre members.

• 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and 3 p.m. Dec. 19 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: Dec. 18

Surf's up at Kualoa Ranch as the Bud Light Surfest brings in national recording acts New Found Glory, The Vandals and Yellowcard. Also riding in on the swell will be Rise Against, Over It and National Product. There's a skate ramp and surf village, too. Tickets are $18 advance and $22 at the door. Gates open at 10 a.m. for this all-ages show.

• 11 a.m. Dec. 18 / Kualoa Ranch / 922-5444, 266-6730

CONCERT: Dec. 21-Jan. 2

Get ready to make some noise this holiday season as the fun-for-all stage show "Stomp" returns. This whirlwind of sounds, sights and smiles features an eight-member troupe using all types of "everyday" instruments for a percussion orchestra unlike any other, including garbage cans, brooms, hubcaps and matchboxes. Tickets are $25, $35 and $45 for the Dec. 21-23, 26-29 and 7 p.m. Jan. 2 shows. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 for all other performances. Students, seniors and military receive a $5 discount. Groups of 20 or more receive a 10 percent discount on all shows except those on Friday and Saturday nights, 732-7733.

• 8 p.m. Dec. 21-23, 25, 27-29 and 31; 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 26 and Jan. 2; 5 and 9 p.m. Dec. 30 and Jan. 1 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

STAGE: Dec. 27-Jan. 2

"Grease" is the word this holiday season as the smash hit musical takes up residence for 10 performances. Those hopelessly devoted to the folks at Rydell High won't want to miss out as this fabulous '50s play brings back classic ditties such as "We Go Together" and "You're the One That I Want." Real-life '50s icon Frankie Avalon returns as Teen Angel, with Derek Keeling as Danny Zuko and Tiana Checchia as Sandy Dumbrowski. Tickets are $44 and $64 for weeknight and Sunday night shows, and $54 and $74 for all other performances.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27-Dec. 30, 4 and 8 p.m. Dec. 31, 2 and 8 pm. Jan. 1 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

STAGE: Jan. 6-Feb. 5

Kumu Kahua Theatre next offers "David Carradine Not Chinese," a work by local playwright Darrell H.Y. Lum. This comedy about racial stereotypes takes a look at contemporary Hawai'i and 20th-century American media, including Charlie Chan movies, the TV series "Kung Fu" and the "Ed Sullivan Show." John H.Y. Wat directs. Tickets, on sale Dec. 20, are $5-$16.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Jan. 6-Feb. 5 / Kumu Kahua Theatre / 536-4441

CONCERTS: Jan. 7 and 9

The Honolulu Symphony's Halekulani MasterWorks season continues with the passionate program "Romeo and Juliet — Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev," filled with masterpieces based on Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. The concerts include selections from "Romeo and Juliet" by Berlioz, Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy by Tchaikovsky and selections from "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev. Samuel Wong conducts. Tickets: $21, $33, $43, $51 and $64.

• 8 p.m. Jan. 7 and 4 p.m. Jan. 9 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, (877) 750-4400

STAGE: Jan. 7-9

See acrobatic feats like never before when the New Shanghai Circus drops by for a series of shows around the state. Children and adults perform side by side, showcasing their flexible prowess, artful balancing skills and awesome contortion ability. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30 general and $15 for seniors, children and military.

• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2 p.m. Jan. 9 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

Also, the circus tumbles over to the Neighbor Islands:

• 1:30 and 4 p.m. Jan. 2, Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall. Tickets: $30 golden circle, $20 general, $9.95 children 12 and younger.
• 4 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5, Kahilu Theater on the Big Island. Tickets: $30 golden circle, $20 general, $8.50 children 12 and younger. (808) 885-6868.
• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6, Hilo Civic Auditorium. Tickets: $17.50 adult, $8.50 children 12 and younger.

STAGE: Jan. 8

Master puppeteer Jim Gamble, right, and his vibrant puppets are back for a whirlwind of fun with "Circus!" Calliope and circus band music step into the center ring along with string and rod puppets for a spectacle sure to amaze and awe. Recommended for ages 3 and older. Tickets, on sale Jan. 3, are $10 general, $9 seniors, military and UH faculty, $8 non-UH Manoa students and children, $3 UH-Manoa students.

• 7 p.m. Jan. 8 / Kennedy Theatre mainstage / 956-7655

HOT DATES

• Dec. 18 Hollertronix (DJs Diplo and Low Budget), Indigo
• Dec. 19 Bank of Hawaii Free Sunday: Keiki Christmas, Honolulu Academy of Arts
• Dec. 22 Beethoven's Ninth, with the Honolulu Symphony, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Dec. 23 "Natural Vibrations' 1st Annual Christmas Party," Hawaiian Hut
• Jan. 12 General Public, featuring Dave Wakeling, Pipeline Cafe
• Jan. 15 Korean Festival, Kapi'olani Park
• Jan. 21 Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Legacy Band, jazz, Orvis Auditorium
• Jan. 21-22 Pilobolus dance company, Hawai'i Theatre
• Jan. 28-29 "An Enchanting Evening of Stories and Song," Carol Channing in concert, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT

'Iolani Palace at night

Evening tours of 'Iolani Palace, a holiday tradition celebrating the Dec. 31 birthday of Queen Kapi'olani, take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 28-29. Musicians will greet and serenade visitors as they enter the Grand Hall, which will be lighted as it was more than a hundred years ago. The grand piano in the Blue Room will be played by Robin Sutherland, keyboard principal of the San Francisco Symphony and former teacher with the Ellen Masaki School of Music in Honolulu. Admission is $6 general, $2 for those 13-18, free for kids 12 and younger. First come, first served.

Richard Cheese returning

Mark your calendars, Richard Cheese fans. Cheese (real name Mark Jonathan Davis), who puts a lounge-y spin on modern rock tunes, and his Lounge Against the Machine cohorts are coming back to Honolulu Jan. 14 and 16 at the Wave Waikiki (10 p.m., for those 21 and older; ticket details to come). Cheese, who was last here in June, will release his fourth CD in the spring, then hit the road for a summer farewell tour. After that, Davis (not Cheese!) plans to enter the realm of politics.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

E-mail: tgif@honoluluadvertiser.com

Schedule is subject to change.