Posted on: Tuesday, March 1, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Pitchford reaches for 'Heaven'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Local-boy composer Dean Pitchford ("Footloose," "Fame," "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "After All") has collaborated with Desmond Child (creator of "You Give Love a Bad Name," "I Hate Myself for Loving You," "La Vida Loca") to write "Reachin' for Heaven," the finale song for the upcoming Disney film "Ice Princess." And "American Idol" runner-up Diana DeGarmo is recording the tracks in time for the March 18 release of the movie. ...

Pitchford, a Saint Louis High School alumnus and longtime Los Angeles resident, had dinner recently with school president Father Allen DeLong and they discussed the drama group's coup — the Hawai'i premiere of "Aida" this Friday at Mamiya Theatre. You recall, Pitchford helped get Saint Louis the first rights here to his "Footloose" musical. ...

Jack and Cha Thompson continue to support the drama program at Saint Louis. They've provided a lighting system "Aida"; director Kyle Kakuno says of Cha: "She has always supported us with a generous spirit and has helped elevate the quality of our productions year after year." The Thompsons' son, Eli, was a Crusader football star before his untimely death. ...

THE BUZZ: After 35 years, the Trattoria Italian Restaurant, at Lewers and Kalia roads, will cease operations at the end of March. Reason: Owner Fred Livingston has been unsuccessful in finding a suitable new location; the Waikiki landmark is part of the Outrigger's huge renovation in the area. We recall when the late Serge Battistetti was proprietor and Luigi Fumagalli entertained there. ...

And after 16 1/2 years as public relations director at the Halekulani Hotel, Joyce Matsumoto is resigning, effective April 5. She'll relocate to Las Vegas — then ponder job prospects — with her beau Norman Liwanag. ...

THE PARTY CIRCUIT: Nainoa Thompson, the Hokule'a navigator, and Kathy Muneno, the KITV-4 meteorologist, finally held a wedding reception for family and friends at the Thompson estate in Niu Valley last month. She wanted a full-moon night for the reception, so Feb. 19 was a good-omen time frame. The guests included Ben and Vicky Cayetano, John and Lynne Waihe'e, Paula Akana and Paul Guanzon, Gary Sprinkle, and Robert Kekaula, who emceed. "I am the luckiest man in the world," Thompson said proudly. ...

ON STAGE: Army Community Theatre's "Miss Saigon," at Richardson Theatre, is a knockout. Shawna Masuda, as Kim, could step into a touring production tomorrow — she's that accomplished. And all other principals are extraordinary: Joey Caldarone as The Engineer, Samuel Hesch as Chris, Keoki Kerr as John, Jay Flores as Thuy and Renee Garcia Hartenstein as Ellen. Maestro Melina Lillios extracts a fullbodied sound from her orchestra, and if there's anything to quibble about, it's the lack of a car in The Engineer's "American Dream" sequence. Vanita Rae Smith and her Army crew should take a bow. ...

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.