Posted on: Tuesday, March 15, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Diamond Head Theatre to fete its 90th

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

PARTY TIME: Diamond Head Theatre marks its 90th anniversary with a Birthday Bash from 6:30 p.m. April 30 at the Wai'alae Country Club. Cathy Foy-Mahi, who has performed on the DHT stage (last time in 2003's "Follies"), is event chairwoman. The celebration will include entertainment, food and a silent auction. DHT is acknowledged as the third-oldest, continuously operating community theater in the United States — a reflection of the dedicated talent in this city for the past nine decades. For tickets, call 733-0277, ext. 306. ...

Bill Rancic, first winner of Donald Trump's NBC TV hit, "The Apprentice," dined with a party of eight at The Chef's Table at David Paul's Lahaina Grill on Maui last week. This nook at the restaurant is an antique-lined corner room with a window view of Lahainaluna Road — cozy dining for groups of eight to 10, with special menu options for milestone moments. No word if Rancic shouted "You're hired!" ...

ON STAGE: Manoa Valley Theatre's "Cabaret" is bursting with energy and eye-filling fodder, from the bewigged men wearing dresses in the house orchestra and the knockout Kit Kat girls on stage. In Andrew Sakaguchi, the show boasts an Emcee with a dominating and charismatic presence. Guest director John Rampage has cast the roles well, particularly with secondary leads — Lisa Konove as Fraulein Kost, Louise South as Fraulein Schneider and Larry Bialock as Herr Schultz. But while she looks engaging as Sally Bowles, methinks Erin Wong's Brit accent was difficult to swallow, and it wasn't till her "Cabaret" belter near the finale that she finally blossomed. Great response, still, from the nibbling and drinking house (there is food and beverage service, cabaret-style), but be advised: Go early for best seats. The show has been held over again, through April 10. ...

Also extended is Saint Louis School's "Aida" — which was to close Sunday — for one more performance, at 4 p.m. this Sunday, at the Mamiya Theatre. The cast (which also includes students from other schools) heads for the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August, with each actor needing to cough up $2,000 apiece for the journey (with the school also providing funding). Support funds can be sent to the school. ...

"Aida" director Kyle Kakuno assembled his players to read positive review notes to them one night last week, and guest actor Mahi'ai Kekumu also communicated encouragement. Mo and Ronald Bright — Mr. B was Kekumu's Castle High School mentor — took in the show, with Bright uttering, "My King, My King," (Kekumu was the King in "The King and I" at Castle). Turned out to be a mutual-admiration society — till this day, Kekumu can't forget the lessons learned on that Castle stage, and Bright was charmed by the performance. Kekumu's former teachers from Ma'ema'e School also gave him a congratulatory lei and several other Department of Education staffers rallied. Such is the party spirit at the Mamiya Theatre. ...

"Miss Saigon," also extended at Army Community Theatre's Richardson Theatre, has been a hot ticket; see the classified ad in the paper the other day, asking $29 apiece for tickets? The show winds up Saturday. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Agnes Kimura, Japan's top slack-key guitarist and 'ukulele virtuoso, will perform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 2 at Neptune's Garden in the Pacific Beach Hotel. Kimura also will participate in the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo as part of a Tokyo-based halau affiliated with Johnny Lum Ho's Hilo-based halau. Kimura also will appear at the Hawaii Music Awards ceremony April 3 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. ...

With L&L Drive-Inn planning a corned-beef-musubi-eating contest and Compadres Bar & Grill rendering Irish quesadillas stuffed with corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for Murphy's big downtown to-do, St. Patrick's Day must be nearing. One of the cars in the St. Paddy parade down Kalakaua Avenue will be a white Saab convertible driven by owner Lisa Josephsohn, with leprechauns including actors Sherry Chock Wong and Joey Caldarone, Hawai'i Pacific University student Kate Wall and interior designer Meghan Goldman riding in it, handing out green-wrapped candy. Why? To promote "Lord of the Dance," the Michael Flatley Celtic dance extravaganza playing April 29 through May 8 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, for which Josephsohn is local publicist. Flatley, alas, won't be here for the performances. ...

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.