Posted on: Tuesday, May 17, 2005
SHOWBIZ
Hall-Magno team celebrates child
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
HITHER AND YON: Cliffton Hall and Deedee Lynn Magno, the husband-and-wife acting duo, have been cast in new roles — as daddy and mommy. She gave birth on Mother's Day to Kaeden Riley Hall, who weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 inches. The family lives in California; that's why Hall, one of the Island-bred actors who have become drama mentor Ronald E. Bright's luminaries, couldn't make it to Bright's tribute show at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College. ... There was a glitch in our recap of the Bright tribute in this space last week; Tricia Marciel was among the stellar cast, but her surname was was misstated. Apologies. ...
Kumu Kahua Theatre has lined up two summer specials — both revivals — here and elsewhere. Lee Cataluna's "Half Dozen Long Stem" will be staged Thursdays through Saturdays, starting July 14, at Kumu's downtown headquarters. Plans to revive the play were completed well before Cataluna, a Honolulu Advertiser columnist, went on maternity leave, said Harry Wong III, Kumu's artistic director. "Aloha Las Vegas," a popular work by Edward Sakamoto, will be presented June 13, 14 and 15 at the Okinawan Cultural Center at Waipi'o, then trek to the University of Hawai'i at Hilo for June 17 and 18, returning to Kumu's theater June 22 through 26 as a benefit for Kumu Kahua. Tickets to "Aloha" are on sale at the box office, but tickets to "Long Stem" won't be available till late June. ...
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: That Jack Thompson 60th birthday bash, held last Tuesday night at the Waialae Country Club, delivered tears and cheers, assembling dancers galore and friends and family meaningful to the success of Jack and Cha Thompson's Tihati Productions. Jack, also known as Tihati, was misty-eyed when his children formally presented him with a vintage Chevy pickup truck parked in front of the club; tears welled up in his eyes when son Afatia Thompson said he'd be honored if he were "just half the man dad was." Noticing Afa's and dad's moist eyes, daughter Misty Tufono quickly ad-libbed that "the Tihati women are strong." Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his wife, Gail, were among the notables attending and brought along a city proclamation to honor Thompson on his birthday. Hannemann also reflected on how similar their lives were, with roots in Kalihi, their Samoan heritage and the importance of family values. Tihati Productions tapped its hula dancers and fire knife dancers to reflect on the company's past (Jack started out as a knife dancer, Cha as a hula stylist). Cha danced, of course, wearing a striking mint-green Neiman Marcus outfit ("wait till Jack gets the bill," she cooed). Afa sang with his Reign colleagues, and sister Ruana Teo danced, keeping it all in the 'ohana. Nueva Vida, featuring singer Ginai, provided music for listening and dancing. A casino was set up, too, for post-dinner fun — something Tihati Productions frequently schedules for theme parties. ...
EightOEight, the society of seven featuring vocalists Ginai, J.J. Gottschalk and Malcolm Rolsal, will wind up its five-month-long Saturday gigs at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom this Saturday. ...
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.
