AUGIE ON HIGH: Comedian Augie T. is on a roll. Fresh from his Blaisdell Arena triumph Friday night, in front of 7,000-plus people (he held back tears of joy), the stand-up funny man will kick off his new weekly "Comedy Near the Moon" gig on June 15 at Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana hotel. Both gigs reflect his ability to adapt to a venue to meet different needs in a continually evolving entertainment landscape.

The arena show was a career high — a chance to play the "big" house while raising scholarship funds for his Speak the Dream Foundation. The foundation enables others to have something he never did while at Farrington High: a chance for a scholarship. Recipients will be named in the second season of Augie's OC 16 TV show. His rationale: "The best exercise for the heart is lifting one another up."

The Aaron's show will see Augie perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays for the summer. "Comedy Near the Moon" enables early diners to pause for laughs in a corner of the penthouse restaurant, with a limited audience.

Augie short-changed himself at the arena; his opening acts carried on too long. He shaved his act to less than an hour, or be subjected to a $100-per-minute fee after 10 p.m. "I never got to do about 25 minutes of prepared material," said Augie. He met his fans after the performance. Upon return to his 'Ewa Beach home, he and wife Kim had a quiet cry together, grateful for the response.

His raps ring many truths; he did shop for his white suit at Neiman Marcus, where the third-floor staff — knowing he was shopping for his big night — helped find the right duds. "I bought stuff by designers whose names I can't even pronounce," he said. "My pants are Zegna; the suit, Dolce & Gabbana; the shirt by Yves Saint-Laurent." His gay son exclaimed, "You look hot!" ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Michael Bright, who, with 10-year-old daughter Caitlin is prepping for a "Les Miserables" segment in Paliku Theatre's fundraiser opening June 8, missed a rehearsal last Thursday night.

BUT HE HAD GOOD REASON: Wife Jade Bright gave birth to a 9-pound, 4-ounce boy, named Drew Aaron Kekuewa Bright, at Kapi'olani Medical Center. The grandparents — Ron (the director) and Mo Bright — are mighty happy and proud. ...

Paul Stanley of Kiss, who also is an artist, will appear and show his works June 15 at the Wailea Gallery. ...

WHERE 'N' WHY: Sherry Chock has been visibly absent from the local arts scene — but not for long. In April, Chock moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television, and wound up beating 300 other hopefuls to record a demo for a new Broadway musical, as yet untitled, by Craig Nehamen, providing voices for three different characters. She also played a renegade girl-bandleader in an indie, "The Wasteland," which also features other local troupers like Garret Sato, Tracy Bautista, Zero Kazama and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Plus other video work. ...

Now Chock is home for a monthlong Thursday-night stint at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Tapa Bar, where a pared-down version of "The Forbidden World of Don Tiki," appropriately and affectionately redubbed "Don Teeney," will be unveiled. The Tiki gang, of course, features those exotica ensigns, Kit Ebersbach and Lloyd Kandell, plus Rocky Holmes, Lopaka Colón, Abe Lagrimas Jr. and the Don Tiki Dancers. ...

FINALLY: Look for the return of kumu hula John Kaha'i Topolinski's Ka Pa Hula Hawai'i halau in a homecoming of sorts, when a scholarship fundraiser is held June 24 at the Ocean Club.

Topolinski is assembling such top-notch Island acts as Na Kama, Ho'okena, Ku'uipo Kumukahi, Mihana, Pilioha, Holunape and Hawaiian Kine in a program that surely will recall the kumu's winning styles from the 1970s through the 1990s, when he was a vital force in Hawaiian dance. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Call 372-2699. ...

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.