Posted on: Tuesday, March 22, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Ruivivar back on stage following surgery

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

THE LOCAL ANGLE: Since the four-show sell-out at the Hawai'i Theatre last month, Tony Ruivivar of the "classic" Society of Seven has undergone a lot — such as a kidney-stone operation, for starters. He had an extended stay here to tweak the show for the Society of Seven Las Vegas, the spinoff group ensconced at the Outrigger Waikiki showroom, and he had been feeling a bit under the weather despite enjoying leisurely golf with pals Jimmy Borges and Augie Rey. "I had several days of pain, not knowing it was kidney stones," said Ruivivar. He had to be hospitalized in Las Vegas, for surgery and treatment upon returning there, but there has been precious little rest since — the SOS journeyed to Seattle for several concerts, minus Lani Misalucha, the Philippines songbird who's now a fixture in the Las Vegas-based act. The SOS, which hasn't been performing at Bally's since the Hawai'i shows, finally returns to the limelight on Saturday. They'll get an Island "fix" when a contingent of listeners of KSSK's morning-drive team (Michael W. Perry and Larry Price) trek to the California Hotel, where the radio show will be broadcast live April 2, with the SOS among the featured guest performers. ...

Maui fashion designer Maggie Coulombe — whose dress designs have been donned by Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Halle Berry — continues to attract a celeb clientele. On Maui, her boutique has embraced such shoppers as Sugar Ray Leonard and Jessica Simpson's mom. And Teri Hatcher, the "Desperate Housewives" star, has picked up a Coulombe pareu. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Evangeline Lilly of "Lost" found Chef Mavro restaurant again, entertaining friends last week. Her favorite dessert? Not the famed liliko'i malassadas but the trendy flavor combo of the chef's rosemary chocolate "cannelloni," which combines ice cream and caramel. Yums. ...

Mary Lou Doehring, a local voice teacher, must be doing something right. She was an early teacher of "American Idol" contestant Jordan Segundo. Now comes word that she's also instructed Wai'anae's Paul Robins, the 12-year-old who appeared on Oprah Winfrey's show recently and has caught the ears of singer Mariah Carey, one of his idols. More on Robins and Doehring may emerge shortly; Newsweek magazine has contacted the voice teacher. ...

When she was in Las Vegas recently, Aubrey Glover took in the "Splash" show at the Riviera hotel, where she encountered local boys Etienne Carreira and Homelani Kupau in the cast — the former, featured dancer; the latter, portraying the Emcee in a "Cabaret" segment. Glover also checked out a breakdancing competition there, and discovered Guillaume Carreira, Etienne's kid brother, winning the contest and making him a potential "Splash" dancer in the future. Glover will settle in Vegas in May. ...

Jennifer Fairbank of Honolulu, Miss Hawaii USA, will represent the state at the 54th Annual Miss USA competition, which will be televised from Baltimore on NBC April 11. ...

RANDOM NOTES: Louise King Lanzilotti, managing director of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, has received a 2005 Observership Program award from Theatre Communications Group Inc., which will enable her to visit children's theater groups in Minneapolis, Dallas and Hopkins, Minn. These theaters are models for HTY in its ongoing quest to attain a permanent space to call home, as well as to expand its education department. ...

Which reminds me: HTY is honoring its founder, Nancy Corbett, with a tribute luncheon at 11 a.m. April 23 at the O'ahu Country Club. Tickets are $50 (table bookings available, too) at HTY (839-9885, ext. 15). Or call Carolyn Kishi (739-0563). ...

Things I didn't know: That composer Dean Pitchford is the godfather of 'ukulele player Daniel Ho's daughter, Lia. That's why Pitchford was excited when Ho won a Hawaii Music Award for his "Simple as a Sunrise" CD. "I've got ulterior motives," said Pitchford. ...

At "Eddie Would Go" and "Queen of Makaha" (about Eddie Aikau and Rell Sunn, respectively), publisher Buddy Bess (of Bess Press) was chatting with playwright Bryan Hiroshi Wake and Stuart Coleman (on whose book "Eddie" is based). Deals ahead, perhaps? ...

"Eddie" and "Queen" have been extended through April 3 at Kumu Kahua downtown. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Wayne Harada prepared this column before going on vacation. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.