Local girl Yvette Nii now is portraying Tina in the off-Broadway musical "Tony n' Tina's Hawaiian Wedding," the long-running hit with an Island spin. It plays weekly at the Ka'anapali Beach Club Resort, formerly the Embassy Suites hotel but now a timeshare destination. Nii, an 'Ewa Beach resident, is the lone local in the cast. She opened last night and hopes that the experience and exposure in this vehicle — performed several times a week, with even a Christmas Day matinee and New Year's Eve show for visitors — will be a stepping stone to her eventual destination, Broadway. For "T&T" details, go to www.tonyandtinamaui.com. ...

And over on Kaua'i, Daphne Sanchez is the cover girl on the teen publication Girl's Life (the December-January issue). She was photographed by Miami fashion photog Kicka Witte, who also photographed Sanchez for her upcoming debut CD and future promotions and Web site exposure. Sanchez recently did a duet with Kaua'i mayor-elect Bernard Carvalho on his campaign tune, "Together We Can," and she also has recorded "Mea Ho'omana'o," which is being dedicated to late Garden Isle mayor Bryan Baptiste. She spent last summer at Spa Resort Hawaiians, a Japanese resort and amusement park with a Hawaiiana theme, where her song "Mokihana" is the featured hula number in the resort's Hawaiian production that bowed last month. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Actor Richard Chamberlain, who will tour as King Arthur in "Monty Python's Spamalot" in the months ahead, did a reading of partner Martin Rabbett's "Forever Buster" children's book recently at Barnes & Noble Ala Moana, and two fans — Jacque Rohan and sister Gail Plomaritis — flew in for the session. They earlier supported the book and the reading at a recent appearance at the Borders store on Union Square in San Francisco. Chamberlain briefly spoke about his book, "Shattered Love," and Rabbett shared tales of his beloved dog Buster, which is a brisk seller locally. ...

Taimane Gardner, the whiz on 'ukulele "discovered" by the late Don Ho, has been very visible among Waikiki visitors (doing lu'au shows). She just added a Friday gig, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the poolside bar and restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Jordan Segundo performed at the recent Adult Friends for Youth dinner and auction at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom; he's also the spokesman for the organization. You might also have recognized the TV spots on the state Department of Transportation's storm water management program; on the radio ads, Segundo's the one singing the theme song. ...

Al Waterson was the auctioneer at the Adult Friends for Youth event. He'll also emcee Keith and Carmen Haugen's free "Peace on Earth" concert, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand. ...

Belated cheers to Stacy Loe, who succeeds Kim Gennaula as co-anchor (with Keahi Tucker) at 10 p.m. weekdays on KGMB9. Lisa Kubota has moved to the weekend slot. ...

Condolences to KHNL8 anchor Howard Dashefsky, who lost his father Marv, who was 74. The family celebrated dad's life with lei and aloha. ...

NOTABLES: "Na Leo's Holiday Music Spectacular" continues tonight and again Friday and Saturday at the Waikiki nei Theatre at the Royal Hawaiian Center. It's an ambitious show in an expansive venue, and a collaborative venture of OneHawaii Music, which is a company operated by Na Leo's Nalani Choy in partnership with Warren Wyatt, who heads WorldSound and doubles as Na Leo's manager. OneHawaii is a record label that has corralled a growing roster that includes Na leo, Kaukahi, Anuhea and One Right Turn; WorldSound is producing and promoting the shows. WorldSound works with Keali'i Reichel on his Mainland and Japan tours, hence his participation in this Christmas special. ...

Ballet Hawaii stages its "Nutcracker" Friday through Sunday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Gregg Lizenbery, head of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Dance Department, makes his debut in the cast as Drosselmeyer, the mysterious "uncle" who brings the magical gifts that come to life, including the nutcracker. Joan Boada, the San Francisco Ballet star, is the Cavalier Prince opposite Megan Fairchild from the New York City Ballet, who is the Sugar Plum Fairy. And the one to watch, leaping a-plenty, is Timour Bourtasenkov, in the Russian Trepak. ...

REMINDER: You can kokua the London-bound Sacred Hearts Academy Marching Band when it appears with the Society of Seven Las Vegas in a pair of benefit concerts at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow and Thursday at the Outrigger Waikiki's Main Showroom. The local kids are to appear in London's New Year's Day parade, but need to raise a bit more bucks to make the journey. And yes, Jasmine Trias will be special guest. Tickets: $35. Call 923-7408. ...

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.