What's Up!

CONCERT: March 12

Master fingerstyle guitarist Jeff Linsky offers a concert of improvisations and original music. The self-taught musician and award-winning composer's heralded works include "Simpatico" and "Solo." Bassist Jennifer Leitham also performs. Tickets are $25.

• 7:30 p.m. March 12 / Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts / 532-8768

CONCERT: March 13

Filstar Entertainment and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i present a concert featuring The Greatest Hitmakers, right, five Filipino pop culture phenomenons, singing solo and together as they kick off their U.S. tour. The Hitmakers are, clockwise from back left, Rey Valera, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Nonoy Zuniga and Marco Sison. Local talents Abeth Insong and A2C also perform. Tickets: $65 VIP, $50 "A" reserve and $35 "B" reserve. Part of the proceeds benefit the Hawaii Filipino-American Relief Committee, to help typhoon victims in the Philippines.

• 5:30 p.m. March 13 / Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Hawaii Ballroom / 386-0500

STAGE: March 25-April 24

Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre's spring offering is the comedy "The Miser" by MoliÚre. The miser Harpagon decides to marry off his children in an attempt to increase his wealth, making way for a clash of love and money. Joyce Maltby directs. Tickets are $20 general, $14 students, seniors and military, and $3 HPU students; discounts for Thursday shows.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays March 25-April 24 / Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre / 375-1282

STAGE: March 25-April 10

Diamond Head Theatre next presents the enchanting tale of "The Fantasticks," about young lovers and their feuding fathers. The long-running musical boasts such favorites as "Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and "Happy Ending." Tickets: $12-$42.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays March 25-April 10 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

STAGE: March 30- April 3

"Pandora & The Seven Deadly Sins" is the next production by the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance. This original mask drama, inspired by vaudeville and Balinese mask drama, follows Pandora's adventures as she discovers what it is to be human. Asian Theatre MFA candidate Cassandra Wormser directs. A discussion follows the April 1 performance. The production is dedicated to the late Maui artist Beverly Tresan. Tickets, on sale March 28, are $10 general, $8 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff and non-UH Manoa students, and $3 UH Manoa students.

• 8 p.m. March 30-31 and April 1-2 and 2 p.m. April 3 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre / 956-7655

EXPO: March 31-April 3

Start your engines: The 2005 First Hawaiian International Auto Show is revving up the latest models of cars, trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles for auto enthusiasts of all ages. Also on display will be pre-production models, specialty vehicles and concept cars. The Honolulu Advertiser is a sponsor. Tickets are $7 general, $5 ages 62 and older and military, $4 children 7-12 and free for ages 6 and younger. April 3 is Kids Day, so those 12 and younger get in free with a paying adult.

• Noon-10:30 p.m. March 31-April 1, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. April 2 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 3 / Hawai'i Convention Center / www.hawaiiautoshow.com

CONCERT: April 1

The 12th annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival returns with a two-pronged season this year, beginning with a spring show, "Swingtime in Hawaii Part II." As part of the Hawaii Arts Season, the show features both Hawaiian music and Mainland swing with artists such as Jimmy Borges, Gabe Baltazar (below left), David Choy (below right), Ginai, Owana Salazar, Keahi Conjugacion and Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Jessica Williams. A jam session follows the show in the old Trappers lounge. Tickets: $40 and $55. The festival's second set of concerts takes place July 29-30.

• 8 p.m. April 1 / Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa Ballroom / 941-9974, www.hawaiijazz.com
• "Swingtime in Hawaii Part II" also takes on Maui at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea at 8 p.m. April 2.

EXHIBIT: April 1-July 2007

The cultural and historical ties between Hawai'i and Japan are honored through the Bishop Museum's upcoming exhibit "Journey With a King." The exhibit features illustrations from Bandan, excerpts from King Kalakaua's journal, the image of interpreter Gohachiro Namura, the story of Japanese drifter John Manjiro and a letter from Meiji Emperor Mutsuhito. Admission is $14.95 general, $11.95 children 4-12, seniors and military, and free for those younger than 4 and museum members.

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily April 1-July 2007 / Bishop Museum, Hall of Discovery / 847-3511

AWARDS: April 3

The 8th annual Hawaii Music Awards honors the winners in 29 musical categories as voted by the public from Jan. 29 to Feb. 21. Voters from Hawai'i, Japan, New Zealand, Iraq, New York and New Mexico cast ballots for their favorite artists of 2004. Tickets: $60 for dinner and the awards show, or $25 awards show only. Proceeds benefit the Music Foundation of Hawaii.

• 5 p.m. dinner seating, 5:45 p.m. awards show seating April 3 / Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom / 951-6699, www.hawaiimusicawards.com

CONCERT: April 5

For alterna-pop/rock band 3 Doors Down "Kryptonite" is gold. The small-town Mississippi band hit the jackpot with that song, which paved the way for subsequent album chart toppers "The Better Life" and "Away from the Sun." The band's latest release, "Seventeen Days," has been at the top of the Billboard charts. Tickets: $25 general, $50 VIP.

• 7 p.m. April 5 / Pipeline Cafe / (877) 750-4400

HOT DATES

• March 11 The Brothers Cazimero, Hawai'i Theatre
• April 1-7 Hawaii International Film Festival's Spring Festival
• April 8 Ho'okena, Hawai'i Theatre
• April 8-9 Diane Reeves, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• April 12-17 "Cats," a touring production of the Broadway musical, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• April 19 Jimmy Buffett, Waikiki Shell
• April 22-May 1 "twelf nite o' WATEVA!" Kennedy Theatre mainstage
• April 24 Shakespeare's Birthday Bash XXXV, with Terence Knapp, Kennedy Theatre mainstage
• April 29-May 8 Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance," Blaisdell Concert Hall
• May 27-28 Keali'i Reichel, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, Blaisdell Concert Hall

BUZZING ABOUT

Norah Jones tickets

Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. tomorrow for a concert by Norah Jones, the Grammy-winning jazz vocalist/pianist, who makes her Hawai'i debut at 8 p.m. April 23 at the Blaisdell Arena.

Jones won five Grammys, including record of the year, best album and best new artist, for her first album, 2002's "Come Away with Me." Her second album, "Feels Like Home," brought her the best female pop vocal performance Grammy last month. She also won Grammys for her collaboration with Ray Charles on "Here We Go Again."

Tickets are $40 reserved, available at the Blaisdell box office and Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com. (877) 750-4400.

Music festival on Big Isle

A Hawai'i Performing Arts Festival, June 20-July 7 on the Big Island, will assemble students and world-class professionals in an intensive study-and-share program tapping both instrumental and vocal artistry on the Hawai'i Preparatory Academy in Waimea.

Among the special events will be a July 4 American Gala, where faculty and students will perform side by side, under the direction of Jason Gamer.

Ricky Ian Gordon is among the guest composers.

Details may be found on the festival Web site, www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

E-mail: tgif@honoluluadvertiser.com

Schedule is subject to change.