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Local favorite In harmony at 'Melody' Fans of Irving Berlin are in for a treat when "The Melody Lingers On" hits the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center stage. The student production focuses on the life and music of the legendary songwriter (remember "Easter Parade"?). Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-28 and March 5-6, and 3 p.m. March 7. Tickets: $8 general, $5 kids, seniors over 65, students with ID, free for preschoolers. March 6 is alumni night, a benefit for the scholarship fund: $10 general/seniors, $5 kids/students. 733-4913.

The all-male comic ballet company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, makes its Hawai'i debut in the new year with two performances downtown. The company's playful and humorous twist on classical ballet places men in both the female and male roles onstage. The troupe has toured internationally to more than 500 cities. Tickets: $25, $40 and $55.

• 8 p.m. Jan. 23-24 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

STAGE: Jan. 24-25

New Zealand playwright and actress Lynda Chanwai Earle stars in "Ka Shue" ("Letters Home"), a one-woman show she wrote and performs. "Ka Shue" is a New Zealand-Chinese play that follows the lives of three generations of Chinese women. Earle is a fourth-generation Chinese New Zealander. Besides her stage credentials, Earle is also a jazz poet, filmmaker, multimedia performance artist and television journalist. Admission is free.

• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 and 4 p.m. Jan. 25 / Paliku Theatre / 956-3059

CONCERT: Jan. 25

It'll be three times the fun when Orange County band Thrice, left, hits these shores. The punk pop quartet formed in 1998 with guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge, and drummer Riley Breckenridge, going on to garner success with the albums "The Illusion of Safety" and "The Artist in the Ambulance." Tickets: $16.50.

• 7 p.m. Jan. 25 / Pipeline Cafe / (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: Jan. 24

The first Island rhythms concert of the year — Winter Bash 2004 — takes us by storm with performers including Opihi Pickers (right), Pipeline Band, One Drop, Ko'u Mana'o, Inoa'ole, Hi Risk, Next Generation, BET, Ho'onu'a, Pati, Aloha, and Ten Feet. Tickets are $15 lawn, $17.50 terrace II, $19.50 terrace I and $25 pool. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.

• 4-10:30 p.m. Jan. 24 / Waikiki Shell / 591-2211, (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: Jan. 28

Heads up, Parrotheads! "Margaritaville" is heading for Honolulu via the ever-popular Jimmy Buffett. Always an Island favorite, the musician/actor/journalist/author returns with old favorites and the Coral Reefer Band. Tickets: $35 general/lawn and $75 reserved.

• 7 p.m. Jan. 28 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: Jan. 29

Hawai'i will have something to talk about when Grammy-award winning, rocking guitarist/singer and totally cool Bonnie Raitt lands here. But wait: Blues fans will be in heaven when blues master Robert Cray, left, along with the Robert Cray Band, hit the stage, too. Tickets: $25 lawn/general admission, $35 and $45 upper terrace and $55 pool/lower terrace.

• 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

Also: Raitt and the Robert Cray Band perform at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27. Tickets: $37, $45 and $55. (808) 242-7469.

And: The Robert Cray Band performs Jan. 31 at Kona Brewing Company's Brewhouse Oasis on the Big Island. Doors open at 6 p.m.; opening act to be announced. $25 advance, $30 at the door.

CONCERT: Jan. 30, Feb. 1 and 3

Hawaii Opera Theatre opens its 2004 Grand Opera Season, themed "Songs of Love and War," with Verdi's "Otello." Based on a Shakespearan tragedy, the dramatic tale follows a man's downward spiral in life due to jealousy. The show is directed by Henry Akina, conducted by Ivan Törzs and stars Wolfgang Müeller-Lorenz as Otello, Robin Follman as Desdemona and Gary Simpson as Iago. Tickets: $29-$100.

• 8 p.m. Jan. 30, 4 p.m. Feb. 1 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 596-7858

CONCERT: Jan. 31

Heralded as one of the most impressive jazz vocalists to come from the 1990s, blues singer Karrin Allyson is set to serenade us with her expressive talents and tender voice. Her latest release from Concord Records, "In Blue," came as a much-anticipated follow-up to her 2001 album that garnered two Grammy nominations, "Ballads — Remembering John Coltrane." Tickets are $30 general and $28 for students, seniors and Honolulu Academy of Arts members.

• 7 p.m. Jan. 31 / Doris Duke Theatre / 532-8700

Also: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at McCoy Studio Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. $25 ($22.50 Hawai'i Public Radio members), assigned seating. (808) 242-7469

STAGE: Feb. 15

V-Day is back! Eve Ensler's ever-popular "Vagina Monologues" returns to Hawai'i as part of the V-Day Worldwide Campaign. This year's benefit production is presented by Girl Fest Hawaii, with a cast that includes Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Nora Okja Keller, Joy Harjo, Brenda Kwon, Selah Hope Geissler, Kasi Nunes and Grace Alvaro Caligtan. Luciana Tarantino will perform a dance solo and DJ Primmitiv provides the music. Tickets: $12-$32.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 15 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506, www.girlfesthawaii.org

MIXED BAG: Feb. 16

The Great Aloha Run is right around the corner, so sign up now. Register through Feb. 2 or at the Great Aloha Run Family Fitness Expo Feb. 13-15 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall; rates vary. Celebrate health, fitness and fun during the 20th anniversary of this 8.15 mile walk/run, which is followed by a party with entertainment and prizes in the stadium. The Advertiser is a sponsor of this event.

• 7-9 p.m. Feb. 16 / from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium / 528-7388, www.greataloharun.com

Also: The Great Aloha Run Family Fitness Expo is open 4-10 p.m. Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 14 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 15. There will be cooking demonstrations, health evaluations, strong-man competitions and other attractions. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, military and children under 7 and free for Great Aloha Run participants with coupons. 945-3594.

COMING UP:

• Jeff Linsky, guitar virtuoso, Jan. 23, Doris Duke Theatre
• Honolulu Jazz Quartet, Jan. 23-24, The ARTS at Marks Garage
• Popcorn music festival, showcase of indie rock, Jan. 23 at University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center Ballroom, Jan. 24 at Club Pauahi
• Makaha Sons, Jan. 30, Hawai'i Theatre
• Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, bluegrass, Feb. 6, Doris Duke Theatre
• "Get Back!" tribute to the Beatles, Feb. 20-22, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Kiss Me, Kate," starring Cathy Foy, Feb. 26-March 13, Richardson Theatre
• The Brothers Cazimero, March 12, Hawai'i Theatre
• Na Palapalai, April 23, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

Blues fans, unite: Hawai'i Public Radio's KIPO kicks off the new year with its first Blues Night of 2004 on Jan. 31 at Eastside Grill. Jeff Said No! starts the music at 8 p.m.; headliner Automatic Slim (formerly Slim Mango) takes over at 9 p.m. Admission is $7 general, $5 for HPR members.

Yes, it's free!: Not many things are free these days, but here's a concert that won't cost you: Heineken and Island Rhythm 98.5 are sponsoring a concert 9 p.m.-midnight Thursday at The Beach House, featuring Koa'uka, Inoa'ole, B.E.T. and Ho'onu'a. There'll be prize giveaways, too.

Dancing king: KC and The Sunshine Band headline the 25th Pro Bowl Concert and Party Feb. 7 at the Waikiki Shell. The show begins at 7 p.m. with opening act Papa Doo Run Run. Tickets — $25 and $35 reserved, $15 advance general admission — go on sale tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office and at ticketmaster.com. (877) 750-4400.

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 subjectto change.