Posted on: Thursday, October 7, 2004

SHOW BIZ
'Rent' feature film will have Hawai'i link

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

OVERDUE 'RENT': "Rent," the movie, will likely be a Christmas 2005 release and will have a Hawai'i connection. The Tony Award-winning musical is being prepped for a major feature film, with Chris Columbus ("Harry Potter," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Home Alone") directing. The local link is producer Kevin McCollum, one of the producers of the still-running Broadway musical, who grew up in the Islands and was a key reason "Rent" earlier played in Honolulu. Revolution Studios will produce the movie, based on the late Jonathan Larson's play inspired by the opera "La Boh?me." McCollum also produced "Avenue Q," this year's Best Musical. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Jack Cione, who now lives at the Arcadia with wife, Maydelle, will lead a group of 100 residents to John Hirokawa's "Magic of Polynesia" show Oct. 12 at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. He has assumed a role as the Arcadia's entertainment coordinator, and this will be the group's first outing. Future possibilities — "Grease" with Frankie Avalon starting Dec. 27 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. ...

By the way, Cione is hanging up his hat as director of the annual Mardi Gras Follies at the Pearl Harbor next year. It's the 50th show — and his 20th. ...

Tony Conjugacion (who had a cold) had to scrap plans to do an aria at his "Kamau Pono VII" concert last Friday night at the Hawai'i Theatre, but he fulfilled his promise of depicting the "other" side of his performing cast, including Raiatea Helm, who embraced jazz-flavored standards (like "As Time Goes By") and his Halau Na Wainohia dancers rendering "One" from "A Chorus Line." The evening's stretching theme was capped by Conjugacion's "You Raise Me Up" vocal, with ballet by Kamakoa Page. ...

Abbe Brewster Caffe, on Pi'ikoi Street, has been enjoying mounting celebrity patronage, according to owner Lance Tashima, whose Hollywood ties (Koi restaurant in Los Angeles) is a factor.

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa of "Hawaii" has been a regular; ditto, crews from "Lost" and "North Shore" (including co-star Brooke Burns). Locals seen at the café: Ken Makuakane, Emme Tomimbang, Barry Flanagan and Donn Takaki. Tashima made a brief appearance on HBO/Mark Wahlberg's "Entourage," which just aired. ...

Reason Lex Brodie was unable to participate in his 90th birthday blast last Saturday at John Dominis, where Michael W. Perry and Larry Price honored him: Brodie's doctors grounded him on Kaua'i, so his wife, Evelyn, accepted honors from Gov. Linda Lingle and Mayor Jeremy Harris. And while Brodie couldn't fly, Perry did, with the Navy's Blue Angels yesterday. The Angels give public performances Saturday and Sunday at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i. ...

Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana Hotel continues to be a magnet for celebrities. The recent "American Idol" gang had après-show dinner (with spectacular views of Waikiki) three nights in a row, said Scott Osterhout, vice president of operations for the restaurant and other Tri-Star properties here and on Maui. Then again, he's an old hand in navigating VIPs. He worked at the Black Orchid, where Tom Selleck and Larry Manetti were among the celebrity owners and the restaurant was a haven for stars and gazers. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Harry B. Soria Jr. is off to Japan, emceeing U'ilani Japan's "Hawai'i Hula Festival." Kumu hula Hokulani DeRego, Nani Lim Yap, Leimomi Ho, Kapua Dalire and Ed Collier will participate, along with O'Brian Eselu and Nohelani Cypriano. Meantime, Soria's "The Best of Territorial Airwaves," airing from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday on KINE-FM, features Melveen Leed in vintage songs. ...

Filipino-American comedian Rex Navarrete, who was based in San Francisco, has purchased a home on O'ahu, so it's reasonable to expect that he'll be a lot more visible on the club scene. He's just back from a European tour and will headline at the Pipeline Café for three nights, tomorrow through Sunday. Greg Gabaylo will open tomorrow and Saturday; Elroy and Shawn Felipe on Sunday. ...

Anne Hamilton Ogilvie is performing in her third production of "Anything Goes," the Cole Porter musical extended through Oct. 17, at Diamond Head Theatre. The first, in 1971, was at DHT; the second, in 1989, at Leeward Community College, when she was in the ensemble. At that time, she predicted she'd be Mrs. Harcourt, the motherly type, and yes, that's who she is in this revival. ...

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.