It's got color — costumes are vibrant.

It's got drama — remarkable feats are executed with the precision of a drill team, some up in midair, others requiring agility and dexterity.

It's got thrills — acrobats are stacked like chairs in an amazing formation.

It's got cultural diversity — the Chinese acrobats are rooted in history and tradition, putting their own spin on the art of balance and coordination.

The show, which opened last night, now boasts a more theatrical dress, thanks to the new creative director and company manager, Greg Wilson, a former magician with a decade of experience in producing shows.

"My involvement is a long story," said Wilson, who remembers doing magic shows in China with his father. "My father brought Chinese shows to this country and now I'm in the midst of creating a whole new show, bringing it to the States, and producing shows with a flair that targets the Western audience but keeping that precious aspect of Chinese history and culture intact."

Wilson was speaking earlier this week from Maui, where the show was running, before the Honolulu engagement. A three-month tour of U.S. and Canadian cities was launched last month in Los Angeles and, by the time the troupe completes the road trip, 100 performances will have been logged.

To enhance the production, Wilson visited China to huddle with directors, costumers, music experts and choreographers. The goal was to restructure the act into a more theatrical experience, "but not making it a copy of Cirque du Soleil," he said.

Cirque, after all, has heightened interest in, and capitalized on, the amazing artistry of the Chinese acrobats (among other genres of new-age performers) in touring and resident shows throughout the United States. Chinese acrobats, in other words, have become mainstream.

The touring company of 23 includes 20 performers (including one troupe leader) and three creative forces: Wilson, who tends to the creative process; Jay Cochrane, a safety engineer and a wizard at rigging (who holds the Guinness World Record for longest high-wire walk across the Yangtze River); and Andrea Lin, a translator.

The youngest troupers are 15; numerous others are career acrobats.

One term often used to describe the act is "incredible." So Wilson anticipates a name change over the next few weeks, to the Incredible Acrobats of China.

"And maybe, in two or three years, we'll just be 'Incredible.' "

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067, or fax 525-8055.

Helping tsunami victims: Black Square, left, will perform at the "Ska A Go-Go!!" benefit at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki, and Jake Shimabukuro will dazzle with his uke at the Pipeline Cafe for the "T.E.A.R. Concert."Spider-Man flies into action at Sunset on the Beach this weekend at Queen's Surf Beach, Waikiki. Top photo: Unity Crayons; Above photo: Associated Press library photo

Two musical events this weekend are raising money for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis:

• "Ska A Go-Go!!" a presentation of Unity Crayons, begins at 8 p.m. today at Coffee Talk, 3601 Wai'alae Ave., in Kaimuki. Bands include Black Square, Pimpbot, Ex-superheroes and 5th Freedom in the all-ages show. Admission is $5; proceeds will go to the American Red Cross tsunami disaster fund. 255-4662.

• "T.E.A.R. Concert — Shed a Tear for Those in Need," is from 4 to 11 p.m. tomorrow at the Pipeline Cafe (free pupu from 4 to 7 p.m.). Among the performers: Jake Shimabukuro, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Inoa'ole, Hawaiian Pride, Thick Tubes, Native Blend and others.

Admission is $10; proceeds will be added to the East-West Center tsunami relief fund. By the way, T.E.A.R. stands for Tsunami Emergency Asian Relief. The concert is for those 18 and older. 589-1999 or 479-6001.

Show off your cat's skills today

Yes, this is the event cat fans have been waiting for. At today's Aloha TICA (The International Cat Association) Cat Show at the Ala Wai Golf Course clubhouse, the featured event will be a cat agility tournament, and any feline can participate, even if it's not entered in the show. Cats must be free of fleas, clean, with nails clipped, and brought in a carrier.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Admission is $4 general, $2 children.

Hair, ye: Locks of Love in need

If you have a lot of hair, 10 inches or more, Maryknoll senior Kori Mijo wants you! That is, she wants you to head for Maryknoll High School today to donate all that hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces for kids who have lost their hair to disease or cancer treatments.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school's Rogers Hall. The school is at 1402 Punahou St.

Call Kori, who coordinated the event as her senior project, at 741-7595 and leave a message with two possible times for hair-cutting. Or just show up, first-come, first-served. Those younger than 18 must have a parent's or guardian's consent. There's entertainment, too.

Spider-Man flies into action at Sunset on the Beach this weekend at Queen's Surf Beach, Waikiki.

Pair of Spider-Man flicks highlight Sunset on the Beach in Waikiki

Sunset on the Beach returns to Waikiki for the new year with a pair of blockbuster films, food booths and entertainment.

Today's film is "Spider-Man," the 2002 hit starring Tobey Maguire as the web slinger, Kirsten Dunst as his love interest and Willem Dafoe as the villainous Green Goblin.

Tomorrow's movie is last year's sequel, "Spider-Man 2," which received better reviews than the original. Maguire and Dunst return; this time the bad guy is Doc Oc, played by Alfred Molina.