Posted on: Thursday, April 14, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Yesterday once more on dance floor

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

SHALL WE DANCE? Get ready for Yesterday Once More, a series of nostalgic dance outings, launching at 7:30 p.m. May 27 in the Manoa Grand Ballroom of the Japanese Cultural Center in Mo'ili'ili, with Kit Samson & the Sound Advice behind the music. Soul Cafe will be a guest act, and there will be featured vocalists.

"I want to begin with Connie Kissinger," Samson said. "She was with me for over 10 years at the Kahala Hilton." Kissinger will fly in from New York (where she has lived for several years now) for the gig.

Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and include one drink. They will be available at Harry's Music in Kaimuki, Rainbow Books and Music on University Avenue, Good Guys on Kapahulu Avenue, Liquor Collection at Ward Warehouse, Jelly's in 'Aiea, Samurai in Kapolei, Hungry Ear in Kailua and by phone at 545-3642. ...

At his Wai'alae Golf Course home last week, Samson huddled with performers for a April 29 Hawai'i Theatre benefit gala to be held at the Kahala Mandarin hotel. Those present included Joey Caldarone (fresh from playing the Engineer in "Miss Saigon" at Army Community Theatre), Sherry Chock Wong (who wowed 'em as Tuptim in ACT's "The King and I") and Rex Nockengust (a Princess Kaiulani employee who was in the original company of "Forever Plaid" and in the long-running off-Broadway "The Fantasticks").

"Live from the Rainbow Room" is the theme of the sold-out event, co-chaired by Florence Chong and husband Kenwei Chong (E&O Trading Company) and Sharon McPhee. Samson is tapping Gabe Baltazar on sax, flute and clarinet, for a real supperclub flavor.

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Ethel Walker, long-time aide, secretary, jane-of-all-trades, office manager and more for the Society of Seven, is packing up and relocating to Las Vegas tomorrow. Daughter Karen Ruivivar (spouse of SOS leader Tony Ruivivar) and Frannie Kirk (Outrigger entertainment director) planned a going-away party last Friday at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom. Walker was stunned, and then got teary-eyed, when the Society of Seven Las Vegas, the Honolulu-based spinoff group, performed a medley of tunes capped with "This Is the Moment." Showroom and hotel staffers gathered, gifted her, lei'd her and hugged her — a moment Walker will long remember. ...

Bob Sandla, former executive director of the Honolulu Symphony who went on to a similar position with the Florida Symphony, is returning to live in Hawai'i. He and wife Mary Lou plan to get involved with the arts and will be players on the cultural scene. Sandla, who used to run the Honolulu City Ballet in the Frank Fasi era, already has been nabbed by Ballet Hawaii's Judy Muncaster to serve on that organization's board; she worked for him when he was at the symphony and they've kept in touch.

THE BUZZ: With The Brothers Cazimero performing in the "Concert in the Courtyard" from 5:30 p.m. today in the Banyan Courtyard of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider hotel, don't expect a hula presence from Robert Cazimero's Merrie-Monarch-winning Halau Na Kamalei, although Kaumaka'iwa Kanaka'ole and Ray Sowders and Shawn Ishimoto also will take the stage.

A Lei Day concert, May 1 at the Waikiki Shell, will be the first post-festival performance by the halau — and an opportunity for fans to soak in the award-winning style. ...

To commemorate the 25th anniversary this year of the Ronald E. Bright Theatre at Castle High School, Bright is mounting (with Marcelo Pacleb as choreographer) an alumni-community production of the Tony-Award-winning "A Chorus Line," for three weekends beginning July 22 at the Windward theater. It's a show he wanted to do with his students, but the frank language was a problem for a student production. Auditions will be held from 6:30 p.m. May 2 and 3 at the Bright Theatre. For details, call Karen Meyer at 233-5626 or Bright at 262-2704. ...

"Cats," playing through Sunday at Blaisdell Concert Hall, is loaded with memories — amicable in a revisit, enchanting for a first-time peek. With choreographic and tuneful charm, this cast retains the purr-fection of the original — a Grizabella who belts, an Old Deuteronomy who inspires and a Rum Tum Tugger who rocks. Go — with the family. ...

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.