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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 20, 2006

SHOW BIZ
'Aladdin' actor coming home for DHT stint

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Joseph Morales

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John Travolta

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Jake Shimabukuro

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Wayne Hirabayashi

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NAMES 'N' PLACES: Joseph Morales, the Island actor who has been in Disney's "Aladdin" musical in the California Adventure theme park, will come home in August to join the cast of Diamond Head Theatre's "Into the Woods." Morales recently finished a feature film, "Eating Out 2 — Sloppy Seconds" and has been part of the original cast of "Rock of Ages," an '80s musical that workshopped in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He's also likely to join a national tour of "Bombay Dreams," the Broadway musical with a Bollywood flavor (Indian musical). ...

Better late than never: While Kelly Preston was in the Islands last month, so was husband John Travolta. They dined with kids and family members at Roy's Ko Olina, according to restaurant manager Louis Barnett. ...

Comedian Tommy Chong spent an evening at Roy's in Hawai'i Kai with promoter Greg Azus while here for "The Marijuana-Logues." He returned home with a custom glass koi by artist Malia, who flew in from the Big Island to deliver the art piece. ...

AROUND TOWN: 'Ukulele wiz Jake Shimabukuro, Favorite Entertainer in this year's people poll of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, is prepping for the release of a new album, "Gently Weeps," pegged for a Sept. 19 release on Hitchhike Records. He says the CD is geared to "reflect my live 'bandless' set." The title is derived from one of the 12 solo tracks, his take on George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." ...

Jimmy Borges and Friends take the limelight at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Jazz Wednesday gig at the Honolulu Club. Robert Shinoda (the Nueva Vida wizard) also is involved. ...

TRAVEL LOG: John Rampage, Diamond Head Theatre's artistic director, missed the recent closing of "La Cage aux Folles." He was off to The Big Apple to check out shows for DHT's upcoming theater tour in November. He also met up with Shari Lynn, who left the cast for a New York visit with pal Jo Pruden. Lynn and hubby plan a cruise tour soon. ...

Publicist Lisa Josephsohn is on an extended vacation, hitting New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Montreal. ...

The Hawaii Opera Theatre's Henry Akina, Beebe Freitas and John Parkinson were also in New York where they held their annual opera auditions. ...

Ross Shimabuku, of KTVK in Phoenix, was home recently to toast parents George and Gladys Shimabuku on their 50th wedding anniversary. He bumped into another TV anchor, Rob Fukuzaki of KABC in Los Angeles, and noticed Fukuzaki's snazzy suits. He now sports customized duds via his own RSK label. ...

TROPICAL TOPICS: Emme Tomimbang is in the midst of editing her two-part "Mabuhay With Aloha: the Hawai'i Filipino Experience, 1906-2006," a documentary on the Filipino centennial, airing at 9 p.m. June 28 and 29 on KHON-2. Among the familiar figures included in the shows: Jasmine Trias, Jordan Segundo and Angela Perez Baraquio. ...

Hoku's, the flagship restaurant at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, unveils its new look (brighter furnishings, updated hues) this Saturday when it reopens for lunch and dinner. Chef Wayne Hirabayashi also will launch a new menu of contemporary Island cuisine. ...

Jeffrey Osborne, Rick Braun and Brenda Russell will perform at the Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Music Festival this Saturday on the Palace Lawn of the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort. The concert is part of the 12th annual Dolphin Days Summer Fest Thursday through Sunday. ...

FINALLY: This Friday Audy Kimura marks his 19th anniversary as resident performer at Hy's Steak House. He estimates that he's played for at least 670,000 guests over time. Among the recent: Adrienne Maloof-Nassif and her family (owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA team, Danny Kaleikini, Sen. Daniel Inouye, NBA pro A.C. Carter. ...

After today's column, Show Biz will be on a two-week vacation, returning in early July. ...

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.