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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, June 8, 2004

SHOW BIZ
Talk-show host marks birthday in style

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Sight'ems: TV talk-show host Wayne Brady, wife Mandie Taketa and their Honolulu 'ohana helped him mark his 32nd birthday in style last week at one of the bungalows at the Mauna Lani Bay resort on the Big Island. With his Island ties, Brady ("The Wayne Brady Show," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") had Hawaiian entertainers and hula for the party. He's since left Hawai'i for a gig in Gulfport, Miss....

If you're Broadway-bound this fall, you can catch Brady as Billy Flynn in the hit Broadway musical "Chicago." He joins the cast Sept. 7-Nov. 11 at the Ambassador Theatre. ...

While here filming a "20/20" segment, singer LaToya Jackson dined at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hanohano Room. The clip airs June 18 on ABC. ...

Same site, same night: Rose Baraquio and an Oceanic 16 crew were checking out the new offerings at the Hanohano Room, including the Cobalt Lounge, for a pop on the family's "Living Local" series airing in July. ...

Itemizations: "American Idol" finalist Jasmine Trias, the Mililani resident who just graduated from Maryknoll High School, continues to get media exposure. The No. 3 finisher was pictured as the subject of two letters in a recent New York Times Arts & Leisure section. Of course, she was part of the Time magazine spread a few weeks ago, as "Idol" headed toward the Fantasia Barrino-Diana DeGarmo wind-up. She visited the Maryknoll grade-schoolers before the last day of school to say thanks and aloha for their voting support. And yep, she's getting as much rest as possible before the "Idol" tour kicks off July 14 in Salt Lake City. Yikes, the tour has taken on a title sponsor, so it's now officially "Pop-Tarts Presents American Idols Live." ...

When Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis presents "Under a Tropic Moon — 100 Years of Hapa Haole Hula," 7:30 p.m. June 26 and 2 p.m. June 27 at the Hawai'i Theatre, about 100 dancers from her hula halau will participate. The show is to help fund a $15,000 scholarship at the University of Hawai'i, honoring a halau friend and former student, Thomas Matthew Waiolikeola Ahsing, who died in 2002 of complications from a brain tumor. He left $20,000 to the h?lau, and Lewis was told that if an additional $15,000 could be raised, the school would be able to maintain a perpetual scholarship. The mission has prompted community support, even from non-hula types like Loretta Ables Sayre, who will sing. "It is the first time that I will be performing with members of my family," said Ables Sayre. "My younger brother, James Von Rohr, his wife Noreen (who works for The Advertiser) and their daughter Juliet will all be dancing in the show. No, I won't be dancing. I learned a long time ago after taking hula (in childhood years) from Lillian Vincent at the Pearl Harbor Youth Center that I should stick to singing instead. I never could figure out my 'ami'ami from my 'uli'uli," she said. ...

Names 'n' faces: Chef Mavro (that's George Mavrothalassitis) is back in his kitchen after a short vacation on the tiny island of Megisti, Greece (population 225), also known as Kastellorizo. His best day? "Hauling up 60 baskets of shrimp during a full day at sea with a Greek fisherman. Now I know what is hard work!" he said. He also enjoyed eating fresh catch at a seaside taverna. And with that kind of inspiration, you can expect vigor and excitement as he puts a new summer menu in place (starting this weekend) at his Chef Mavro restaurant. ...

KGMB-9's Jacqueline McLean won three Emmys at the recent Northern California Emmy Awards last month at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Her winning entries: Serious News Feature for

"Paper Waste," Investigative Reporting for "Underground Car Business" and Writing News for "DUI." "I think it's an accomplishment that deserves recognition from local folks," said colleague Jade Moon. ....

There seems to be a growing affinity between Silicon Valley high-tech companies and local group Don Tiki. Cisco Systems hired the troupe to perform at its convention at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel earlier this year and last Friday, Don Tiki and the gorgeous dancers provided entertainment at a Google event at the Hyatt Regency Po'ipu on Kaua'i. ...

Pianist Ron Miyashiro, who has a swarm of followers, only performs Fridays now at the Pagoda's LaSalle Lounge. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.