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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, August 16, 2007

SHOW BIZ
Fledgling actresses land roles in DHT opener

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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CURTAIN CALLS: Angela Morales of Na Leo and Denby Dung, a former Miss Hawai'i, got bitten by the show-biz bug after their respective debuts in Diamond Head Theatre's recent "You Somebody." They've landed roles in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," DHT's season opener starting Sept. 21. Tickets go on sale Aug. 27. Denby coaxed sister Dara Dung into auditioning, too — she'll also be in the ensemble. Songstress Anita Hall makes her DHT debut in the lead role of Mona Strangley, who is the madame of the infamous Chicken Ranch. Andrew Sakaguchi directs and choreographs. ...

When the "Somebody" set came down, folks snagged the cut-out plumeria, geckos and honu as mementos. Susan Thain of Olomana School at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility asked for the "You Somebody" signage over the proscenium to hang in a classroom to foster self-esteem and positive self-image, so tech director Willie Sabel was more than happy to oblige. ...

NAME-DROPPING: Celebs gathered at Alan Takasaki's Le Bistro in Niu Valley, a few nights back. It's Joe Moore's favorite dining spot, and he and his wife, Teresa, brought in the "Prophecy and Honor" actors and their significant others — Richard Dreyfuss and his wife Svetlana, George Segal and wife Sonia and Don Stroud and wife Teri. Hope someone tried the incredible pork chops! Moore is honchoing the play, which opens tonight at the Hawai'i Theatre (with a run through Sunday). ...

Visiting: Eliot and Bonnie Tiegel. He's a writer-editor, awaiting the release this November of "Latinization of America: How Hispanics Are Changing the Sight and Sound of America." The work includes the local voices of Rolando Sanchez (Salsa Hawai'i), Susana Ho (Hawai'i Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Nancy Ortiz (Alma Latino Productions), Ray Cruz (deejay) and others.

Bonnie Tiegel is the senior supervising producer for "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," two syndicated show-biz magazine series on the tube. She's enjoying a respite after coverage in the Bahamas of the late Anna Nicole Smith. Surely, the splendor of the Four Seasons Hualalai (despite Flossie's intrusion) this week and a stay at the Kahala Resort next week should be relaxing. ...

SHOW BREEZES: Davis Gaines, longtime star of Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera," will join local pal Joy Abbott, the jazz songstress and widow of the legendary Broadway icon George Abbott ("The Pajama Game," "Damn Yankees"), in "Broadway Reflections." The concert is a benefit for the new Hawai'i Performing Arts Foundation and takes the Hawai'i Theatre stage at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Also participating: pianist Betty Loo Taylor and Carol Anderson, the latter a collaborator of Gaines, who is in "Wicked" in Los Angeles. Tickets ($35 to $125) are on sale at the box office. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Augie T is back from a sell-out one-nighter at the Cannery Casino in Las Vegas. He and his two companions — who probably should not be ID'd in the name of saving face — dined at Roy's Restaurant (the Flamingo Road one) where they crossed paths with Criss Angel. The magician starred in "Mindfreak" on Broadway and is destined for superstardom when he stars in a Cirque du Soleil endeavor at the Luxor starting in 2008.

Anyway, the pair didn't know Angel — nor could anyone pronounce anything on Roy Yamaguchi's menu.

"Imagine three Portagees sitting in a booth at Roy's, unable to order," said Augie. And maybe yearning for Angel to make their check disappear. Watch, however, for Augie's newest DVD (including footage from his Blaisdell Arena concert), due out on Sept. 5. ...

Branscombe Richmond, host of the Hawai'i-based syndicated "Good Morning Hawai'i" weekday TV show, is happy to be in 50 million homes now, since America One Network picked up the show, which also has an online companion, MauiToday.TV ...

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.